CRST was a horrible experience

I am a driver here at CRST and let me shed some light on something for you and I am not going to be very nice. You came here to learn to drive a truck and get a license and you got that. You aren't going to get an ounce of sympathy from me and here is why. In reading your recap of what you went through you are a newbie and newbies have to pay their dues. There isn't a company out here that hires newbies that is going to give you a break. Your not going to get the best runs and your going to have to adjust your lifestyle to that of being a truck driver. This is not the life for everyone. This is why more fall out than stay in. They cannot cope with this lifestyle.

Instead of bad mouthing the company, why don't you look at it as you got a first hand experience into how this game works. You want home time at your own control, then become a owner-operator. When you came onboard, you were told what your compensation was going to be per mile and I am certain you were made aware that the miles are split. People boo hoo about what they make, and you know what, a lot of people would love to make or take home $500.00 a week in this crap bag economy. You have health benefits here, most in America now have to go out onto the Obama up your ### health marketplace and try to get affordable health care, good luck on that jack. Your health benefits package adds another $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 per year to your compensation package.

I am not saying what happened to you is your fault but in a way it is because like most things in life, if you don't like what your getting man up and take control. You obviously did not take control of the situation and now you find yourself in the boat your in.

 

I made this post almost two weeks ago. It appears I was right, a one post wonder with no details about how or why he got hurt. It sure gets old this happening all the time. This thread is a waste of bandwith unless hopefully someone reads it and decides against reporting one sided "they did me wrong" comments, or they decide to make an informed post and follow up with real answers to questions..

 

I thought it was Cedar Rapids "Steal" Transport

 

Working for training wheels companies sucks. A new driver just needs to suck it up and do a solid, safe year. It is a learning experience. After that year go to a company that requires 1 year of safe experience. That is a step up. Then stay there for 2 years. With 3 total years of solid experience, much better opportunities are available, maybe even a daycab job.

 

Just because a company requires experience doesn't automatically mean it's a "step up"

 

LOL That's a funny term!

 

"OTR is a lonely life and a thankless job with not a whole lot of money to be made."
I've always heard OTR drivers make really good money after the first year (good being at least 45k per year). What were you referring to monetarily?

 

Yeah. I TOTALLY agree. I had bad experience with them in 98.I picked them because you didnt need a co-signer.First day they stuck me with a hot head trainer. He drove all the way from mo to Terre a haute Indiana without stopping.He had road rage bigtime! I sort of had to TRAIN HIM on anger management. He squared off at another trucker at a TStop in parking lot( thought he was going too fast) and a pantera hippie unloader in Sacremento that wanted us to help unload.He drove fast and we never stopped moving(except for fuel) CRST trainer truck ( would do 72 instead of 62.I was about ready to get him in a headlock after 30 days. On a good note I can say his backing skills were killer and he was good at modifying his log sheet to look legit.Pretty good ole boy I guess.Next put me with another student to run team. Couldn't sleep too well with him grinding gears. Next checked my Com check card $237.00 on there for 32 days out. All trip packs turned in.They take everthing out drug test,physical,lodging,training bus ticket to orientation EVERYTHING!!! We were forced to eat green beans out of a can.Thats allwe could afford. Took truck to Cedar Rapids to service and I grabbed my bags out of the truck and ran like hell.Doesnt sound like theyve changed much since 98.I upgraded and secured employment at KFC. In response to cant drive with no experience blog. YES you . I had 62 days experience and got a local dry van job in 2006. HADNT BEEN IN A TRUCK FOR 8 years. I was beyond rusty. You just have to find a greenhorn co thats small and just starting up. One that has an owner with deep pockets and doesnt know what hes doing yet.Get in there and grind up some gears and scuf. Up some trailers till you get good at it. You just have to getin at right time and right place.

 

Oh yeah there is alot of ways to get hurt. Ive seen freight fall over on people,twisted my ankle in a pallet,seen guys fall climbing into the dock instead walking to the front door, trip and fallout of their trucks,stuck electric jack pin them against their trailer wall etc... Doesnt matter if youre even in a straight truck. If you work and arent just a steering wheel holder its bound to happen.

 

I've worked for crst for 2 years pulling a flat bed. I've found out if you are willing to work and no how to use the load broad. Then you can make some money. You just have to be willing to work. When I first started I was only making around 450 a week. And then I started picking loads that I could re load without having to dead head a lot. And no I average about 800 to 1100 a week and still home on the weekends.