Part 3: Test Day

After weeks of studying, practicing pre-trip inspections, backing a trailer, driving on the road, spending time in the simulator and getting more comfortable behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer, I have officially passed my Class A CDL exam!

But it didn't happen exactly the way I had pictured it. And looking back, I think that's an important part of the story.

Test Day

Going into my CDL test, I was excited, nervous and ready to put everything I had learned at CNS Driver Training Center to the test.

The first portion was the pre-trip inspection.

I practiced it repeatedly throughout my training. Walking around that truck, identifying components, explaining what I was looking for and demonstrating what I had learned had become part of my daily routine.

I passed! One section down.

Next came the yard exercises.

This was where all those hours of practicing backing and maneuvering the tractor-trailer were supposed to pay off.

And then came the offset backing exercise.

I accumulated too many points.

I failed.

That One Hurt

I'm not going to pretend I wasn't disappointed. I was devastated.

I worked hard to get to this point. I had people following my journey, CNS was documenting the experience, my coworkers and PMTA members were rooting for me, and most importantly, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.

I knew how to perform the maneuver. I had practiced it. But on that day, during the test, I didn't get it done.

That meant I wasn't moving on to the road portion, and my first attempt at earning my Class A CDL was over.

It would have been easy to spend the next few days replaying every mistake in my head. Instead, I had to remind myself of something that this entire experience had been teaching me:

Keep learning. Keep practicing, and get back in the truck.

Four Days Later

Four days later, I was back. This time, I knew exactly what test day felt like. I knew where I had struggled, and I knew what I needed to do, and I passed the yard exercises.

Then came the final piece of the entire journey, the road test.

This was the moment when everything I had been learning came together. The classroom instruction, simulator work, pre-trip training, backing exercises and hours behind the wheel had all been building toward actually demonstrating that I could safely operate a Class A commercial vehicle on the road, and I passed!

My Class A CDL exam was complete.

After all the preparation, training, nerves, excitement, frustration and one very disappointing test day, I had accomplished the goal I set for myself.

Now I'm waiting for my Class A CDL license to arrive in the mail.

That's an incredible sentence to be able to write.

More Than a License

When I started this journey, earning a CDL was certainly the goal. But I also wanted to experience a part of the trucking industry that I interact with every day in my role at PMTA.

I wanted to better understand what it takes to become a professional driver.

I certainly don't pretend that completing CDL school suddenly gives me the experience or knowledge of professional drivers who have spent years or decades on the road.

If anything, this experience has made me respect them even more.

I've learned firsthand that these vehicles don't operate like cars. I've learned how much thought goes into maneuvering a tractor-trailer. I've learned the importance of inspections, safety, patience and awareness.

And I've learned that sometimes you can prepare, practice and still not get it right the first time.

A Community Behind Me

One of the things I'll remember most about this experience is how many people took an interest in the journey.

My colleagues at PMTA encouraged me. PMTA members asked how training was going and rooted for me along the way. Other students offered encouragement and shared the experience with me.

And, of course, there were the instructors and staff at CNS Driver Training Center who helped take me from studying for my permit to operating a tractor-trailer and ultimately passing my CDL exam.

CNS also documented the journey along the way. Being filmed during training—and sitting down for interviews at different milestones—gave me an opportunity to stop and reflect on what I was learning and how I was feeling throughout the process.

I'm grateful that I'll have that record of the experience.

I Did It

When I look back at where this started, it's amazing.

I walked into a CDL permit prep class.

I passed General Knowledge, Combination Vehicles and Air Brakes.

I earned my Class A permit.

I completed my DOT physical and received my medical card.

I learned pre-trip inspection and load securement.

I trained on the simulator.

I climbed behind the wheel.

I learned to back a trailer.

I drove a tractor-trailer on public roads.

I failed part of my first CDL test.

I came back four days later.

And I passed, I'm excited and PROUD

And I'm definitely relieved, but most of all, I'm grateful.

Thank you to CNS Driver Training Center for giving me this opportunity and guiding me through the process. Thank you to my colleagues at PMTA and to the PMTA members who followed along, checked in and encouraged me. And thank you to everyone else who offered advice, support or simply asked me how it was going.

There were a lot of people rooting for me, and that meant more than you probably realized.

I set out with a goal of earning my Class A CDL and learning more about the industry and the professional drivers PMTA represents.

Mission accomplished.

Now I just have to wait for that license to show up in the mailbox!