IMPORTANT:
This is a general quiz intended to give a person
an idea how well they mightbe suited for
a career in trucking. Since there are a lot of variables
in regard to driving jobs and conditions, this quiz is
not to be seen as a positively definite indicator
of compatibility! Only you are the judge of that.
Section I has statements with a box beside each
one. Put a number, 1-5, that best describes how much you
agree/disagree with it.
Section II describes a situation that you may
find yourself in. Answer which reaction you think you'd
have in each.
1
= absolutely no, never 2
= mostly no, rarely, doubtful 3
= somewhat, kind-of, sort-of, undecided 4
= hesitant yes, often, usually, mostly 5
= definite yes, always, completely
Section I
1. I adjust well to change.
2. I don't mind weather, altitude and/or climate
changes.
3. I like to work off-hours.
4. I like a constantly changing schedule.
5. I have good self-discipline.
6. I like a challenge.
7. I pay attention to details.
8. I am patient.
9. When I am terribly bored, I can still keep on task.
10.
I can deal with all kinds of different people and
attitudes in a diplomatic and professional way.
11.
I am not shy (enough) that it causes me problems
socially.
12.
I am able to assert myself when I need to.
13. I believe the "customer is always right" – or even
if I don't believe this, I can fake it well.
14.
I can function under stress.
15.
I don't mind detail-oriented paperwork.
16.
I can control anger when it is inappropriate to express
it.
17.
My basic driving skills are good.
18.
My MVR (or driving record) is good.
19.
I am not afraid to drive in heavy city traffic.
20.
I do not have problems with road rage and can keep under
control when others make stupid mistakes and drive
carelessly.
21.
I don't mind being alone for extended periods of time.
22.
My family is supportive of my new career choice.
23.
Fluctuating paycheck amounts would not bother me.
24.
I take pride in a job well done.
25.
I like to be, and usually am, on time for appointments.
26.
If I am delayed getting home for unforeseen
circumstances, I can tolerate it.
(I don't necessarily like
it, but I can at least tolerate it if it isn't a
recurring problem.)
27.
I am in (at least) reasonably good health.
Section IIWhat would
you
do if this were you?
A.
You make arrangements far in advance to be home on a
certain day for a special family event and have promised
your family that you'll be there. While still 500 miles
away from home, the truck breaks down, requiring a day's
wait for repairs. You would…
1. stay with the truck until the needed repairs were
made, even if it meant you'd miss the event.
2. leave the truck and catch a ride home - promises are
promises.
3. call the dispatcher and scream but still wait with
the truck.
4. be very disappointed but learn not to cut it so close
in time when an especially important event is coming up.
You wait out the repairs.
B.
Your dispatcher insisted that you run all night long to
be at a delivery appointment at 6:AM sharp. Upon arrival
at the receiver, you're told that they won't be able to
unload your load for about 7 hours. You…
1. call the dispatcher to whine and complain.
2. tell the receiver exactly what you think of that and
demand that he unload your truck right now, or else
you'll leave and he won't get the freight at all.
3. call the dispatcher to ask him why he insisted you be
there so early. You inform him that you can't unload for
7+ hours. You decide you need a nap --- you might as
well, you have the time.
4. learn that you should call the receiver direct from
now on to double check delivery times.
C.
Your dispatcher gave you directions to a shipper's plant
that were so far off you were lost for hours. As a
result, you were late for your delivery appointment.
Upon finally arriving at the plant, you telephone your
dispatcher and…
1. call him every name in the book and threaten him that
he'd better never do that again.
2. inform him that the directions were very bad and that
you wouldn't have been late if you'd been given correct
directions.
3. don't mention the bad directions at all and hope he
doesn't notice you're late for the appointment.
4. learn that dispatchers give bad directions fairly
often and rom now on, you will call the place directly,
or look up the address on a city map, in advance, to get
your own directions.
D.
A D.O.T. officer is
inspecting your truck, trailer and paperwork. He seems
"bent" on finding something wrong. You know you're in
good shape, yet the inspection is nearing 1 ½ hours long
and you're going to be late for a delivery appointment
if it stretches much longer. You…
1. tell the D.O.T. officer that he may as well give it
up, there's nothing wrong, he is holding you up and if
he isn't going to write a ticket, it's time that you got
going.
2. tell the D.O.T. officer that if he holds you much
longer, he will be responsible for the late delivery
appointment.
3. mention diplomatically and non-threateningly that you
have a delivery appointment soon and you'd really
appreciate it if you could make it.
4. learn that when you can least afford the time is when
things like inspections and tire blowouts occur and
decide that you'll try to give yourself a little more
time cushion in the future.
E.
Your dispatcher is
developing the nasty habit of giving you runs that
cannot be made in the legal amount of time you have.
You've already tried speaking to him in a calm and
professional manner and it hasn't changed anything. You…
1. quit that job – who needs all that stress?
2. go to the Safety Department, explain the dilemma and
what you've done to try to rectify it. You request a
different dispatcher.
3. keep putting up with it – you're only a newbie and
don't want to get fired.
4. tell the dispatcher that you won't accept any more
loads that can't be completed within legal Hours of
Service limits.
