CRST Malone (Flatbed Division) SUCKS!

I truly us appreciate your post 32swife, any new business new business venture, that you are not familiar with, can be very challenging. Your post have help us, to get off to a great start. My husband is still in orientation. Before reading your post i didn't know where to start. Thanks to you and your insight, I am so eager to start Your online post training course 1,2,3 steps' were easy to follow. Please keep posting, and giving your great pointers. God bless you and your husband. Oh, were are also out of georgia, Lawrenceville Gwinnett county.

 

I have two friends over there doing the lease...1 has been there 1.5 years and the other has been there since June. They are both very successful. Both AVERAGE $1200 to $1500 a week bring home, but they are very proactive on there loads and once loaded and headed to there destination they are actively talking to agents and searching load boards. If you need someone to hold your hand and expect someone else to find your freight, you should look somewhere else.

 

Hmm. What does Malone do for the 30 percent they take? I talked to a guy in for repairs at freightliner and he was making 2.50 a mile--but he was with GW. Just seems a little low-ball when the recruiter says you make 800-1200. I have talked with some Malone drivers that say they are making what you say. I've also talked with some that were starving..so, I have heard all kinds of conflicting stories from Malone drivers.
Temptinfates

 

howdy yall im back to tell u more about my crst adventure im still with them since christmas i have had good weeks and bad so far biggest check 700 smallest 20 and thats cause i spent 2 days at home in the middle of the week one day for court so it hurt me bad but so far i have made my deductions every week i just keep saying one day it will be paid for still wondering how these guys r bringing home 1000 to 1500 after deductions cant figure it out yet but if i do i will let u know and there advances on fuel need to be better cause im still running close on fuel every load but as far as lease purchase goes on truck i still think is a good deal oh by the way i seen crsts borchure in the magazine hiring rack at the truckstop i was ROFLMAO the lp guy looks like he is ready to play golf REALITY CHECK LP PROGAM GOOD MONEY NOT SO GOOD god bless tell next time and try to run smart

 

hey by the way how good is is 32 wife husband doing here at crst malone

 

I guess I really brought some life back to this thread!

I wanted to take some time to address everything everyone has said or has asked me. I am sorry I haven't responded in so long, life has been busy.

I don't even know where to start! So this will be lengthy!

First, I just about died laughing at one members' insinuation that I may be an Agent or Recruiter for CRST! No sweetie, hardly. I would actually love to learn how to become an Agent, as I would be #### good at it, but I am actually going back to school to study Radiology, QUITE a different field from trucking. I was in executive level management for a major and prestigious cosmetic company for 6 years, so I am in no way related to CRST, besides being married to my husband. PLUS, to be a recruiter, I would have to live in Birmingham, as there is not an office here in Atlanta. I hope that sets the record straight.

Anyhow, my husband is still doing well at CRST. Yes, he does average about $1400 a week after all expenses. It is absolutely possible, I will be more specific in a moment. I have to be honest, January was quite a roller coaster month though! Loads were hard to get, freight prices dropped, fuel went up and the AWFUL weather everywhere did some damage. This is the industry though, there are going to be months like this, that is reality no matter what company you are with.

He got stuck in a few states and this slowed down progress, but he is now back in the lane that makes $$$. We learned some major lessons in January though, so let me advise to those of you with or signing on with CRST, NEVER go to Texas, or Oklahoma! I don't care if that load is paying excellent, it is NOT worth it. You will get stuck and days after sitting, you will have to take a crap paying load just to get out of there. We've now created a "black list" of states that he will not run to. Besides TX and OK, no Kansas or Missouri, and if you go to Arkansas, the only place I would advise is Blytheville, any other city and you are stuck. Louisiana is a gamble too. I would also recommend staying away from the east sides of VA, MA, and PA. I probably shouldn't give away all the secrets, but I want everyone to have success and I like paying it forward. The states that typically have the most freight that will keep you moving are AL, KY, OH, IN and IL. Sometimes IA and MI are good spots to keep moving. There are definitely lanes you have to stay in to make $$$, if you go outside these lanes, you will get totally messed up.

SO, the lanes to stay in will be AL to OH or IL or IN and back. Keep running these lanes and you will be able to run 4-5 a week, which will net you $1300-$1900 a week . You have to be on the ball with the agents though! If you don't live in or near these states, and you want to go home, your lanes will likely be different. Keep in mind, my husband has only stayed out 19 days one time since October, as he made a very unwise decision to go to Texas. Otherwise, he is home EVERY WEEKEND, out for 5 home for about 2 1/2. NOW, that is excellent home time for OTR trucking and the $$$!

I will soon post more details on the "deal" with the Agents and getting loads and how to run a business to be successful! Stay tuned!

 

A quick note, the recruiters tell you $800-$1200 a week, as they know that not everyone is going to be a go getter and produce 4-5 loads a week. Newbies might do 2-3 if they're lucky. They know everyone is made of that kind of stuff! So why would they lie? I've only run into one shady character at CRST so far, everyone else has really been great.

 

I hope you guys have the time and attention span to read my lengthy posts!
Tons of helpful info I have here, I love to help.

If I haven't already really stressed, to make it in this field you absolutely have to be very sharp, smart, a go getter, have major tenacity, and never be afraid to talk with anyone. You have to constantly work at making your business a success. If anyone thinks that you will be able to make over $100k right out of the gate, just keep your company position. There is no business that will do well immediately, no matter what your field, you have to put time and work into the process of building your business. You should really expect to take 6 months to a year to be headed in the direction of where you want to be. There are going to be a lot of bumps in the road. Becoming an O/O isn't a get rich quick type of deal. You have to really focus on the long term. There are no hand outs and you have to work extremely hard to get where you want to be!

The whole Agent game is interesting, we are still learning things daily. Let me tell you what I know.

Never rely solely on the load board, that is basically just a snap shot of information. You MUST get to know agents and how they work, they are all different. Most of them are nice and helpful, some of them can be a challenge. Remember, their money is made by getting their customers loads booked and moving. They are going to have preference to the drivers that can keep it moving and do the job well, with no issues. I can totally appreciate that.

You have to call and talk to them, they have 100's of drivers they deal with and a lot of pressure to keep customers happy and logistics organized and running smoothly, they are fast paced and don't have time for BS. You have to make yourself known and that you stand out from the pack.

A lot of agents who have regular customers with loads that are constantly going from one point to another, will keep lists of drivers who want those specific loads. You have to call a day in advance and let them know you want what they have and they will put you on their list. If you have a good track record, they will call you immediately and book you for what you requested, the next morning. They usually get their load lists the morning of. They can see in their computer system if you are in their area too, so if they know you are good they will even call you before you can call them, to book you. You have to stay a day ahead of the game at all times. Just always be nice and get to know the agents, never have a negative attitude and I have learned it pays to speak intelligently and KNOW what you are talking about. There are definitely agents who have CHEAP freight, you learn who those are and DON'T take loads from them, this way they will stop cutting cheap deals with their customers, as they won't make any money if drivers won't buy into their loads! You have to be smart! Fortunately, there are more good paying agents than bad. If they offer you a load that you know is too cheap, TELL them. I just tell them, the math isn't working for me, it doesn't make any sense business wise, thank you for the offer, if you get a load where the math is right, call me and you can depend on me to do it right!

As for "Why does CRST get 30%, what are they doing with it"? Well, hello, they are in business to make a profit too! They also provide the driver with a serious service and network of agents and customers, instead of you having to build that network all on your own, from scratch. It is 25% not 30%. I would seriously doubt a company that didn't want to make a profit! Seriously, they have tons of resources and give you tons of support. You even have a DM who has your back and helps you with all sorts of situations. NO they don't book loads for you, BUT again, if you prove yourself, they will look out for your even further and help you book some loads. My husband's DM is awesome, he LOVES my husband and when I established a working relationship with his DM, all he could do was tell me how much he loves working with my husband, as he is so good at his job and always does a perfect job. WHAT a compliment! When he was a company driver all he ever got was #### from his DM's, total ########, yet nothing about my husband's work ethic has changed from then till now! When you work for a company the DM thinks they own you, here they SAY ''We work WITH you and THANK YOU". LANDSTAR takes 37% from their BCO's AND they have to pay for everything upfront, such as their truck and equipment. My husband's 2 best friends are both with LS and they are doing just as well BUT they are OTR for at least 2 weeks straight.

Some agents will try to shuck and jive you with the $$ amounts, I just tell them to give it to me straight, I don't want to hear about percentages and "to the truck" crap. TELL ME exact line haul and fuel surcharge, I KNOW my math and my math isn't funny like theirs! It is simple math. The driver gets 75% of line haul, you have to pay .12cpm for every mile run to your maintenance account and .63cpm for fuel. Your fixed expenses will be approx. $600 a week, that goes to your lease payment, licenses, permits, securement equip., trailer rental, paperwork fees, bond, road taxes, insurances, etc. Just think of it this way, most likely your 1st load for the week will pay for your fixed expenses, if you are going for a load that has around $1100 line haul and $250 fuel surcharge. Then the next 3-4 loads are your profit after CRST's 25%, fuel and maintenance account. Get real familiar with the math! Always stay on top of it, so you know what you need to make! THAT is how you make the $$$. I keep a rolling balance and profit sheet, so I know what needs to be done.

Example of how I do the math:

Line haul for load = $ 1200
Fuel Surcharge for load = $245.00
75% of $1200 = $900
All miles for load driven (with deadhead) = 678
678 mi. x .12cpm for maint. accnt. = $81.36
678 mi x .63cpm for fuel = 427.14
$900 -
$81.36 -
$427.14
-$4.00 fuel advance wire charge = $387.50
$387.50+
$245 Fuel surcharge =
$632.50 profit to truck/take home

Do 3 more similar loads and you have $1930 TAKE HOME. Remember your 1st load paid for your fixed expenses, so that would be 4 loads for the week. Take 15% out for taxes and you have $1640.50.

This is a hypothetical example, I would say most loads will profit you around $500 on the average. I am just basing this example on an average.


TAX math is a whole other chapter!
I know how to work taxes to the point of paying out only $2k a year, maybe I will get into that another day!

I will post more as I think of it and have extra time. Just remember, you have to be SMART and ON TOP of your business to be successful. A MONTH IN BUSINESS ANYWHERE WITH ANYTHING WILL NOT GIVE YOU A REALISTIC VIEW OF ANYTHING. I wish everyone so much luck!

 

Anyone at CRST know a Randy Kopecky. If you do give me a little info. on him. Thanks

 

On the lp program do they tell you which truck you are leasing or do they let you pick? If they tell you then that kinda freaks me out. Just curious