Minnesota Driver Completes 90-day English Course and Passes CDL A Exam

What does a farm truck in Spain, a pizza place and an online English course have in common? Feliciano Loja Saeteros.

A native of Cuenca, Ecuador, about an eight-hour drive south from the capital city of Quito, Feliciano has never been one to shy away from hard work or a challenge. So, when he was asked if he’d like to complete an online English course to help prepare for a CDL A exam, he didn’t think twice about the opportunity.

Feliciano first came to the United States 19 years ago with his wife, Cristina. Soon after, he attended an adult school for English for a few months to assist with his job search. He landed a job making deliveries for an electronics store and also made pizzas before joining Johnson Brothers as a temporary worker. Almost immediately, team members noticed his impressive work ethic, and he accepted a permanent position as a driver; a job he has always enjoyed from his earlier years driving a truck for a farm in Spain.

His supervisors knew he was a dedicated team member. They also knew his English proficiency was a roadblock to advancing his career and wanted to change that. Senior Director of Corporate Training Jesse Robertson was brought in to help Feliciano prepare for the exam, and he was excited to assist.

“I found Verbling, interviewed instructors, found a great fit and helped him get set up,” said Robertson. “From there he had a lot of support along the way from his team here at Johnson Brothers, and he clearly worked hard on his own.”

The chance to study English with a live instructor through Verbling was very exciting to Feliciano. For 90 days, from October 2021 through January 2022, he completed 20 classes with an online instructor.

When it was time to take the CDL A exam, he was confident that he was ready but still felt nervous.  Minnesota-based driver trainer Jason Slaughter told him that being a bit scared was normal, and that he could relax because he knew he was ready and that he would pass. On February 1, he did just that!

Slaughter was someone along the way who had taken a special interest in seeing Feliciano succeed.

“Feliciano has been a successful delivery driver for quite some time now, and he showed great motivation and drive in pursuit of his Class A License,” he said. “I am thoroughly impressed with the way Johnson Brothers handled the request to help him advance and provide English classes! His dedication and determination inspired me to give him as much effort as I possibly could. The gigantic smile and utter happiness on his face after he passed made it all worth it. I have to say Chad, his language coach, did a fantastic job with Feliciano, and I think this entire experience was eye opening not just for me but, for everyone involved. Feliciano’s success is proof that you really can do anything you set your mind to.”

Today, Feliciano and Cristina live in south Minneapolis with their three sons ages 4, 11 and 12. He is grateful for the opportunity, appreciates Johnson Brother’s confidence in him and believes he has a bright future ahead.

We do too, Feliciano. Congratulations!