Hubby and I went to CFI in Joplin for their orientation last Monday. We were rather excited as we'd heard only good about these guys from drivers on the road.
Apparently there are some new things going on there (since the buyout by Conway? not sure) but I'll tell ya, it was a nightmare!
First day, get in class; instructor up on podium talking *at* us. No introduction, no "glad you're here"; very cold and verging on rude. "Don't dare be late to class; we're watching your every move, wear your name tag (so they know who you are?), do what we say, don't ask too many questions - questions later; we are pressed for time, rush rush rush. They may pull some of you out of class - *the boom*?
Hubby and I were looking at each other within a half hour thinking "uh oh" what did we do?
Pee test time, and then out of class, out to their *range*. They bragged to us that their range is the same one used in the World Truck Driving Championships! Well, I don't know about you, but hubby and I weren't and aren't interested in being *champions*. We are both good drivers, no tickets, no accidents, no incidents in three years. We pride ourselves on our record.
These guys apparently don't give a rat's patootie about your safety record unless it's bad - then you're gone. <huh???????>
So, we are given a FAST rushed walk-through of this range/course and then told we will each drive it. NO stopping (except on the simulated scale for measurements and the other two places they measure where you put the nose of tractor and DOT bumper of trailer). Okay, not tough right? They tell us we will be scored, don't tell us what a passing score is or what any of it will actually mean.
Keep in mind this is the first thing we are doing here at this company. We are looking around at each other going - "huh?". All 18 of us had 2 or more years of experience. We all know how to drive.
So, one by one we go through this thing. It's a stop on simulated scale (measure), do a 3 part serpentine around barrels, do a hard right turn (missing the fence that makes it super tight - but it is doable), go through an offset alley, then stop with nose on the line, then stop with DOT bumper on the line, then a hard right, go straight, put your nose right into a super tight left turn (90 degree followed by another 90 degree), then around a barrel to the right, then another left and around and back to the start. Sounds easy right? RIIIIIGHT! :roll:
Out of 18 of us, one (my husband) scored a 69, one scored a 62, and another got a 63, and one a 50. The rest of us scored in the 30s. I personally scored a 39. I was 5th or 6th I think out of 18 people. They wouldn't tell us the passing score, so we were all standing around going "HUH?"
Then we did backing. Easy, piece of cake. It's set up so that when you turn the corner to the right, you're perfectly set up to back (sight side) into the slot. Okay, no problems there. Most of us scored near 100 (they told us 100 was the top score possible). Two of the people didn't get the backing. Tried twice, were pulled off the truck. Okay, well we *do* have to know how to back up don't we? That part made sense.
Then next day, physicals and trip planning, and then road test time. We all did well to excellent. The scores were given to us then too but keep in mind we know NOTHING about what it all means. Everyone passed that part.
Both days were LONG. First day like 10 hours, second day like 11 hours. We were whipped and dipped by then.
Third day, more paperwork in the morning, benefits, etc. Then Smith System (they're big on it which is a good thing in my opinion). Anyway, during the Smith lecture, one by one people are being called out of class, taken to Safety and being told they are gone. So, when my turn came, I followed the guy up to Safety and that guy tells me "Sorry you missed the range by ONE point. You needed a 40". He comments on how excellent my other scores were, but you needed to pass that range. You can reapply in six months. <as if.....LOL>
So I went back to class, gave them back their nifty name tag and hubby followed me outside. He declined their job needless to say....what's he gonna do? Go without me? I don't think so.
To make a long story short, out of 18 people there were two left of which one would have been my husband. So out of 18 they had one guy left when we departed.
Go to the hotel (and to their credit it was a nice Holiday Inn) and checked out and bailed. One other couple told me that the head of recruiting was calling and saying "I need to get you people out of there". We didn't get such a call, we just left.
The thing that got me was WHY on earth wait until day THREE to tell us all this? We wasted a bunch of money and time going there. If they'd have told us day one, we could have left without going through all that other b.s.
The weird thing is - on Day two when we got back to the hotel, someone (from CFI?) had placed a ballcap on our pillows with a cookie and their newsletter. HUH???????? If they knew we were gone - why bother with all this junk?
We were told they'd reimburse us for our gas down (up to price of a bus ticket) and of course we got none of that. We did get the $25 a day for two of the days.
Anyway, my opinion of CFI?
BE AFRAID......BE VERY AFRAID.
Perhaps this is all because of the changes with Conway taking them over - don't know - but even Recruiting seemed surprised at what happened to us. Maybe the newbies there have it better - don't know - but man, the whole experience is like a bad dream to us.
'Nuff said.
CFI Fiasco
I've also heard some nightmarish things about CFI's training in Joplin. Maybe they'll loosen up in the future. You might wanna consider Schneider National as a company. I've heard nothing but good things about them. 8)
