My experience with CRST

Yeah, some of those drivers are pretty sketchy. When I was driving through PA, it was like 2am, I was behind a CR England truck. I wanted to switch lanes and pass him, because CRST trucks are faster and because the guy in the England truck was swerving a bit. But, in the lane next to mine, this guy from Werner was giving me a hard time. He had nobody in front of him, and I knew he could easily pass England who was slower than both of us. Werner would slow down just enough to where he would be next to England, then speed up like he was going to get in front of him, then let off and fall back. Just so I couldn't pass. Then, after about a half hour Werner took off and passed up England.

I was pretty annoyed. I then went to change lanes to pass England and all of a sudden England drifts into the second lane, then back to the right, then back left, then back right and almost goes off the road. I let off immediately and started falling back. England finally pulled over, I just kept driving, I was already late due to my co-driver and now Werner. But, when I went to change lanes and England drifted into my lane, his trailer was about what looked like 6 inches from taking out the front of my Freightliner. I also saw a few of England, CRST and JB Hunt trucks rolled over or crashed off the road. It's mainly because these companies are putting newbies through school's who will pass anybody with a pulse, wether they know how to drive or not, and then giving them a trainer, who may or may not teach them what they need to learn. I was lucky with my trainer but others from my class were not.


Lucky

 

I thought that, too lol. But the guy was talking to me for a while, and he had pictures of the 3 CRST trucks that hit the shack. Hard to mistake the big gold truck with giant CRST written on the side lmao. He said every time he sees a gold rig coming he braces himself lol. He was a pretty cool guy though, very helpful.


Lucky

 

Beware, also have heard on this forum that a lot of the megas turn their "money owed" situations over to third party collection agencies. Helps them to be able to point the finger at somebody else when someone claims they are bing harassed.

Best of luck to you. Trucking might still be in your future![/QUOTE]


Sorry, I should have written that out better, it's my day off and I am taking care of several things lol. Yeah, the "hold" is for the diploma. CRST makes you pay out of pocket for your CDL. So, they can not take back your CDL lol or put a hold on it. But, I will either have to pay them back for the "schooling" I received to get my diploma or start from scratch again. I didn't get a lot of info from the attorney but from what I did get, he seemed like he knew what he was talking about. Like he had dealt with similar cases. I can get a local job if I wanted too. I called around my town and talked to a couple companies who just want a CDL, it's hourly work, all local. But, I got a call back for an Apprenticeship so I took that job. Mainly for the better pay. California is so dang expensive lol, if you make less than $12 an hour here, you will struggle. Unless you have roommates or live with family. I really appreciate all your guys replies and input.


Lucky

 

That is why I made this post lol. I didn't see to many detailed posts on CRST other than people just saying it sucked, but not really saying why. There are much better companies I am sure than CRST. I am pretty sure CRST pays the lowest out of everyone of these starter companies also. With per diem you make 10cpm. On top of the sitting you will do, look forward to $150 a week IF that. The messed up truck they gave me broke down twice and I had to sit at the OK terminal for 4 days to wait for it to get fixed. I think they give you like $30 for waiting that long. But, they don't give it to you until you complete your next job and then they add it into your next paycheck.

You could probably make the same or more money working at McDonalds and still be home every night rather than starve with CRST and be gone for 28 days straight, risking your life for pennies with some of these co drivers. I would NEVER team again. EVER! lol


Lucky

 

Yeah, I know it is a pretty long post. I was just trying to fit everything in to explain the full story. But, yeah I agree. You can have a yard sale every weekend and make more than CRST pays you sometimes lol. I know that I could've done things differently with my co-driver. But, honestly, I would have had to get off the truck wherever I was at, pay out of my pocket for a cab, pay out of my pocket for a motel. Until they found me someone to team with. I didn't have enough to eat most the time. For one whole week with my co-driver, I ate ritz crackers and bottled water..

They pay you every Tuesday and Thursday I believe. If you turn in your paperwork by Monday, you get payed Tuesday, if you turn it in Tuesday, you get payed Thursday. So if you are stuck somewhere away from a place to scan in your paperwork on wednsday, and you can't scan it until Friday, then you are screwed until the following Tuesday to get payed. You can only take advances on week days and those advances cost you. They really take advantage of their drivers.

I just wanted people considering this company to know what really goes on. The recruiters and even the people at the terminal lie to your face about EVERYTHING. They will give you the answers they know that YOU want to hear, NOT the truth. They make it sound like you will make $500 a week. When I met guys who showed me their pay stubs that said $50. And you can't get your money put into your own bank account, it goes on a Comdata card. You have to pay Comdata to transfer every paycheck onto your bank card and then it takes a couple days to transfer. And not everywhere accepts Comdata so you have to pay outrages fees for Comdata and ATM fees to get your money out. OR write Comchecks to cash.

You also have 30 days to register for their health, dental insurance program. Which not everyone can do, because nobody has a computer and the 30 days starts when you go out on the road.. it's ridiculous. They also took away the WiFi at the terminal for no reason. So laptops and tablets are useless there.

This company should not even be considered an option for aspiring truckers. You will be stressed out way more than you will be happy with CRST. Trust me.


Lucky