Crst van expidited

CRST lies through thier teeth every chance they get. I went to them already with my CDL and 3 months driving. Was told would be hired in at .30 cpm. Went to OKC took first road test, Scott stuck his FAT head in my mirror. I told him to move it. He cobntinued to block my mirror so I knew couldn't stop in middle of right turn and block traffic was only a curb so tried using fender Mirror grazed curb FAIL No problem you get 2 tries. I went out w second guy (forgot his name) I finish he tells me I passed but I need to watch my left mirror when making a right turn as well Because some idiot may try to zoom pass me. I thank him for advice and go back to hotel at end of day. Wensday I am called into office told I Failed my second road test asn well. say YOU PASSED ME! he said yea but Saftey in CR says you got to do a winter driving course in CR then you will be put as a Team driver at .30 cpm it only a week, and we will pay you 125 for that week. Needing a job I begrudingly agree. He hands me a 8 month contract, I call him on it he laughs and strikes off most of it the 8 nonth makes it 3 strikes off 1 month w trainer makes it 0 strikes off 0 pay makes it 125 for week in training. I sign it go to bus station and go to CR.

As I arrive in CR Told i am going to DORMS no big deal 15 years in military nothing new 3 man roms. Trainer at school takes me and 2 others around yard day 1 3 times apiece, I am last in seat so first to roll out on road. After 15 minutes we are back at CRST maint yard, He ask me why am I here I tell him. He ask Vet By chance? I say yeah why you ask? He explains CRST just made cool 10k for retraining me. I laugh and tell him that explains alot. He says I am as ready as anyone to be sent to a team no need to go w trainer he can see. I do same routine next 3 days friday meet saftey and do road test pass w no issues all P's except 1 I on shifting. He says go into office they will assign you a trainer. I say woe boss I am supposed to be put in a team no trainer. at .30cpm he says he will look into it. monday I have been sitting there and waiting get told Nope 28 days w trainer. at .22cpm and 8 months commetmint. I do the 8 months and run like hell most weeks i did good to bring 300 home with only 75 out in advance. never late on load no tix no accidents. Went thru 5 codrivers because all them wanted to drive 7 or 8 hours then sleep.

Oh yea never got the 125 training pay.

 

Hey Irondog,

Thanks for the reply and you hit it right dead center. You must be a marine sniper. There are way to many whiners that post blogs and tell everyone about their stupid little boy stories. It is life and every company out there that you have to stand up and show your self. I know that I will do great out there and if not I won't cry and whine about it since I'm not a quitter. Take care Irondog

 

They are a way to get in the industry.y They have there niche in training. Sure they ckinghave found many loopholes how to make more money this way for them,for me it's not a real trutart cking co. It's not a driver co. meaning they will look out for you. It takes between 19 to 24 months to sis tart making .36 cpm when other co's start you off with same pay with only 6 mo's exp. Know of a lead trainer just cause he didnt have a student for a load they cut his pay nearly in half from 42 cents to 22 cents after being with them a year.Their is no way you can rationilize that.Not whining or crying just stating facts.I dont like whining that's why I took action and signed up with a flatbed co. with the blessing of no more codrivers!!! All theies time lost money,and hassles of having to deal with somebodies issues are over! Now there might be a few people making some money but there arent many, I never talked to one while there.Do the 6 or 8 mo's and move on to a real trucking co.

 

CRST isnt that bad--as the person said before--its all in what you make it--your team driver plays a big part of it as they dont really team you up well but cedar rapids will work with you. I worked for them when i first went out on the road--had an awesome trainer. My team driver lacked a bit but he went through their school and ended up making much less than i did in the beginning and so he was frustrated. As long as you get your loads on time and make your deliveries on time--you will get the miles. We got tons of miles to where we was beggin for a day to sit. LOL You can make it if you want to--its all up to you and your co driver. I always got my pay--never had any issues with it. Good luck to ya!

 

Did'nt mean to sound so negative about it, just been going through the wringer with codrivers and lack of finding any. 3 wks down the drain sitting.Expired dot cards,left hanging at last minute by one,wouldnt let me go solo till I found codriver sat in OK city for 9 days. It was the last straw. Signing on to solo co. now my livelihood does'nt depend on no one else but myself! I agree that it's what you make of it,buckle down and get to it mentality is fine but a person has to have boundries otherwise they will get run over continouslyto where the vultures will have nothing to eat.

 

....and that is part of "buckling down and getting to it". If it doesn't work in one place...doesn't necessarily mean it won't in another. Every company has their own brand of BS, you just need to find one that smells good to you.

 

Thanks ladytrucker

 

Back in the seat, I think ? school and all. Starting over and true to form I went with CRST and the 8 month contract. Do not have a clue, but think it should be fun after the school BS is over. No doubt some schooling is needed, but if its your first time at this trucking school you will find that most of the effort has to come from yourself to get by when on the contract deal. The guys working their are not bad at all, but will not go out of the way to help someone. They help but only when asked. If paying out of pocket I might (?) be bent out of shape on this whole trucking thing. I feel bad that a lot of people at the school will not make it. At times I even have my own doubts even with all my endorsements and back ground in the industry. I'm in line with with the rest of them. It could be having a CDL already I may not be a priority but seeing those that need it bad are not getting the best chance at it. There is a few that care for the students and do the best they can to help them, but with big classes its hard to get to everyone. As for me I will just have to do my own swimming to get back into industry and see how it turns out. My Best To All Of You That Give It A Shot !

 

I have 11 years experience and am at top pay at CRST. I started with my brother-in-law over 2 years ago and he was a contract driver. So I trained him. The only problems I had was actually with my brother-in-law. We could have made a lot more money, but he wanted to get home way too often and he was down right hard headed about certain things that got under my skin like refusing to use a headset for his phone, following too close, and driving around and around truckstops until he could find a spot that he could pull into (and then if a truck pulled in beside us, I had to get us out). None the less, we were always on time and always got freight. But the best part of this story is that while on hometime in July of 2010, I fell and ended up with subdural hematomas that required emergency brain surgery. CRST kept me on medical leave of absense and kept my insurance up-to-date even after I ran out of money. I just received my release to return to work next week and CRST has made the process completely painless with no hurdles.

 

worthspeed, cool deal. Glad to hear you're OK and that CRST did the right thing.