Why Do a Range ROAD Test before you allow drivers to operator your equipment? The answer is safety.

A road test is a good method to actually see how well a driver can perform.  Most of the companies do not perform road tests and wonder out loud when their VIR ( Vehicle Incident Reports) are through the roof why are we having so many incidents.  In a prior job every month our company was paying over $10,000 per month in just radar camera speeding tickets, why you say simple, .

You must keep in mind, that the perspective employee is going to do as well as they can.  If they make any mistakes on the road test, then these are

You must keep in mind, that the perspective employee is going to do as well as they can.  If they make any mistakes on the road test, then these are engrained bad driving habits.  The road test can also be used as a guide for training the employee if he/she is eventually hired.  Use the areas that they made mistakes, for follow up training. So regardless if it is a tractor trailer unit or the local company four wheel drive how do know before you throw the driver the keys that they can handle the unit and its features!

• Some drivers need more practice than others. During your driving test, the examiner will note how you obey the rules of the road and traffic signs and/or signals. He/she will note other areas in which you may need improvement.
• Safe driving tips. Practice these tips to improve your driving skills:
  • Steer smoothly at all times.
  • Accelerate smoothly. Don't race the engine or make it stall.
  • Stop the vehicle gently. Start braking well ahead of where you must stop to avoid sudden "jerks." Know where to stop. Be aware of crosswalks. If your view is blocked at a crosswalk, move forward carefully and look both ways before entering the intersection..
  • Be sure your vehicle is in the correct gear. Don't grind the gears. Don't coast to a stop.
  • Always obey the posted speed limits. If needed, reduce your speed to adjust for existing weather, road, and other traffic conditions. Remember to turn on your lights if you need to use your windshield wipers in poor weather conditions.
  • Follow at a safe distance. Use the three-second rule. Increase your following distance in bad weather or poor visibility.
  • Know what the traffic signals mean and obey them at all times.
  • Always use the proper lane. Turn from the correct lane into the correct lane.
  • Signal for all lane changes and turns.
  • Always look for potential hazards (scan). Check your mirrors frequently. Always look over the proper shoulder before making lane changes or pulling away from the curb.
  • Drive defensively. Anticipate another driver's errors.

 

A range test can show if the driver has basic control of the vehicle. A range helps the driver to become familiar with the vehicle, if the vehicle and/or its controls are new to the driver. If a driver does really badly on the range, then for reason of safety, the test needs to end. The driver’s proficiency in the parking lot (range) should be adequate enough to determine that the applicant will drive safely during the on-road portion of the test.

On the route be sure to include:

Four left-hand and four right-hand turns: turns at traffic lights, stop signs, and uncontrolled intersections. The turns should range from easy to somewhat difficult for a heavy vehicle. Try to include a mixture of types of intersections so that they vary in complexity.

A straight section of urban business streets. The section should be 1 to 2 miles long. It should contain through intersections, and intersections with traffic lights, and have moderate traffic density. Try to get a section where the driver can make lane changes somewhere along the route.

Two through intersections, and two intersections where a stop has to be made. If possible, these intersections should be included in the urban section.

Two railway crossings. Try to get at least one uncontrolled crossing. The crossing should have enough sight distance to determine if the driver makes head search movements when approaching each crossing. The driver’s attempt to look left and right down the track will often be the only way to tell if the driver noticed the crossing. If the test area does not have any railway crossings, you may simulate this exercise.

Two curves, one to the left and one to the right. Try to get curves tight enough to produce noticeable offtracking on a tractor-trailer.

A two-lane rural or semi-rural road. This section should be about 2 miles long. If there is no rural road near the motor pool, an industrial street with few entrances and a higher speed limit is a good substitute. An undeveloped suburban road is also a good substitute. In general, use any road that has characteristics similar to a rural road.

A section of expressway. The section should start with a conventional ramp entrance and end with a conventional ramp exit. The section should be long enough for a heavy vehicle to make two lane changes during the section. A section of highway can be used if there is no expressway available.

A downgrade. The grade should be steep enough and long enough to require gearing down and braking. A steep short hill is the next best choice if a long grade cannot be found. If the area does not have any steep grades, simulate this exercise.

An upgrade. The grade should be steep enough and long enough to require gear changing to maintain speed. A steep short hill is the next best choice if a long grade cannot be found. Use the same grade for both the downgrade and the upgrade if it is hard to find steep grades in the area.

A downgrade for stopping. This is a grade where a vehicle can safely stop (or pull off) and park for a minute or so. The grade only needs to be steep enough to cause a vehicle to roll if the driver does not park properly. If the area does not have any steep grades, simulate this exercise.

An upgrade for stopping. This is another grade where a vehicle can safely stop and park for a minute or so. If necessary, use the same grade as for the downgrade stop.

One underpass or low clearance, and one bridge. The underpass should have a posted clearance height. The bridge should have a posted weight limit. If there are no underpasses or bridges with posted limits, use ones that do not have posted limits. If necessary, substitute a bridge for an underpass, or an underpass for a bridge. If there are no low clearances or bridges, look for places that have signs a heavy vehicle driver should see. Examples of such signs are: “No Commercial Vehicles after 11:00 PM,” or “Bridge with 10 Ton Weight Limit in 5 Miles.” b.

When designing a route, try to get all of the specified maneuvers into the route. If there is no ideal example for a maneuver, find the closest substitute.

There is no minimum length for a route and no minimum amount of time that a route must take. A route is acceptable whenever it has all the specified maneuvers.

Be prepared to give the driver positive feedback followed by any areas that need to be improved. If the driver is hired, make note of any weak spots for later refresher training. The driver may lack experience in the type of vehicle driven. For example, a driver may have used his Class A/Class 5 CDL to drive a hot-shot combination and has little or no experience in driving a tractor-trailer.

• The driver may simply have no driving experience. For example, some foreign nationals may have had a drive’s license in their country, but have had little actual lifetime driving experience.
• The driver’s skills may be stale, Perhaps he or she was unemployed or on workman’s comp and has not driven for a long while. For larger trucks, not driving more than six months can be a long time, and a driver could need a refresher course to get back into commercial driving.
• The driver may have injured himself since his last DOT physical and is not physically able to drive.

 “Driving is a habit. People cannot change their habits, even when they are being observed.” A person can mask driving habits for 10 minutes or so, but not longer.

Any competent driver who is qualified with experience in the type of vehicle being driven may conduct a road test.  The test shall be given by a person who is competent to evaluate and determine whether the person who takes the test has demonstrated that he/she is capable of operating the commercial motor vehicle, and associated equipment, that the motor carrier intends to assign him/her.

Under law owners and managers can be given a road test by an employee-driver.

 Remember, this is designed to be given to the driver before he/she is hired.  This only works effectively as a screening tool.  This is not an activity to be done after you hire the employee.

 

There are several ways to conduct a road test, but here are a few pointers:

?    Use the same employee to give the road test.

?    Obviously, use a good driver for the examiner.

?    Make sure the perspective driver is licensed for that size/type of vehicle

?    Use approximately the same route each time, so all drivers have the same exposures.

?    Try to time the test to avoid peak rush hour traffic or take them on a fairly un-used route.

?    Don't be afraid to stop the test at any point and let your own driver take over.

 

Some accounts will stop the test immediately if the perspective driver fails to make a walk around inspection of the vehicle, fails to buckle their set belt or fails to check the adjustment of all mirrors.

 

Remember, the prospective driver is trying to do everything correct to the best of their knowledge.  If he/she makes any mistakes, then these are problem areas.  It may not be enough for disqualification, but should tell you whether or not further driver training is necessary, how much training and in what areas.

 Setting Up The Course

Road testing is one means of determining how a driver applicant will perform if employed by your firm.  A standardized road test will involve more than around the block.  Consider a route that includes exposure to routine road hazards which the prospective employee will likely encounter on a day-to-day basis as a driver for your company.  Therefore, you must first plan the course on a map to include streets, alleys, expressways, back roads, bridges, grades, overpasses, school zones, railroad crossings, controlled intersections, left turns, right turns, backing and parking situations.  An ideal test run will cover 10-20 miles.

 

1. Establishing Performance Standards

Measure the effectiveness of the road test by having several of your best drivers run the course.  Consider using their average score to serve as a standard for qualification.

 

1. Administering The Road Test

Check the applicant's drivers license to determine if he/she is licensed to drive the class of vehicle to be operated.  Provide him/her with a map of the course and give him/her instructions.  Let them get the feel of the vehicle and become familiar with the controls by proceeding with a yard test which could include a pre-trip inspection, hooking-up, backing and parking procedure before pulling onto the road.

 

Give directions for the route well in advance to avoid last minute maneuvers, but do not distract them with unnecessary conversation enroute.

 

1. Evaluating the driver

The road test has three categories:

• QUALIFIED - meets company performance requirements
• NEEDS IMPROVEMENT - marginal performance but can be improved with training
• UNQUALIFIED - does not meet company standards

 

Since most drivers will not have a perfect score, you may consider using the road test results as a basis for future remedial training to upgrade their performance.

 

Individual items should be added or deleted according to your own fleet needs.

 

Name: _________________________________________________________ Date: _________________

 

Truck # ________ Car #_________ Make__________ Type_____________ Cap.             

 

                                                                                                                                                        Check

                                                                                                                                                      Yes   No

1... Uses mirrors correctly and signals before pulling into traffic..................................... _________

2... Drives in right lane except when passing....................................................................... _________

3... Maintains safe stopping distances in front of the vehicle........................................... _________

4... Signals stops, turns and passing movements well in advance of turn...................... _________

5... Pulls gradually into proper lane well in advance of turn............................................... _________

6... Approaches green traffic lights, signals, prepared to stop for signal change......... _________

7... Strictly obeys all traffic signs, signals, and road markings.......................................... _________

8... Yields right-of-way whenever there is any question and otherwise drives courteously_____      

9... R.R.: Slows down, looks both ways (stops if appropriate)..................................................... ____                             

1. Varies speed to meet conditions, i.e. when approaching schools, curves & intersections_ .................................................................................................................................................
2. Makes right hand turn correctly....................................................................................... _________
3. Stays in right lane on hills and curves............................................................................. _________
4. Uses good judgment in deciding when to pass.............................................................. _________
5. Keeps car in gear downhill, shifting to lower gear if necessary (trucks).................. _________
6. Picks safe place to turn around with clear view both ways, turns skillfully............. _________
7. Avoids backing when possible, backs only when knows everything is clear........... _________
8. Stops off traveled portion of highway.............................................................................. _________
9. Turns wheels to curb and sets hand brake when parking........................................... _________
10. Follows vehicle in front at safe distance......................................................................... _________
11. Rides the clutch or uses clutch roughly.......................................................................... _________
12. Stays in low gears/high gears too long............................................................................ _________
13. Fails to obtain proper speed when shifting to higher gears........................................ _________
14. Uses brakes roughly............................................................................................................ _________
15. Uses brakes on curves....................................................................................................... _________
16. Slips clutch to hold vehicle form rolling back while waiting at traffic signal........... _________
17. Selects wrong gear - upgrade, downgrade or on level................................................. _________

 

VEHICLE CONTROL TEST

Performed in a controlled environment such as a large parking lot.

The examiner will evaluate each maneuver in this phase of the testing from outside the vehicle.

 

 

 

ON-THE-ROAD DRIVING TEST

Performed over a well planned route in the local community.

 

 

 

An automatic failure should be imposed for any one of the following reasons:

• Any unsafe act.
• Failure to properly perform “PMCS Test”.
• Not knowing location and function of gauges and controls.
• Unsatisfactory performance on “Vehicle Control Test”.
• Undue nervousness.
• Failure to achieve a minimum passing score on the “On-The-Road Driving Test”.
• If the individual scores 24 errors or less, but the examiner feels that the individual needs additional training, the examiner has the right to recommend to the supervisor or department head that no authorization be given.