Dont work for CRST, it is a scam

What's the deal with the diploma? How does the lack of one make your CDL worthless?

 

It's like this...

You start with CRST and you have nothing but a class C and no idea what you're getting yourself in to. They agree to send you for company sponsored "training", which promises to earn you a CDL-A w/ Hazmat for little out of pocket cost. Once you complete training, you're bound by contract to work exclusively for CRST for a period of no less than eight full months. Once you complete your eight months, you earn the right to be released from your contract and receive all of the paper work that documented your training (including your diploma). If you should decide to quit prior to finishing your full eight months, CRST can refuse to release you from your contract and deny you the opportunity to receive your documentation. Even without documentation, you still can technically find employment elsewhere (you do still have a CDL after all). The problem, though, is that CRST will sue any company that agrees to hire you while you're still under contract. So companies like Swift, Werner, Schnider etc absolutely will not bring you on (Werner actually got sued and lost in court over this very same issue). You can also opt to pay CRST for the full cost of your training (approx 4000-6000) if you wish to be released prior to the eight months. They do accept payments at 18 percent interest, but be aware, they won't release anything to you until you're finished making all of those payments. The main goal is to bind you to the company by contract and keep you on as cheap labor for the entire duration of your contract...

 

This exact reason is why I tell everybody that wants to get in the business to go find a community college that will teach you so you don't have to be a modern day "sharecropper" for a company like CRST. I understand people don't always have the time or resources to go this route, but it amazes me that folks, but this route should be an absolute last resort for getting your CDL. The only interest a company has in anybody, my company included, is that you are a productive employee. They'll talk it up about how much they care about you, but in the end, you are a truck number and they are in the business of moving freight. When you cause that truck to stop making money, then they are going to find someone else to take your place. It's just simple economics. Point being folks, is that nobody is going to hold your hand. It's just a job. Don't ever sign something like this fellow did and not read the fine print, and then read it all again.

Just my two cents

 

Why would anyone sign anything without getting a copy ?