Comments By Nathan S.

Chris, So happy to have you following along. Since you are out of Michigan (like me) your CDL won't be available through SOS for 5-7 days after you pass your exam. So I called my recruiter on class day 11 to inform her that I wasn't going to have my physical CDL. They were aware that it takes time and will probably recommend your trip to Joplin carry on as normal.

They will ask you to call them after you pass your CDL exam. Over the next 72 hours, MUCH will happen between CFI and yourself. Many emails, phone calls, and arrangements will be made for your arrival for Orientation (the next Monday after you test out) Just reach out to your recruiter to give him/her any updates you have and to touch base.

Good luck, I know you'll do awesome!!

Hey Nathan, hope all is well! When and from whom did you receive info regarding orientation dates as well as travel arrangements to Joplin? I’m just starting my second week, test out on 6/10, and it’s been smooth sailing so far. Just starting to wonder how it goes from here.

I really appreciate your diary here, it’s really helped me manage expectations of what’s to come! Thanks!

Yaaay I’m glad to have you following along Anne!!

START OF ORIENTATION DIARY

Orientation Eve.... Welcome back everybody to the next segment of my training diary. Hard to believe that I'm already through trucking school. My day started at 1:00 am as I knew full drive time would be over 12 hours if I didn't stop and everything went perfectly. LOL Since that was NEVER going to happen, I allowed myself a few extra hours on the clock to be here between 3-4 pm. Roughly 850 miles later and waaaaay too many potty breaks I have arrived in Joplin, MO roughly around 3:15 PM.

The hotel is pretty nice, it's a LaQuinta (massive place). The CFI shuttle is due to arrive tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM.

Tonight I plan on just relaxing and sleeping. I'm doing my best to calm my thoughts down. As per usual, I'm a bucket of nerves. Seems like whenever I have to do something new, in a new place, meeting people I don't know, everything gets me a bit rattled. I always warm up quickly to people and make friends pretty easily but it's the initial unknown that gives me anxiety?!

Orientation is set to last Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm assuming at this point that the finisher trainer will pick me up on Thursday but I have no confirmation of this (just an assumption)

I'll make sure to post a full update tomorrow evening.

Have a great night and stay safe everyone.

I'm right here waiting, AS WELL !!!! KUDOS, you!!!!!!!

~ Anne ~

That would be awesome! Drive safe sir!!

I will be there on 6-2-21. Hope I get to meet you.

START OF ORIENTATION DIARY

Orientation Eve.... Welcome back everybody to the next segment of my training diary. Hard to believe that I'm already through trucking school. My day started at 1:00 am as I knew full drive time would be over 12 hours if I didn't stop and everything went perfectly. LOL Since that was NEVER going to happen, I allowed myself a few extra hours on the clock to be here between 3-4 pm. Roughly 850 miles later and waaaaay too many potty breaks I have arrived in Joplin, MO roughly around 3:15 PM.

The hotel is pretty nice, it's a LaQuinta (massive place). The CFI shuttle is due to arrive tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM.

Tonight I plan on just relaxing and sleeping. I'm doing my best to calm my thoughts down. As per usual, I'm a bucket of nerves. Seems like whenever I have to do something new, in a new place, meeting people I don't know, everything gets me a bit rattled. I always warm up quickly to people and make friends pretty easily but it's the initial unknown that gives me anxiety?!

Orientation is set to last Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm assuming at this point that the finisher trainer will pick me up on Thursday but I have no confirmation of this (just an assumption)

I'll make sure to post a full update tomorrow evening.

Have a great night and stay safe everyone.

I LOVE this! If this video even translates a little bit too real-life appreciation, I'll be a very lucky new employee! CFI is looking better and better every day.

I love working for a company that truly appreciates drivers. There stood a truck driver.

Test Day

So it's no surprise that how this post is going to end LOL but I thought that I would post today's experience for anyone that is reading this that is about to take the plunge into trucking.

My test was set up with the other two automatic drivers that were in my class with me. I had the middle test at 10:00 am. I arrived around 8:30 am so I could make sure I wasn't late and got into the proper mindset. I decided after much hand wringing that I wasn't going to practice before testing. They do give you the option of doing that but I went with the logic that if I was struggling, it would get in my head. Also, with all the practice on the range, I have had over the last 2 weeks, if I haven't figured it out by now, it ain't happening. LOL

The pre-trip went off without a hitch. I went through the whole in-cab, brake insp, and exterior insp with light check without taking a single point! I'm so happy about this because I put in so much effort to make sure the pre-trip was spot on. In fact, I think having this down perfectly helped me down the road. We then moved into the basic skills maneuvers. I got (life everyone) the straight line back, offset back to the left lane, then sight side parallel back. I went through the straight line with no points, went through the offset with no points but used both my pull-ups and one get out and look. I just couldn't get away from the right side cones and I was afraid I was going to hit them. Come to find out I was lined up perfectly and just had to straight line back through the cones. Lastly, my nemesis the parallel back. Now I have gotten much more comfortable with the parallel over the last week. However, something about this maneuver just gets in my head. I did my approach and after my first maneuver and I'm chasing down the trailer to an "in-line" tractor and trailer approach. The key is to look out your mirror and look for the two outermost cones in the back of the box. All three cones, bad. Less than two cones, bad. I looked and I had NONE!! I completely missed my approach maneuver. So I adjusted twice as I backed slowly to get myself almost two cones. But by this point, I was pretty deep in the box so I quickly moved to bring my tractor into the box. I didn't get my trailer deep enough and I spent 5 pull-ups inching the trailer back and forth into the box. What I should have done was just pull up and reset my approach the first time. Anyway, only took 3 points on the basic skills which is way less than the 12 allowed points.

Off to the road test portion of the test.

Now you would think that getting through the part of the test that I was most scared about would have set my mind at ease. It didn't...I haven't driven in the rain even once in a truck so of course, it starts pouring as we head out to the road. I can't figure out how to increase the speed of the wipers on the Volvo I'm driving. It's approaching lunchtime and our first turn off of the country road the school is on, is to a state highway, with NO TRAFFIC LIGHT!! Car and truck after car and truck. All the inspector keeps telling me is "don't impede traffic". So I'm trying to find a gap. I get one that is "close" but should work. I hit the gas and the truck lurches badly and jumps forward. I pull off the gas and gently retry to accelerate the truck lurches and jumps again. I'm realizing that the truck doesn't have proper traction on the slight incline and significantly wet roadway. She's freaking out thinking I'm slamming on the gas pedal. I apologized profusely and she calmed down some. We chalked it up to poor traction and first time in the rain and she let me continue. The rest of the drive went perfectly. She actually complimented me and informed me that I need to have more confidence because I'm a "good driver"

Overall I took 6 points on the road, 3 in the basic skills test, nothing on pre-trip. So that is a successful CDL test.

It's been a whirlwind and honestly, I met so many great people along the way. The next update will come next week when I start orientation at CFI. Have a great weekend everybody, stay safe, and Happy Memorial Day!!!

Woohoo Hoooooo!!!

Congrats!

Thanks BigScott and John. I'm very excited to get going and start my new adventure.

Hahahaha Anne, I LOVE the dancing dog even more than the bananas!!!! I can breathe and I'm so excited and can't thank you enough for standing by me through the last few weeks. The real training begins next week.

AWESOME !!!

AMAZING !!!!!! CONGRATS !!!!!

KUDOS !!!!

(Only drivers can give out bananas, sadly . . . but Scott will be along shortly; here's mine : )

Good for you, man!

~ Anne ~

ps: NOW, "breathe!" LoL....

Well y’all it’s official I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!! MY GOD ITS OVER!! LOL. At some point I will post a full update on here later with a little humble brag hahahaha But seriously thank you guys and gal!!

It was nice to finally meet you as well. Look forward to working with you and maybe we'll cross paths again down the road! Tomorrow will go awesome I know it!! I'm typically a little bit of a worrier by nature but I'm not going to let that get me in my head lol.

Day 12 End of school....

When I arrived in Perrysburg, OH on May 9th, I didn't know what to expect. I was nervous, excited, hesitant, optimistic, and concerned. Wide range of emotions to say the least. I've never done anything quite like this before. Going out of state, away from friends, family, and my comfort zone. Taking a chance on finding a new career, a new beginning, a chance to find happiness, and let's face it, more money.

I found the last 16 days to be a roller coaster of emotions and success. Learning to drive a truck was actually the easy part. Learning how to control the truck, especially in reverse, well...that's another. All I've learned, all I've seen, heard, and experienced is only the tip of the iceberg. Knowing the learning will not stop or at the very least, slow down for many months to come is both exciting and motivating. It's cool learning a new skill. Knowing that you have a skill set that not everyone does/has. Driving an 80,000 lb truck is nothing to take lightly. My life and those of the ones around me are literally in my hands. I know that I can't take a day off mentally ever again. I must be alert, ready, focused, and engaged at all times when I'm moving down the highway.

I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to go to CFI. The few people I've been in touch with so far are genuinely so kind and welcoming. CFI is taking a chance on me and that is also something I don't take lightly. I look very forward to working hard, and keeping their customers, and property in the best of care!!

Tomorrow is the biggest day in my life that I've had in about 21 years. (when my daughter was born) I'm not going to lie and say that my nerves are settled or that I'm cool, calm, and collected. LOL Do I feel ready? 100% YES!! Do I know what I have to do tomorrow? 100% YES!! All I have to do is execute what I know to do. Seems so simple on my screen, yet...so complex at the same time. I know I have to get out of my own head. I know I have to have the confidence to succeed. I also know that I've done everything I'm going to be asked to do tomorrow, at least 100 times now. So I have to just do it. Plain and simple!!

If you are reading this tonight, I appreciate the prayers. If you are reading this on some other day down the road, I'll still take a prayer HAHA

I will keep posting updates as I move from school to orientation at CFI as well as my finisher/training time with a driver mentor. After all...this isn't the end but rather the beginning of all I have to learn.

Thank you to those that have contributed to these posts. For those who have encouraged me, taking the time to help me. Sincerely, THANK YOU!!! Please do not think I take that for granted. It means the world to me!

Have a wonderful night, stay safe, and here's to a future CDL holder in roughly 16 hours from now!!

It was nice to have finally met you in person. I’m rooting for you, and will definitely say a prayer for you. You got this, you KNOW this. Time to execute.