I should also mention that *I* had the *HARD* test. More specifically I had the “picky” examiner. Tim went yesterday and his examiner was very friendly, gave him hints if he needed them, etc. He didn’t have to do a railroad check nor did he have to parallel park with a simulated car. I, otoh, had to do BOTH! PLUS.. I had to walk around the ENTIRE bus inspecting every wheel and every brake. He only had to walk down ONE side of the bus and inspect the back end. I must have had the “longer short” test (LOL)! I’m just THANKFUL it wasn’t the LONG test which would have meant doing the engine inspection as well. I had to do that when I got my CDL and I’m sure I could have done it, but it would have hurt my brain (LOL)! Words like cotter pins just don’t pop into my head when I’m trying to remember them (LOL) anymore.

The other night we studied together for TWO hours. Tim joked the ENTIRE time and made light of every single little thing I thought was important to remember or know why I was checking. Josh was laughing hysterically because Tim wasn’t going to do this or do that, etc. And, I was making sure I knew every little detail… how many seconds on the brake test, how many bus lengths or seconds for every single light that you have to turn on and when, how many seconds to look ahead in every driving condition. I memorized ALL that stuff! See… those things come naturally to his mind because he works with them all the time so he didn’t think it was any big deal and gave me a REALLY BAD TIME for putting so much time into studying.. I don’t drive a truck anymore so those things no longer come naturally to me – that and the fact that I always have “backseat” drivers that make sure I’m going the right speed, tell me when to turn and remind me where I parked. I really don’t have to think anymore at all when I’m driving because the kids do that for me. They just need me along because they aren’t old enough to drive. So, anyway. I was studying all of the parts of the brakes – chamber, lining, etc and he said NO WAY are they going to ask you all of those details. They did. Then, we were reading the parts about GVW, height of vehicle, # of passengers, etc. We knew that we had to know the GVW, but he didn’t think they would ask the other two. They asked him both so I was prepared when they asked me (LOL)! Then, they asked him what precautions to take when going down a steep hill. They asked me what to do going UP *AND* DOWN a steep hill. So, really I’m pointing all of this out just so that EVERYONE knows, for the record, that I passed a much more difficult test than Tim! Oh.. and not to mention the weather conditions, we had to stop and fill the bus up with gas before we even got to the licensing place, it was earlier in the morning so the bus was colder and missing a little bit, etc.

All in all. I’m just glad that is over with! I can now say I have all of the endorsements except hazardous, fwiw.