Looks like CRST wants to bring me on.

You are an inspiration to ma Gravdigr! Keep it up man! I aspire to be a flatbedder too.

 

You can research until your face falls off but until you get out in the real world you haven't got clue as to what is really like out here.

All we are trying to do by sharing our experience with you is trying to save you from becoming just another person that was chewed up and spit out by the system.

So it boils down to this ..... Do people make it by doing the slave labor routine ? Yes they do ! Is it the only way to do it ? No

Is it the best way to do it ? Not even close .

You can have all the RIGHT attitude you want but it won't change the facts !

The fact is 12 cents a mile is 12 cents a mile and 3 to 5 hundred a week is starvation wages !

If you just have to have free schooling and you just have to it today and you have got a really good attitude and all you need to do to make it in trucking is get started somewhere and pay your dues than by all means go for it .

Just don't come back telling how horrible the company is and how they screwed you and all the other woe is me I can't believe that it happened to me routine because you have been warned and more than once .

It just kills me to see so many new people think that we are telling you this to hold you back when all we are trying to do is save you from yourselves.

So now I will just sit back and wait for someone to ask what ever happened to the good old days when drivers would help each other out as I shake my head and wonder just how much more help I can give.

I hope this helps someone make a better choice and if not I am sorry that I didnt give the answer you wanted to hear all I can do is tell the truth as I know it to be .

 

Just keep in mind that there is no "perfect" company. Take any of the training companies. I can assure you, at some time, someone is fussing about them. CRST happens to draw more attention because of the amount of people they put on the road each year. When you are broke, and dont have a choice, its not a bad thing, just shows that you are willing to fight for what you want.

 

Crst is a big company they make a lot of claims like higest miles in the industry. Company sponsored training is nothing more than sticking you with another wannnabe that knows nothing all they try to do is get miles they will push the lease purchase on you for sure stay away from that.be careful with these guys.

 

That is not necessarily true. I happen to personally know of at least one great trainer with crst, he was my trainer at PAM. He went to crst to get his own truck and became a trainer there. Very good guy who is very organized and knows his stuff and will TEACH you. I still talk to him from time to time.

Now I will agree that the CRST van division lease purchase is not very good, there are much better options. I went with the crst malone L/P, which is much better than the van division. Paper logs, no qualcom, get your own loads, plus I want to do flatbed and it's nice having the same trailer every day.

Now if I am an inspiration just know this, I busted my butt to get where I am. I have spent many hundreds of dollars (maybe thousands) on my continuing education. OOIDA webinars are $50 each, I have bought books and audiobooks, attended seminars and went to the mid america truck show in louisville, ky attending seminars by everyone from Kevin Rutherford to the FMCSA. I read magazines and the trucker newspaper to keep up to date on the changes coming in the indusrty.

It was a lot of work but necessary to get what I want out of this industry.

 

Gearjammer, if dnt have any experience and if you already have ur CDL then go heard close ur eyes go with CRST for the experience, dnt signe no 8 months contrac with them. they pay is not gud at all since u dnt no experience and CRST is da only big company dat hire dat far down south. but get ready to away from home for a while

 

Hey look since u live in boyton beach why not make the sacrifist drive down to Mc Fatter Technical Center they offer dat programm there thats where I got my CDL last year its a 2 months programm and u apply for financial Aid they will pay for u all u have to do is buy the books and supply its only 200 dollars. if need more info just PM me

 

What do you think being indentured to CRST is?? It's a loan, pure and simple and with (likely) 18% rates if you don't do your time.

Community College (like where I am) runs in the $1500 range and you can choose with whom you wish to work for when you get done (including CRST) and many of the 'starter' companies will reimburse your tuition. Student loans are fairly easy to come by, and you can probably finance your books as well.

Think long and hard about your options and don't get in a hurry for a "career change, pronto".

Good luck and best wishes.......

 

Anybody want to guess the ending to this story ?

 

Happily ever after lol

Ethan