CR England, Judgement Day

I passed I passed I passed. I went into this with the hope of just achieving my CDL. Today we had to take our DMV hands on tests. They consisted of a pre-trip inspection, in cab inspection, and an air brake system check. The air brake test was a pass or fail test. Then we had to do a skills test which consisted of straight line backing, Alley docking, parallel parking, right turn, and a test where you had to stop at a cone within 1’. Then, if you passed all that, you had a road test. I got 100% and no points on the pre-trips, missed 1 point on the skills, and 7 on the road test. This gives me an overall score of only 8 points. Well, they have a Top Gun program for the graduate with the lowest score. I wasn’t planning on being super trucker of the school but guess what? I am Top gun. It’s a $50.00 gift certificate and bragging rights and I think some kind of certificate stating that you are Top Gun.
The 7 points I missed on my road test were; 5 for traffic checks (I felt like a bobble head looking back and forth in the mirrors as it was). There were a few times that I would be watching my tandems on a right turn and so was the examiner; he must have missed me doing that. The other 2 points were because he asked me what I would do if parking on an up-hill and I said “turn my wheels to the left and set the brakes” then he asked about a down hill, and I said “turn my wheels to the right”. When the test was over he said that the wheel direction was right but that I needed to roll and bump the curb and then set the brakes. I’ll never get that one wrong again. He would ask me “what did that sign say”; there were 4 signs one time and three the other. He made me name each one of them. I didn’t realize how much I actually notice when I am driving but I didn’t miss one sign.
The one other thing he almost got me on was what do you do when coming to a steep down grade, I said, down shift, he said before that, slow down to the posted speed limit, before that he says, asses the situation and note the grade, before that he says. I’m thinking, “We never covered this in class, what the hell else is there to do?” My skin started getting hot, I felt sweat on my forehead, and just when I thought I couldn’t answer the question, and the words came out by them selves, “stop at the brake check”. Needless to say, that was the correct answer.
Tomorrow I have to go to the DMV and finish up some paper work and then they will likely assign me to a driver trainer. I will be out on the road for 28 days my first tour and then come back and do a second 28 day tour In the CAT program (career advancement team). Then I will be upgraded in Salt Lake City, Utah. There I will be assigned my own truck.

One last thing, if you ever go to this school and see this water truck coming, RUN!!!! You will get wet. I have some comments to make about this water truck issue but I will discuss them at a later date.

Here he is, on the prowl like a cat, stalking it's next victim.


He spies his unsuspecting pry, then he pounces.



Everybody RUN!!! the strong survive but the weak are sent home with wet underwear.


No one was hurt in the writing of this tale of the water truck.

Category Posted: General