My CRST experience was not bad at all.......other than getting sick

CRST training center/dorms in Cedar Rapids,IA should be quarantined. My month long stay during my training I got bronchitis and strep. Other students had flu,walking pneumonia and many other things. They do nor have the building properly vented and where doing indoor construction at the time. Too bad nobody called health dept. The training center staff is awesome! Josh is great. Guido who does orientation is great as well. If you are a guy and like to wear your pants low,Rita the maintenance lady will literally pull them up. Ladies you are guaranteed to be sexually harassed. I was daily. Men there are scavengers but some are respectful. Dorm rooms are not the best but its a place to lay your head. Three beds to a room. So you do get roomies. If ever issues notify front desk and ask to be moved or placed at the hotel. You generally go to the hotel when you are about to begin orientation. I was at Howard Johnson. No fridge or microwave in room and its an older hotel. Word was Red Roof Inn was the place to be. Many food options around hotels. At dorm you are on your own for food. People will steal out of the fridges. People grill food outside too. They do walmart runs but small amount of shopping time. Delivery is limited. Pizza Hut,Dominos,Papa Johns,China King and Jimmy Johns. Buffalo Wild Wings about a block and half away. Grocery store called Fareway a block away. Good little cafe next door called Rise N Dine. If you are there to get a cdl. Study study study for the permit. I advise taking the shuttle the first day to dmv to get an idea of what is on the permit test. It is multiple choice. Basic knowledge. Combination vehicles. And air brakes are what you are tested on. cristcdl.com was very helpful to me for permit. Once you have permit in hand you are ready for Kirkwood to learn to drive the trucks. Its not exactly hands on with class instructors. Driving instructors are awesome though! So far all is good as owner ops here. Miles and pay are great. My experience is a positive one. Some people have bad but they make it that way. The company is what you make it. Treat dispatch with respect and they got your back. I'm not saying kiss there butt. Just treat them like a person not your anger venting system.

 

Exactly!!! My husband was with a very good small company. He has 8 years. He wanted to be able to drive with me so he left and followed me. It is so annoying how people complain about companies. Its your own fault if you have a problem. As for the trucks here. Ours is fantastic. Yeah we waited near a week to get it but it is worth it. Again drivers fault for piece of crap trucks. As an owner op here you have a huge right to speak up over a company driver. Be specific on what you want for your truck. Don't just sign the lease and take whatever. That's stupid! So again. Got problems,your fault. Not everyone has a negative experience
My only negative was getting strep and bronchitis which I've never had. All because people don't know basic hygiene when sick and can't afford medication. Which is ridiculous because they help you if you need it that bad. Talk to your recruiter.

 

That's why you got a POS you went company. I went owner and got to have a say in what I wanted. And no I won't be elsewhere in a year. I just love how you judge someone. Sorry but I have goals and I can make them here. Yeah company pay is crap everyone knows that. That's why I am not complaining. If you don't like what people post then don't read it or comment. I simply shared my experience was all. Not post to getinto some argument with someone

 

I know what or is FYI! If you where letting people know of your experience then maybe you shouldn't have made it sound more like a personal message toward me. Just saying............



QUOTE=cyn1123;3107966]Exactly!!! My husband was with a very good small company. He has 8 years. He wanted to be able to drive with me so he left and followed me. It is so annoying how people complain about companies. Its your own fault if you have a problem. As for the trucks here. Ours is fantastic. Yeah we waited near a week to get it but it is worth it. Again drivers fault for piece of crap trucks. As an owner op here you have a huge right to speak up over a company driver. Be specific on what you want for your truck. Don't just sign the lease and take whatever. That's stupid! So again. Got problems,your fault. Not everyone has a negative experience
My only negative was getting strep and bronchitis which I've never had. All because people don't know basic hygiene when sick and can't afford medication. Which is ridiculous because they help you if you need it that bad. Talk to your recruiter.[/QUOTE]

Id

 

Seriously......wow. I'm not saying they are great! AGAIN just sharing my experience through training like all other NEW drivers OMFG! And before you go off saying this would mean more coming from someone more experienced. Who the hell gives a crap! Its an experience I had and chose to share not post.to get grief from drivers