Choosing a school to get my Class A CDL took some time. I spoke to a lot of people and looked at…read moreseveral options. The one thing that really stood out to me about CDL Trucking Inc. was that you pay about half the cost of many other schools, but you get true one-on-one training. It's just you and the trainer. That meant a lot to me.
When I first heard about CDL Trucking Inc., I called and left a message. Shortly after, I received a call back from Mickey. You could literally hear the smile in her voice. She clearly loves her job, she's extremely knowledgeable, and she made me feel comfortable from the very first phone call. She even gave me her email in case I had questions because I was still about 4-5 months away from attending the school.
Anytime I emailed her, I would get a reply within 5-10 minutes. If I told her I'd be on break at a certain time, she would actually call me then. That level of professionalism and communication meant a lot. After that experience alone, I decided CDL Trucking Inc. was the place for me. Looking back now, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
When I finally started school and met everyone in person, Mickey was exactly the same as she was on the phone--positive, hardworking, and always smiling. She handles a lot of responsibility, but she never lets it affect the way she treats people. For many students, she's the first person you interact with, and she sets the tone for the whole experience.
I was assigned a trainer named Phil, and I can honestly say he is extremely knowledgeable and patient. I attended pre-trip class every morning at 7 AM for seven days, and the class runs about two hours. To be honest, by the third day I felt overwhelmed and started questioning whether I made the right decision.
I remember talking to Mickey and she told me, "You can do this. You're only on day three. Stop doubting yourself." My trainer Phil also reminded me to stop being so hard on myself and trust the process.
After that, I started staying later each day to practice. Pre-trip class was from 7 AM to 9 AM, my driving training was 9 AM to 11 AM, but I would stay all the way until the school closed just to keep practicing.
During that time I met a gentleman named Berick. At first I didn't even know he was the owner. He took 30 minutes out of his schedule to answer my questions and gave me a system that made learning the pre-trip inspection much easier. The next day I tried the method he showed me, and it worked.
There were days I went home feeling discouraged and doubting myself. But what stood out to me about CDL Trucking Inc. is that the staff doesn't just teach you--they encourage you and genuinely want to see you succeed. At the same time, they make you earn it. They are not just going to hand you a license because they like you. From start to finish, you have to work for it.
On day six, I stayed late again and talked with Berick more. He shared stories from when he used to drive trucks himself, and that's when I realized he was the owner of the company. For someone in that position to take the time to invest in a stranger like me spoke volumes.
By day seven, it was test day. I passed my pre-trip and I passed my parking. Unfortunately, I failed my road test because of lane control. I wasn't focused enough on checking my mirrors every eight seconds like I was trained to do.
But what was remarkable is that nobody lost faith in me. They gave me another opportunity to take the road test.
Today, March 10, I came back to the school. I trained again with Phil at 7 AM, and at 9:15 AM I took my road test again--and I passed.
The road examiners know exactly what they're talking about. If you have questions, any staff member will give you a straight, honest answer.
The best moment of the day was finally being able to ring the bell.
It took me eight days to earn my CDL, and I will never forget this experience.
Thank you to Mickey.
Thank you to my trainer Phil.
Thank you to Berick.
Thank you to my examiner.
And thank you to the rest of the staff who helped me believe in myself.
If you are on the fence about where to go to get your Class A CDL, give CDL Trucking Inc. the opportunity. Their facility is clean, organized, and has plenty of space to train.
I'm forever grateful for the experience.
Thank you again, CDL Trucking Inc.
