As you are practicing and preparing for your CDL testing, you probably are more than a little nervous. That's normal and the nerves will ease when it's all over. Being afraid to fail is the biggest issue, and while you can't make it fail-proof, you can learn more about the CDL Examiner's point of view to help ease your mind.

Passable Mistakes

Understand that the CDL Examiner knows you are only human and you make mistakes. For this reason, there are some mistakes that you can make and still pass. Does missing a shift scare you? Don't worry about it. Luckily, the examiner doesn't mind if you miss some shifts or even grind your gears as long as you are mostly proficient at shifting otherwise.

Swinging your turns a little too wide is not a big problem as long as you aren't really too wide and aren't having a judgment problem. If it looks like you can't judge your turns right, they will fail you, but you would rather be a bit too wide than too tight and hit a curb for an automatic failure.

Automatic Failures

Anything that poses a risk to someone's safety is an automatic failure. Getting in a wreck and running a red light are ones that you obviously know. In addition, forgetting to signal before a turn, not checking your mirrors while changing lanes, hitting a curb, or rolling backwards as you resume after a stop will also result in an automatic failure. Mistakes like these are dangerous and are not excused no matter what level of driving experience you have.

Your Demeanor

This may sound strange, but a large portion of the test is your demeanor and how you respond to pressure. Since trucking is a high pressure job, you need to be able to stay calm and collected under pressure so you don't endanger yourself or others. The examiner may push you a little bit to see if you crack under pressure or if you can maintain your composure and keep driving safely.

Begin the exam with this thought in mind. They are going to pressure you and they need to see that you can handle it. So practice your breathing or whatever helps you calm down and enter the test with a clear head, focused on the objective.

These tips will help you know what to expect when you take your CDL test. Having these few things in mind, you will know what to expect so you can pass the test. (For more information on CDL jobs, you can contact Montu Staffing Solutions)