If you are graduating from truck driving school next week and your DMV testing appointment looms in the near future, then these tips will help you successfully pass your behind-the-wheel test and get your commercial driver's license.
Tip: Get as Much Behind-the-Wheel Practice as You Can
Just as it takes time and experience to drive a car well, so too does it take experience and time before you can safely drive a commercial truck. Since nothing trumps hands-on experience, you should do as much driving as possible before your test date arrives. If your permit does not allow you to drive on city streets, then set up in an abandoned parking lot and practice all of the driver's test cone patterns you will need to navigate on testing day.
Tip: Proactively Learn to Control Your Pre-Test Anxiety
If you suffer from pre-test anxiety and are worried you will be so nervous on test day that you will screw up something stupid, then proactively learn to control this anxiety by:
- sleeping well the night before your test
- eating a light meal before your test
- limiting your consumption of soft drinks or coffee before your test
- thinking positively about your new career
Also, when you start stressing about the test, make your mind go back to thinking about different aspects of your training. This uses your mental energy in a positive way and will help you with your test.
Tip: Show Confidence in Your Skills and Push Through Small Errors
When you and the DMV's examiner are in the truck, it is important you show an appropriate level of confidence in your driving skills. For example, now is not the time to brag about being the top driver in your class at trucking school, but it is also not the right time to talk about all of the aspects of commercial driving or your truck's mechanics that you don't completely understand.
The best way to handle this is to smile, do your pre-driving inspections, get behind the wheel, put on your seatbelt, and then take a deep breath and drive as your instructors taught you.
Tip: Always be Polite and Courteous to All DMV Staff
In conclusion, it is important to mention you should always try to go out of your way to make an effort to be courteous and polite to everyone you come into contact with at your local Department of Vehicles office. As a commercial driver, you will need their assistance in the future, and you don't want to give them any reason to dislike you. Also, by always being nice to everyone, you become a bright spot in someone's day and prevent accidentally being rude or discourteous to the person who ends up being your driving test examiner!
For more information, contact your local commercial driving license instructor.
I have never been an especially handy person, but a few years ago I decided that I needed to learn more about my vehicle. I was tired of always relying on someone else to fix things, so I began reading more and more about the process. I realized that there were a lot of things that I needed to do, so I began taking a little course on at-home auto service. I still have a lot to learn, but now I can at least go through and change my air filter and check my oil. Read this blog to learn more about auto service.