CRST contract advice

Hello forum.

So I'm currently a student working on obtaining my CDL. I just received my permit this past week and I'm on track to receive my CDL in two weeks time.

That being said, I'm having second thoughts about CRST. I wasn't told before hand that CRST expedited was mandatory team driving. I don't like the thought of driving nights/days for 10 months with some random. Additionally, I believe (though admittedly I don't remember) the contract mentioned something about my pay being deducted to pay for the school. Lastly, the school examiner (I'm at a CDL school that CRST outsources to) approached the class and said we NEED to go to CRST immediately after. He said that companies that will buy your contract out are only going to pay you a few hundred dollars a month until you make up for their contract buy out. It sounded like some typical salesman ######## mental manipulation. I know how to recognize it because I did kiosk sales for a few years.

Anyways, what do you all think I should do? I heard from a guy on YouTube that if I'm going to make the decision to break the contract I need to break it after I get my CDL and BEFORE I actually go to CRST and start driving for them. Apparently once you get in their truck you've started the contract fully and will have a difficult time trying to get out afterwords.

What are y'alls thoughts? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Are you with CRST Malone? I initially applied to that division. I also thought that they trained to get your CDL in that division (they don't). Maybe, if it's allowed, I'll just switch to flatbed. Then I wouldn't have to break the contract or anything.

How do you like your division? Do they also require mandatory team driving?

 

Hey Chinatown! Glad to see you here.

So to answer your questions - No I'm not an employee of CRST yet. Once I get my CDL, and I am on the final phase, I will receive an employee number. Only then am I considered an employee. I did, however, sign an agreement saying that I would go to CRST afterwords. The school then said that I would only get my certificate of completion after the 10 months (when my contract is fulfilled). If I broke the agreement I would have to pay for the entire schooling, $3800, of which I honestly don't mind paying. Lastly, I ended up at CRST because they were the only ones to put me up for school out of the handful that I called. Most are hung up on the fact that I haven't been employed in 2 years (full time college student). CRST put me up no questions asked. They called and said I was approved and "when can you start?" (haha I guess they asked maybe 1 question). That's literally all the recruit said to me though. She didn't even bother telling me what the process and I didn't even bother asking. I wanted this CDL.

I'm currently in Texas. TMC had been calling me for weeks, though I never talked to them. Initially I applied to them, but later changed my mind because of my bummy lower back and right shoulder. I'm considering giving them a call though. I'm going to continue to look at other companies as well.

 

You probably went to CRST's actual school. I'm in Texas at a CDL school that they outsource to. The school is a separate company from CRST. The price to go here is $3800