I don't want to talk about this week, but I will anyway. I've been testing all week with the DOT. Actually, no. I've been testing all week with a subcontracted entity testing on behalf of the DOT. Having passed all my skills tests last week, I made the testing list for Monday. I was #6. #5 and I were on-hold testers, meaning we might not test that day at all and we were not to report to the testing site until told to do so. We were basically just supposed to wait and see what time #4 returned.
#4 returned at 2:45 pm. At that time we asked the instructor in charge of the backing maneuver range we were assigned to if they would be testing anyone else that day. He said they closed at 4pm and they never scheduled a test unless there was at least 2 hours to conduct it in. #5 was more concerned than I. I knew I wasn't going to be tested that day.
Half of an hour later, the lead instructor exited his trailer. This guy never leaves the trailer for any reason except to drive up to the classroom or go to lunch. He started heading toward his vehicle and then he spotted #5 and me. He then came over to us and proceeded to read us the riot act.
''Why didn't you go over and test? I've been looking for you everywhere and I couldn't find either of you? Do you have to be told to do everything? I could have sent someone else over to test if you weren't going over there!''
Several things to address here. First, everything I've done since starting this process has been the direct result of being told to do whatever it might be: pee in a cup, take this written exam, go on break, leave for lunch, drive this truck forward around town, drive this truck backwards on this range. If at any time I'm not where I'm supposed to be and doing whatever I'm supposed to be doing, I can be considered absent/tardy. Two of those and I'm expelled. So, I am always where ever I'm supposed to be and doing whatever I'm supposed to be getting done. Secondly, if you're looking for me and you're not looking for me in the place that I'm assigned to be and haven't moved from except to perform my backing manuevers when it's my turn, to pee, and for lunch, you aren't really looking for me. You won't find me in a filing cabinet or hiding behind your desk. You will, however, see me if you look out of your window - on my designated range for 8 out of the 9 hours of that particular day - in direct view of that office window. Lastly, this failure of communication is entirely your job to rectify and since you are the entire problem, perhaps you should simply fire yourself for being complete incompetent.
I said none of these things. Someone in the crowd that had gathered mentioned the fact that I hadn't moved from the same spot for more than 10 minutes all day. But he was hearing it. Instead, he went on to say:
''Both of you are going to sit in that trailer all day tomorrow where I can keep my eyes on you until I decide to send you over to test.''
I really, really don't appreciate getting shit on for something that wasn't my fault in the first place. But I really, really, really don't appreciate being treated like a child. This situation will be addressed. I garauntee that. I won't bother bringing it up to the president of this location, either. I'll jump a few rungs on the ladder before I file my official complaint.
Needless to say, I didn't sit in that trailer the next day but I didn't pass my test either. I pointed out on the backing manuevers. I was definitely nervous. I requalifed on the range that same day and made it back on the testing list for Wednesday. Except no one bothered to tell me until it was too late again. 2:30pm my range instructor asked me if I had tested yet. I was last on the list but had no idea and they had already stopped testing for the day.
Thursday I was first to test. I passed my backing manuevers but I took a turn too wide and the test was over. My tester didn't like the turn and refused to continue testing. I thought I was home free, but I was mistaken.
Today I tested again. It was a miserable day from the start. Some of the roads were already flooded out before I even arrived at the school. Then they did attendance and I found out I would e testing in that mess. I was not happy about it, but I went for it anyway. Anything for a chance to be done and gone. I did much better than I expected. All that additional practice on the range with my backing manuevers certainly paid off. I know how to correct any problems I might run into now which comes in very handy with the unfamiliar testing trucks. I made it out on the road and about halfway through the course I missed a gear. I tried everything and all of them just hoping to get it back into any gear and then correct myself after. I just couldn't get it back in gear and ended up coasting more than 50 feet for an automatic fail. Everything before and after that was perfect, especially after since I was pissed off and had complete rageful control of the truck. My tester gave me some pointers about how to better recover from that situation and added that he had no doubt I would have no trouble passing on Monday. I guess we'll see.
If I'm being optimistic, I have to say that I'm actually surprised that I was anywhere near ready to test this week and that my rapid progress up to this point - even my increasing success on each official test - has been surprising. If I'm being honest, I was ready to leave this place three or four weeks ago and I'm not looking forward to another weekend in this shithole. I do feel that Monday will be my day to pass this damn thing. Unfortunately, best case scenario will be me having to wait for the BMV to reopen on Tuesday.
Like I said, didn't really want to talk about this week, but I have and I'll just have to make it happen on Monday. Please, let it happen. I'm ready to go home.
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