“Is this a test?” That’s a question that you hear often in school. There’s always someone wondering whether the assignment at hand counts for a grade. There’s no ambiguity about that when it comes to the driving test. You may be a bit nervous knowing that you need to do well on this test. The good news is there are plenty of strategies that can help you gain the confidence to take the test and pass it with flying colors.

Quizzing Your Knowledge

The driving test for truck drivers is like a rite of passage to be inducted into the long list of licensed drivers who take part in making the world a better place. The driving test can be a challenge but preparing for it and ensuring you know your stuff can go far in helping you curb the anxiety you may feel. The best things you can do to prepare are to attend a CDL training class (which is required by most driving positions), research study materials online, and talk to your instructor or other licensed drivers about their experience taking the driving test.

Taking the Test

The driving test is not designed to be difficult, but rather to assess your knowledge to ensure that you will be a safe driver on the road. Through your experience in the CDL training class, your prior experience driving with a CPL, and studying the rules and regulations you must follow on and off the road, the test will be a breeze. The most important tip for studying for the test is to take practice tests. Understanding the format and content of the test will greatly help with combatting stress. There are many free practice tests available online!

In addition to being familiar with the content of the test, being in tune with yourself and making sure you are feeling well enough to take the test, both physically and mentally, will allow your test taking experience to be as painless as possible. If you are feeling particularly anxious about the test, study and take practice tests until you are doing well enough to pass each time. Once you reach this level of knowledge, you should feel comfortable taking the test!

Pass With Flying Colors

Passing the driving test with flying colors is a task that you can surely handle with enough preparation and practice. Being sure to familiarize yourself with the content and format of the test will help to decrease your stress and put your best foot forward! Remember as you are preparing to take the test, to get enough sleep the day before and eat a good breakfast to ensure your brain is ready and that you are as comfortable as possible for your experience. Trucking is a great career, and we are glad you’ve decided to join in on the world’s greatest industry. Good luck on your test!

It’s a windy road out there! As a driver, you’ve likely experienced crazy wind situations and if you haven’t, you certainly will. Wind and other weather conditions are some of the most dangerous hazards a driver can face on their routes, regardless of the location. Wind advisories can happen anywhere, so it’s important to have a game plan for whenever the wind decides to blow in your direction.

The Windy Road

You’ve likely heard a rundown of the most dangerous highways in the United States for drivers including Minnesota Highway 2, Colorado Highway 550, Connecticut I-95, and Interstate 10 in Arizona. Each of these highways is dangerous in part due to wind and often winter wind is what causes the most difficulties. Typically, the windiest spots on the road are those with large mountains or valleys nearby as there are extreme temperature differences in a small area which causes a swift movement of air. 

Wind may also be caused by weather emergencies such as tornadoes in the Midwest, hurricanes in the Southeast, and blizzard conditions in Northern and especially high altitude parts of the United States. When driving through any of these regions or the highways mentioned, make sure to monitor weather conditions especially closely.

Gusts and Gales

Wind is unpredictable, especially in locations with sporadic weather conditions. While you will see notifications of wind advisories on your weather app or hear it on the radio, it can be hard to determine whether the winds are too strong for your load, making it difficult to decide whether or not to proceed or stop to wait for the winds to slow down. One important thing to remember while driving is that it never hurts to stop safely and review your plan and options for going forward.

Stay Safe

When the wind blows at over 35-40 miles per hour, you should begin planning for if the wind speed increases as gusts between 40-60 mph can be enough to topple your truck. Remember to stay alert and listen for radio announcements of strong winds if you begin to feel gusts hit your truck. If you are hauling a lighter load, you should be extra vigilant about wind gusts as lighter loads are more likely to be blown over in high-wind conditions. 

If you decide the winds are too swift to continue, the best thing you can do is park your truck facing the wind so there is less surface area directly in the wind. This will help keep your truck on its wheels. After that, the best thing you can do is monitor the situation and wait for the winds to calm down. As you are waiting, try to listen to a podcast, watch a movie, or plan out the next steps of your route. 

Final Thoughts

Driving in high wind conditions can be scary, especially if you have a lighter load. Having a plan for high winds is important, and so is having a plan for any other adverse weather conditions or road hazards you may face. When you’re in doubt about what you should do, there is no harm in pulling over and taking a moment to rationally consider your next steps. As always, your life and license are not worth the risk of driving in highly dangerous conditions.