Trucking Careers of America

I will not bad mouth the gentleman who runs this company.

But, it is no different than any other recruiting agency.

Right now, TCA (Trucking Careers of America) is recruiting for CRST if you are looking for CDL training. Read the posts on CRST and you decide.

TCA, like most recruiters, does not tell you everything up front!

Here are the facts and they can easily be found on the CRST Websites (there are two of them)

1.) If you get accepted by CRST through TCA you will have to pay for your Bus Ticket, your Room and Board, your CDL and Drug Test. Now, these are not up front costs, but CRST will advance these costs to you and collect them later out of your check, once you make it (if you make it) through their school. According to their website, their housing costs are about $150.00 per week. Figure in your Bus ticket, at least $150.00, then your medical and drug test and you are looking at around $800.00(this number will vary depending on how many weeks you are in school) that you will owe the company once you start drawing a paycheck. So, instead of making money, you are already in debt to the company.

2.) TCA will ask that you get your DOT physical and CDL learners permit! You don't need them. First off if you do (like me) you will spend about $120.00 that you don't need too, since CRST is gonna require you take another DOT physical when you get there (for their insurance). You will obtain your learners permit at school (it will add another week to your training). And CRST is gonna charge you for them anyway! I called one of CRST's recruiters and asked these questions and it was confirmed you don't need your DOT physical or learners permit!

3.) TCA claims they don't charge for their services and that they work for you! They don't work for the trucking companies, but get paid by the trucking companies. A HUGE PARADOX. You figure it out! If they don't work for the trucking companies, but get paid by them, they can't possibly have your best interests in mind. They just want their FEE, whatever that might be. In the long run, you are paying for their services!

4.) After doing my research (like everyone should do) I declined the offer from TCA! I plan on going to my local Technical College and getting my CDL that way. There are a number of Good Companies that hire new CDL Graduates. That way you are in control of who you go with and won't break the bank doing it!

WORD TO THE WISE: BE CAREFUL and DO YOUR RESEARCH!

You all take care.

JST

 

I will not bad mouth the gentleman who runs this company.

But, it is no different than any other recruiting agency.

Right now, TCA (Trucking Careers of America) is recruiting for CRST if you are looking for CDL training. Read the posts on CRST and you decide.

TCA, like most recruiters, does not tell you everything up front!

Here are the facts and they can easily be found on the CRST Websites (there are two of them)

1.) If you get accepted by CRST through TCA you will have to pay for your Bus Ticket, your Room and Board, your CDL and Drug Test. Now, these are not up front costs, but CRST will advance these costs to you and collect them later out of your check, once you make it (if you make it) through their school. According to their website, their housing costs are about $150.00 per week. Figure in your Bus ticket, at least $150.00, then your medical and drug test and you are looking at around $800.00(this number will vary depending on how many weeks you are in school) that you will owe the company once you start drawing a paycheck. So, instead of making money, you are already in debt to the company.

2.) TCA will ask that you get your DOT physical and CDL learners permit! You don't need them. First off if you do (like me) you will spend about $120.00 that you don't need too, since CRST is gonna require you take another DOT physical when you get there (for their insurance). You will obtain your learners permit at school (it will add another week to your training). And CRST is gonna charge you for them anyway! I called one of CRST's recruiters and asked these questions and it was confirmed you don't need your DOT physical or learners permit!

3.) TCA claims they don't charge for their services and that they work for you! They don't work for the trucking companies, but get paid by the trucking companies. A HUGE PARADOX. You figure it out! If they don't work for the trucking companies, but get paid by them, they can't possibly have your best interests in mind. They just want their FEE, whatever that might be. In the long run, you are paying for their services!

4.) After doing my research (like everyone should do) I declined the offer from TCA! I plan on going to my local Technical College and getting my CDL that way. There are a number of Good Companies that hire new CDL Graduates. That way you are in control of who you go with and won't break the bank doing it!

WORD TO THE WISE: BE CAREFUL and DO YOUR RESEARCH!

You all take care.

JST

 

I will not bad mouth the gentleman who runs this company.

But, it is no different than any other recruiting agency.

Right now, TCA (Trucking Careers of America) is recruiting for CRST if you are looking for CDL training. Read the posts on CRST and you decide.

TCA, like most recruiters, does not tell you everything up front!

Here are the facts and they can easily be found on the CRST Websites (there are two of them)

1.) If you get accepted by CRST through TCA you will have to pay for your Bus Ticket, your Room and Board, your CDL and Drug Test. Now, these are not up front costs, but CRST will advance these costs to you and collect them later out of your check, once you make it (if you make it) through their school. According to their website, their housing costs are about $150.00 per week. Figure in your Bus ticket, at least $150.00, then your medical and drug test and you are looking at around $800.00(this number will vary depending on how many weeks you are in school) that you will owe the company once you start drawing a paycheck. So, instead of making money, you are already in debt to the company.

2.) TCA will ask that you get your DOT physical and CDL learners permit! You don't need them. First off if you do (like me) you will spend about $120.00 that you don't need too, since CRST is gonna require you take another DOT physical when you get there (for their insurance). You will obtain your learners permit at school (it will add another week to your training). And CRST is gonna charge you for them anyway! I called one of CRST's recruiters and asked these questions and it was confirmed you don't need your DOT physical or learners permit!

3.) TCA claims they don't charge for their services and that they work for you! They don't work for the trucking companies, but get paid by the trucking companies. A HUGE PARADOX. You figure it out! If they don't work for the trucking companies, but get paid by them, they can't possibly have your best interests in mind. They just want their FEE, whatever that might be. In the long run, you are paying for their services!

4.) After doing my research (like everyone should do) I declined the offer from TCA! I plan on going to my local Technical College and getting my CDL that way. There are a number of Good Companies that hire new CDL Graduates. That way you are in control of who you go with and won't break the bank doing it!

WORD TO THE WISE: BE CAREFUL and DO YOUR RESEARCH!

You all take care.

JST

 

There are other starter carriers who will pay for your bus ticket, room, and feed you while you're training. Do some more research, and I'd personally pitch TCA in the round file.

 

Csrt is paying for my bus ticket and hotel. Plus breakfast and lunch all I have to worry aboutis dinner.I did my research and in fact I dohave to pay for physical and drug test they will deduct it from my pay. I don't mind it! Although. I'm getting a 600$ sign on bonus

 

MacMoney:

You do realize that CRST is a TEAM operation and you won't be able to drive SOLO. They might tell you that at the onset and you will team drive with your trainer for awhile. But, once they are ready to turn you loose on your own, you will have to TEAM with someone else.

For me, driving SOLO is the only way to go!

You really should consider going to a local tech school to get your CDL. That way you can pick and choose who you want to drive with. There are a couple of good companies that hire new CDL grads without any contracts and if you don't like driving for them, WALK AWAY! You won't be on the hook for a big tuition contract, with a carrier you don't like.

Intially, I finished training and got accepted by KLLM in Jackson, MS. Didn't go with them, but a week later I was on my way to Dallas to work for US Xpress, Drove for them for 7 months on my own in a BRAND NEW TRuck. YOU WON'T GET NEW EQUIPMENT AT CRST! Then I made a HUGE MISTAKE and went to drive for WERNER, (STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM THEM) Drove for them for 3 months, before I told them to really SHOVE IT!

Remember your $600.00 sign on bonus will only be paid after you complete training and your first load!

Be very careful who you believe or trust! Recruiters will lie to you at every turn and if you don't have something in writing, you can pretty much forget about it.

I hoped this has helped you. Please be careful, before you sign anything with these companies, or you could end up owing them alot of money, long before you see your first real paycheck.

Take Care.

 

Thanks for the advice man ,yeah I have my cdl already just going for the drug test and orientation but I do like team driving till I get more experience then ill be going solo..I had three job offers but csrt was my best choice.

 

Macmoney:

I wish you well, good luck on your new career!

JST

 

Thanks !