2000 NTDC Main Page | 1999 NTDC Main Page | Competition Advice | 1999 State Champions
Study Hints
Begin Early
Make a Schedule
Plan Short Study Sessions
Use Your Time Wisely
Find a Partner
Be Prepared to Study
Break it Down
Don't Memorize
Review Again
Get Help
Read Transport Topics
Driving Practice Hints
Practice While Working
Interview Hints
Miscellaneous Hints
Ten Little Words
Multiple Choice Test Hints
These tips have been compiled from Roadway drivers: Tony Gemma/144, Terry Dagan/135, Don Miller/R62, Jimmy George/R74, Jesse Wightman/684, Tom Nestler/358, John Dalrymple/R74, Bryon K. Smith/R96, Eddie Grabowski/714, Nicholas Buttera/388, Robert Holley/890. Our thanks to these drivers for sharing their hints with us.
Study Hints[ Top of Page ]
Study the "Facts for Drivers" from cover to cover. Take no question for granted. Read the entire answer as they sometimes only ask for the very last part of it as it appears in the book.
Begin Early[ Top of Page ]
Don't waste time. Begin a study program now.
Make a Schedule[ Top of Page ]
Sit down and write up a list showing days, times (when possible) and amount of time you plan to study.
Plan Short Study Sessions[ Top of Page ]
Schedule a lot of study times of one-hour sessions rather than a few half-day sessions.
Use Your Time Wisely[ Top of Page ]
Always carry your materials with you. Whenever you have a few minutes (layover, unavoidable delay, etc.), open them and read, study, or review.
Find a Partner, if possible[ Top of Page ]
This will give you an opportunity to discuss the material and to test each other by asking questions. Family members may also be of assistance. While driving in the car have your passenger read the questions as you try to answer them from memory.
Be Prepared to Study[ Top of Page ]
Break it Down[ Top of Page ]
Don't try to read all of the material in one sitting. Learn one part or section at a time.
Don't Memorize, read for understanding[ Top of Page ]
As you read, relate the ideas to your work. Picture yourself doing the job or in the situation being discussed. Put the idea in your own words. Talk to yourself. Talk out load if it helps you remember the idea.
Review Again[ Top of Page ]
As you go through the material occasionally go back to pages you studied earlier and test your knowledge. If you have forgotten some thoughts, read the pages again.
Get Help[ Top of Page ]
If you do not understand an idea, thought, or section, discuss your problem with a knowledgeable person. See your union representative, dispatcher, terminal or relay manager.
Read Transport Topics[ Top of Page ]
You must make the necessary investment in time and effort to learn the material. No one can do it for you.
Driving Practice Hints[ Top of Page ]
Practice your pre-trip inspection every day. Make sure you learn a routine that will enable you to inspect your unit completely in about eight minutes. You will be surprised how you can save time by doing it exactly the same way every time.
When doing your pre-trip inspection at the championships, never back-track as the judge will take points off for your procedure.
Try to find other trucks to practice on, because you will probably not get a truck like yours at the competition.
Never stop talking to the judge. Tell the judge what you are looking for and say "defect" loud and clear. For instance, if you are looking to see that all the lugs are on the wheel and are tight, tell the judge what you are doing.
Always remember to fasten your seatbelt before starting the course and leave it fastened until the end of the course. There is a 25-point deduction if a driver fails to do this.
Practice while working[ Top of Page ]
When you drive your unit on the road, drive it the same way you would if you were in competition.
Front stop, alley dock, and right turns can easily be practiced all year long in the yard.
Practice under both sunny and rainy skies. Be ready for all weather conditions at the state championships.
The course is timed, so if you get stuck in a problem, blow your horn. The judges will know you're done and you can move on to the next problem.
If you have a previous state champion at your facility, practice with him/her, if possible, to learn from his/her experience.
Interview Hints[ Top of Page ]
Have confidence in yourself. You have already proven that you can compete and do well.
Remember, you don't need to use complex words to impress the interviewer.
Have a neat appearance. Wear a tie, nice shoes, and keep your shirt pockets empty. Iron your shirt if it needs it. Your shirt should be tucked in.
Try to talk often with people about the trucking industry so you can be knowledgeable, confident, and comfortable with the interviewer.
Look right in the face of the interviewer when talking or listening.
Miscellaneous Participation Hints[ Top of Page ]
Enjoy this time of fellowship with drivers. Enjoy the excitement, but don't get overwhelmed.
Remember that you are representing Roadway as well as yourself. You are being observed the entire week whether or not you are participating in a scheduled event.
Even on the days you aren't competing, attend the competition. Support your fellow team members.
Remember these ten little words:[ Top of Page ]
IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME!
Multiple Choice Test Hints [ Top of Page ]
(Note: These tips are only to help you get your best possible score on a multiple choice test. To score your best on a test, you must have the required knowledge gained through study of the material on which you are being tested.)
Work Quickly- Read each question just once.
Tell Yourself The Answer- Figure out what the answer is before you look at the choices. If what you think is the answer is a choice, pick it. If what you think is the answer is not a choice, don't waste time wondering why. Pick the best answer from those given.
Know All Your Choices- You should read all the choices before selecting the answer. After reading all the choices, choose the answer that comes to you first. If the answer seems right, pick it. Don't waste time looking for hidden meanings in questions and answers. The longer you look at the answers, the more likely you are to doubt yourself and pick the wrong answer.
"of the Above" Choices- Be sure you understand the meaning of the answers "all of the above" and "none of the above." Often test-takers don't pick these answers because they are the last of the available choices and they have already selected an answer before they read "all of the above" or "none of the above" as one of the choices.
Eliminate Answers- The better you are at eliminating obviously incorrect answers, the better chance you will have at getting a good score on the test. By eliminating two or four possible answers on a multiple choice test, and selecting from the two remaining answers, you double your chances of selecting the correct answer.
Choose the Closest Answer- Most multiple choice tests are designed to allow for a quick answer. Short answers given to long, complicated questions. What might seem like a difficult situation is summed up in just a few words. If the test is well-made, all of the answers will seem somewhat believable. The test-taker must choose the best answer from among those given.
Look for Clue Words- Watch out for "absolutes" - words or phrases meaning always or never. Answers that include absolutes are often incorrect. Be alert for "qualifiers" - words or phrases allowing for exceptions to the rule. Qualifiers often account unusual circumstances that usually makes the answer more acceptable.
Absolute Words: everyone, always, no, necessarily, everything, everybody, definitely, completely, every, impossible, never, none, must, exactly, without, exception, all, cannot, exclusively, only, no matter what
Qualifying Words: generally, occasionally, usually, often, may, most, maybe, some, sometimes, perhaps seldom, on the average, frequently, probably
Do Not Change Answers- After you have completed the test, look over your answers. If you strongly feel that you have made an error, change the answer. However, do not change answers back and forth. Usually a test-taker does more poorly when they start to doubt their own ability. When in doubt, assume you were right the first time.
Give The Answer Found in the Study Material- What the material says and what you think or know to be true may differ. When this happens, you will be tempted to pick the answer that you think is true rather than what the material says is true. Remember, it is not what seems correct to you that counts, but rather what the material says is correct. When answering questions on a multiple choice test, do not answer with your opinion, select the answer found in the study material.
Guess - Your Last Option- There is no penalty for guessing. On a four-part multiple choice test, random guessing on all of the questions should give you an average of 25%. With your knowledge, very few questions should require a guess. Using the above, it should be most unlikely that you would have to guess from among all the answers given. Guessing between two answers you cannot eliminate gives you twice the chance of being correct than if you guessed from among all the answers.
1999 NTDC Main Page | Competition Advice | 1999 State Champions
