The Re-Test
I passed my CDL test!
It still seems unbelievable and hasn’t sunk in yet. Although I was successful, it did not come without some drama…
I passed my CDL test! It still seems unbelievable and hasn’t sunk in yet. Although I was successful, it did not come without some drama.
I had a different evaluator this time. This one didn’t talk to me or ask me questions during my Pre-Trip Inspection. I breezed right through the Pre-Trip and Air Brake tests. I also did not have difficultly with the first three maneuvers. But then there was Parallel Parking.
Before going to the testing site, I had spent the morning practicing parallel parking in the yard. The yard was now paved and had the lines painted on it. The new yellow line that I put my trailer tires on was super helpful. It allowed me to get set up the same way every time. And every time I was successful. I was amazed. Why did I think this was so hard?
Before testing on this final maneuver, I asked the evaluator for clarification on the rules and how things were scored. He informed me that I had 2 free pull ups. Additional pull ups would cost me points. Then he said I only get 2 get out and looks. If I got out of the truck more than 2 times I fail. So that answered that. There was no saving my test on Friday. But it’s good to know the rules of the game. The evaluator seemed concerned by my questions. I told him that I failed this maneuver last time. But I said that I’d been practicing and didn’t need extra pulls ups or get out and looks.
The problem actually started with the previous maneuver. In an effort to make sure my trailer tires were between the yellow line and the cone, I ended up being closer to the cone. So when it came time to set up for parallel parking I was too close to the cone. Not how I had been practicing it. If I were to pull up and try to reposition myself I was told that would count as one of my pull ups. So I felt I had no choice but to attempt the maneuver from right next to the cone.
When I swung the cab around halfway through the maneuver, instead of being on top of the third cone like I was last time, I was far above it. I backed up and repositioned the trailer closer to the third cone. But my truck’s angle was still off. I could tell in my mirrors that I was too close to the front boundary line. That my truck could hit those cones when trying to get into the box. I had no choice. I had to pull forward to change my position.
My adjustments were not enough to change my predicament. I was till too close to the frontal boundary. Appalled, I realized I was going to have to use my last free pull up. I attempted a more drastic change to the angle of my truck, only to get the same result.
I now decided to just start over. I knew all remaining pull ups were going to cost me points—so let’s make this one count. I set up as best as I could in one pull up, but I was unable to get my truck completely parallel to the course. I wasn’t on the yellow line either. Not wanting to waste more pull ups, I just went for it.
The rest is just a blur. I’d like to say the reset helped. Maybe it did. I do reall at one point just sitting and staring out the windshield feeling defeated. I was unsure how many pull ups I had used so far, but the evaluator had not failed me yet. I decided to keep going. My plan was to pull forward as many times as I needed until I was told to stop. I did finally get into a better position, but I was now on top of the third cone. I was able to reposition so that my trailer tires were just inches off of the third cone. I think hitting a cone is an automatic fail. So being so close made me extremely nervous. But it looked like my tires would just clear the cone. I was able to back the trailer in while without hitting the cone. The trailer hugged the set of three cones as I back the rest of the way in. I didn’t need to pull forward any more once I was in the box.
I backed up until my back bumper was close to the 2-foot box. Then I put my brakes on and used my first get out and look. I just had a couple of inches further to go. I got back in the cab and backed up a little more. I used my last get out and look just to make sure I had it. I didn’t want to leave it to chance. The bumper was in the box! I got back in the truck and blew the horn—I was done. The evaluator gave me a thumbs up indicating that I had passed!
I don’t know how. Maybe he was being generous. I didn’t ask questions. When he got in the cab to take me on the road test I apologized to him. I said, “Sorry you had to witness that. The was ugly!” He just smiled.
The road test went well. I was nervous and drove well under the posted speed limits. I called out what little traffic signs there were. I did the roundabout as best I could. The road that lead to the roundabout was narrow. He made me turn right on to the road. My trailer tires almost hit the curb and the evaluator was watching for it. It seemed cruel. I felt like I was being set up to fail. But fail I did not. Upon returning to the testing site, I set my brakes. The evaluator said I passed! He said I should be able to go to the BMV tomorrow to get my CDL. I can’t wait!
