Have No Other Choice But CRST.

Just got back from CRST - prepaid myself, also, so I would have a choice. The place is a complete scam. I'm now enrolled with my local community college to complete the CDL program. Read the boards here for months. When people say you don't get a lot of time, it never occurred to me that you would have @ 10 hours behind the wheel training in completing your program. I got sick - everyone's walking around with some CRST crud in various stages -- I had less than 2 hours behind the wheel with them. They kicked me and quite a few others out cuz our skills were not strong enough. Kirkwood's regular program mandates at least 44 hours behind the wheel. Absolute scam. I got half of my money back -- that's @ $625/hour for their training.

You'll be working for 11 cents a mile. Find another avenue.

 

.11 cents is team pay. Each driver gets .11 cents / in other words they pay .22 cents split.
Thought you wanted a Florida terminal. FFE has one in Miami & Winter Haven.

 

Jonathan,

YOU need to call the companies,

some of them will never call you about your application.

http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=truck+driver+trainee&l=Miami-Dade+County%2C+FL

 

I'll tell you what I'm sitting here outside bocci labs in Cali dispatch us to a dead area. My lead accepts all loads but they are crap I can't sleep in a moving vehicle at all. I think that's why I quit the first time. Kirkwood is a garbage school I'm a good driver now but should not have gotten my cdl Mrs Chrissy just liked me . I can't even back right. I also don't think the trainers are trained to train. I would pick a private school if I were you because you do get what you pay for.

 

I say if you can avoid going to their company sponsored training then please do so. They will start you at .22 a mile, but only .11 will be taxable. The other .11 goes toward your per diem. Also, for the per diem they will charge a .2 administration fee. So in reality you will be making .20 a mile, or .10 a mile depending on how you look at things. They also hit you with other charges on top of that, as well as you being indebted to them for 8 months of your life. If I were you i would really try hard looking into getting funding to pay for schooling yourself. You will have more options and way less headache and a little more money in your pocket. However, I do understand that sometimes we just don't have a option, or two few to really take. If that is the case then by all means go with CRST. In the long run, 8 months isnt that long. It may seem like a eternity, but the experience you receive from working for them will last a life time and will soon open up a lot of doors for you to make a good living eventually. Teaming does suck however and it takes some getting use to. You can do it, but only if you have exhausted all other means of obtaining your CDL, or if time isnt just at the essence.

I'm speaking from experience and too was in your position. Not entirely like yours, mine was more because of a misdemeanor. I obtained my CDL through the WIA program, and after that was all said and done, because of a recent stint with the law, CRST was one of the only companies to give me a chance. 1st I worked for Trans Am, and that was just a horrible experience. So after a few months off, I decided to go back OTR and finally gain the experience I needed to get a better job in trucking. CRST hired me and I spent 4 months with them. I hated teaming, but I had a good team driver that made it bearable. Yes, sleeping in a moving truck is hard, in fact it plain sucks, but it's the price that might have to be paid to make it in this industry. Now after 4 months at CRST I made the move to Melton, and couldnt be happier.

We live in a tough state for trucking. With due diligence and good research and help from this board, you will make it. Good luck out there man, and If you need any info about CRST or just want to chat, hit me up. I'll do all that I can to help a future fellow trucker and Floridian out.

 

The program I'm starting in October at a community college not far from you will give you a 1000 hours behind the wheel. Read the comments by bigwuz. Earn your chops and then you have something people want. The program costs @$1850 -- $2000 by the time you add in books. You'd probably be eligible for financial aid. You do have other options.

Good luck.

 

No way around that unless you prepay $2500. You sign the contract before you start the classes. If you don't perform, they do collections, I've heard. Not sure, but they may ding your DAK report, too.

My class at the community college is so great compared to my experience with CRST. There's another guy in the class who went to Iowa a few weeks after I was there. He took the bus there but didn't start the class cuz he didn't want to sign the contract.

If you're still in Miami, contact me and come by the school. It's in Pembroke Pines. Talk with some of the people and get some info. My teacher has been teaching for 21 years. The thing is, you can know your stuff incredibly but that doesn't mean you can teach it. That's important.

Good luck.