They are the only pay to train CDL option available (that I'm aware) for those that live in the Central Florida area. It's a team exclusive proposition, too. Even if that could be stomached for 8 months, man.. that .11 cents a mile thing really stinks. If the numbers are accurate from their website, (and I have the facts straight) the salary you recieve for the first 2-3 months may be the most money you recieve on a weekly basis until your 8 month contract is fulfilled. Back to the team situation, whew.. I don't know how I could sleep knowing another green-as-I-am rookie is at the wheel. I think I could handle being away from home 6 months at a time but I know for SURE coming home in a pine box is NOT an option.

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Bob
Unwilling Midlife Crisis Participant

This sounds kind of strange to me. How many miles did you drive? If he was paid .11/mile, it means you only drove 110 miles. To me this sounds like the problem isn't so much the rate of pay, but the number of miles you drove. I must be missing something. Can you elaborate?

.11 a mile would be counting all paid miles. the rate is .22 (months 2 and 3), but as with any team operation you split either the pay or the miles. In the case of CRST it is split miles, but the pay rate is the same whichever way you calculate it. If he was expecting .22 a miles for all truck miles that would be why he was/is disappointed. You did half the work, it only stands to reason you get half the pay.

You are right about their contract tho. It is a huge mistake!

His paycheck might have a few other factors. First off they are going to take $40 a week from him for his school deduction. Then if he got bridge insurance there goes another $50 a week. Then does he have any child support coming out? Did he have any cash advances? My first co-driver was in a similar situation and it turned out he kept grabbing small cash advances. It may not seem like much to take out $30 here and $20 there. But before you know it you are $500 in the hole, with the $40 and $50 a week continually being taken out. It literally took him 3 months to come out of the hole. Meanwhile he lost nearly everything he owned. But managing your money better on the road would have saved him a lot of frustration. Anyway CRST does use some creative methods in payroll. I think their goal is to keep you broke as long as you are under contract. Keep you too broke to quit. Notice they never send you on toll approves runs if they know you are broke, but the day you get paid here comes a trip that will break you?

Thats is not true! I started off making .28 cent per mile with split miles. He was only making .22 per mile split miles. But .11 aka half of his mileage rate was goin to crst to pay for his schooling. I was experienced when i went there so I made more. His advances were killing him. Ok say we ran 5,000 miles that week--he made .11 x 2500=$275 for his portion. This is where they get the people that go to their school. Out of their school they start people # .22 per mile. with teams you split the miles but both drivers dont neccessarily make the same amout of pay. They pretty much rob the ones that go to their school. When they come outta school starting at .22 per mile -- they take half or .11 to pay for the schooling for either 1 yr or 18 months--i forget.

My bring home was around 600 per week mainly because i didnt go to their school. Yes i was making more but what they was paying him==they took half of it to pay for crst schooling.

It says you have 3 years experience. Which would put you with CRST long before my time. I dont doubt at all what you say, I just know thats not the way they do it now. That being the way they obviously used to do things, it's no wonder they still have so many empty seats.

Ya that was 3 yrs ago when this happened. I am horrible at explaining things but I felt sorry for the guy. He had 4 kids to take care of too. Sometimes he was lucky to have a check but he got discouraged easily cuz he wasnt making anything. Half of what he made they took anyways. The way it was back then they start em # .22 but take .11 of it for their schooling if you went to a crst school. I am guessing if its changed since then its prolly cause someone sued them over it. I havent really looked into CRST much since i left them a few yrs ago. Good luck to ya!

I dont think CRST is a bad company but they could pay a bit more. We got good miles with them, so couldnt complain there. We had an awesome dispatcher and she kept us moving on air freight. Mostly cali-ohio and back. LOL

The CRST recruiter I talked to was very low pressure. Despite .11cpm, I've seen other pay scales (for team training options) that were right in the same ballpark. And an 8 month contract is the shortest I know of. (Many are 18-24 months) Gotta pay the dues no matter how you do it or who you do it with, of course. The South Florida Community College in Avon Park offers a 10 week (320 hour) CDL-A course for $3000.00. Weird that only 2-3 counties over, it's less than half that (1481.00) at the Pinellas Technical Educational Center in St. Pete. Go figure. By the way, neither of these programs were available for a Pel Grant.

Anyway, I think now days at CRST, the 8 month program pays the loan off. Definately a better deal to pay for it up front, no matter.

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"Company-sponsored training to get your CDL with an 8-month contract
If you need to obtain your class A CDL, but lack the funds to do so, we offer an outstanding company-sponsored training program. With no credit checks! In return, we ask that you work for CRST Van Ex for eight months. At the end of eight months, you are free to stay or leave, it’s that simple. You will sign an 8-month contract and be what we call a “contract” student. CRST will not deduct the cost of your training from your paychecks.
As you will read later, you will be responsible for paying a CRST processing fee of $50 on the first day of school and any fees related to obtaining your class A permit and license. These fees vary by state and are usually less than $100, although there are some exceptions.

Payroll Deductions to Expect

The items listed below are paid for by CRST up front. These items are only for costs associated with school. CRST will pay for transportation and lodging to orientation. Paycheck deductions will begin after your sixth week of employment with CRST. Your total payroll deductions will not exceed $40 per week for all of these items combined.

1. Bus Ticket to or from school - This cost depends on the distance traveled. If you provide your own transportation there will be no deduction.

2.DOT Physical/DOT drug and alcohol test - The total cost is $100 ($50 for each).

1. Lodging - The hotel cost on average is $150 per week. If you do not use our lodging, there will be no deduction.

Prepayment plan to get your CDL with no contract and a higher starting rate of pay!
Another option to obtain your CDL is to prepay your training costs. In return, you do not have to sign any contract and you will start driving at a higher rate of pay than a contract student. (You would be a
“non-contract” student.) The prepayment amount is $2,500 and must be paid prior to starting school by money order, or it may be charged to a credit card. Compare this to private truck schools that charge $3,000 to $5,000 for a class A CDL!
Under this plan, you do not have to pay the CRST processing fee of $50, for transportation to school, for the physical or drug test, or for lodging. You do have to pay for any CDL permit or licensing fees. "
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__________________
Bob
Unwilling Midlife Crisis Participant

Ya--this was 3 yrs ago and I am sure they got caught up in something somewhere. I just hope for new students out there they dont have to go through that. I didnt have to but just had to put up with a co driver that went through these issues. They were truly robbing him blind. I hope they are better now at their contracts. Like i said--i had no problems with the company itself--they could pay a little more but they got the miles for sure or they did when i drove for them.