CFI Training Through Trainco Trucking School

Hey Nathan,

Hope you’re doing well! It definitely has to be tough missing the loved ones at home, but I’m sure it will get easier as you get more comfortable in the job! Maybe you could get some FaceTime in with them? I’m sure you already have that covered.

I just graduated Trainco this past Thursday and am heading to CFI orientation starting Monday morning in Taylor, MI. They’re working on getting me through orientation in 2 days so I can head out with my trainer asap. I’m definitely excited to get started. Maybe we’ll cross each other’s path at some point.

Good luck out there, stay safe and keep your head up!

Chris,

Best of luck to you. If you have or plan on getting a passport and want to go to Canada, you will get to know the great people in Taylor well. They handle all of our cross boarder into and out of Canada.

It's a smaller terminal with free coffee and laundry. They have showers and snack machines.

Don't be shy. You will find some very helpful people at CFI.

I’m located in that area looking into CFI. Thinking maybe work on passport to have in my back pocket. I’ve already graduated. But went back to work driving yard truck and think I want to spread my wings a little lol. This has been a great write up from the poster!

Chris,

Best of luck to you. If you have or plan on getting a passport and want to go to Canada, you will get to know the great people in Taylor well. They handle all of our cross boarder into and out of Canada.

It's a smaller terminal with free coffee and laundry. They have showers and snack machines.

Don't be shy. You will find some very helpful people at CFI.

Kevin, great news. We need drivers. Contact a recruiter and get the ball rolling.

Hey Scott, really appreciate it! Going on day 2 of orientation and they definitely seem like good people over here. Looks like I’ll be headed to Joplin on Friday to meet up with my trainer, looking forward to it!

Nathan I hope you’re still doing well! Must be busy grinding out those miles! Well wishes man.

Chris,

Best of luck to you. If you have or plan on getting a passport and want to go to Canada, you will get to know the great people in Taylor well. They handle all of our cross boarder into and out of Canada.

It's a smaller terminal with free coffee and laundry. They have showers and snack machines.

Don't be shy. You will find some very helpful people at CFI.

Great news Chris. I'll be home next week. Feel free to ask Shannon for my number. She's the one who assigned you to your finisher.

Good luck.

No finisher yet, seems to be a shortage of finishers from what’s being said around the Joplin terminal. Been waiting to find out about my finisher since last Thursday. Sat in a hotel in Joplin all weekend with the impression I’d be getting going first thing today but still have no idea what’s going on. Trying to stay positive but this is getting a little frustrating when no one can give me any clear direction. Others here seem to be in the same boat.

When you're in the terminal , ask Chrissy. She is in the window. She can check with Shannon.

I will be home this week and heading back out July 1st. I'm going to try to get some miles before getting to Joplin for a student. I also never know what else they might need me for when I'm in Joplin.

Feel free to email me direct, in my profile, or ask Chrissy for my number.

Good luck.

Hey everybody!! So sorry for the lengthy delay in keeping everyone updated. My intention all along was to keep this updated frequently but I encountered more challenges on the road than I expected.

So here's my final update....

Let's start with the awesome good news. I have successfully completed the training program at CFI and upgraded to a solo driver yesterday. I will be assigned my own truck as soon as I obtain my physical CDL next week from the Michigan Secretary of State.

In the last update, I was miserable and feeling lonely and lost on the road. I had major doubts about my decision to become a truck driver and even in my ability to drive. The first week on the road with a finisher trainer is so damn hard, frustrating, and confusing. The challenges of living with someone in such a small space aren't easy. He has his own ways of living, daily patterns, how he wants to operate, DRIVE. It's all going to be new and most likely NOT how you would do things. My trainer is a nice guy but I question his abilities to be a successful trainer. He is patient but in certain situations very impatient with how you maneuver or handle the truck in parking lots. He LOVED pulling the highway horn all the time. I am not confrontational and only used the horn 2 times and that was in situations where someone was coming into my lane and I had to alert them to the collision they were about to create.

My patience with him was on edge for the first few weeks. I did have a couple of moments where I lost my temper with him but apologized and got back to just being a student and trying to learn from him as best as I could. Remember that you are there solely to be a sponge and learn from them. No matter how good, or crappy, they might be, there is always something you can learn from anybody.

Last three weeks I traveled all over the country. Drove up to Seattle through the mountains and back to Chicago. All throughout the southeast and mid-America. I saw so many cool places. Learned so much about the realities of trucking. Driving the truck is easy, dealing with all the crazy shippers and receivers. Poorly laid out parking lots, no direction when you arrive, waiting hours and hours for them to do their job so you can continue on with yours!! The best advice I can give you is to stay positive, and calm. Don't stress out too much and remember that learning experiences come in all shapes and sizes.

By the end of the three weeks, all I wanted to do was to GET OFF THAT TRUCK!!! I wanted to go home and see my family, my cat, and not have to think about trucking for a few days. I believe all those feelings are normal and to be expected when you are in a new situation.

So after 21 days, you will head to your upgrade terminal. They chose North Jackson, OH for me as it is closer to home than Joplin, MO. I wish I could say that the transition was smooth. It was anything but smooth. My trainer and I tried for 4 days to get CFI to arrange our hotel, my rental car, and his way home. We never got much in the way of answers and ended up in Ohio with only the name of the hotel and what time to be back at the terminal the next morning. They never arranged for my rental car and I was told to remove all my stuff from the truck and hang at the terminal for further instructions. Literally, 20 mins later I was loading all my stuff back onto his truck as he was my ride to Taylor, MI terminal as they "couldn't find me a rental car." Well, that's the type of crap that happens when you wait till the literal last minute to find a rental car on Friday afternoon. So CFI is a really good company but like all companies, they do have their issues. So hang in there, give it time and everything will fall into place.

I'm home for at least a week as I wait for my appointment to get my CDL. I'm happy and excited to see what the future holds for me at CFI.

With that, this little training diary journal comes to an end. Thank you to those who commented, followed along, encouraged me, and gave me advice. For those on their own journey at CFI and reading this, hang in there! Don't give up and remember that the 21 days WILL go by and you WILL be out on your own before you know it! You can do it!!! All it takes is determination and patience.

Stay safe, stay positive and see ya out on the road!!

Nathan

Congratulations! Just so you know there is a serious rental car shortage in the country. Since there is no guarantee that a student will upgrade, they can't reserve one to far in advance.

Good luck with everything. If you have any questions or need help with anything feel free to call or text.

No the learning starts.

Who did your upgrade, Dave or Rose?