CRST ok to start with

In my opinion it's like anything else in life, you have to pay your dues. Also I think with the way the economy is the companies test you in the beginning to see if that is what you really want to do. I mean we all have to start somewhere and it is usually at the bottom.

 

You do have a point there you do have to start somewhere

 

ok quick info...Your miles basically depend on your dispatcher...that would also include your hometime.I usually stay out 4 to 6 weeks my dispatcher is pretty cool he usually lets me take whatever hometime i want(example...i just came off a 10 day hometime)
My codriver and i usually get around 5 to 6k miles a week so we dont have much to complain about.When your in the dallas area or just about anywhere in texas you might as well expect to sit it's a bad area for freight any way you look at it.When you get out of training they will give you a list of people to call and set up as codrivers just make sure you get to know them if you get on the truck together and find out your just not suitable they're usually pretty cool about finding you both new codrivers...The major key on anything you want with this company is your dispatcher make sure you have a good one and make sure you COMMUNICATE with them they dont know what you want if you just assume that they should...Hope this helps everyone good luck

 

Yea right now I have a good dispatcher with my trainer and I want to request to keep him. I met my codriver in school and we get along pretty good. I get done with my 28 days on the 9th and then I take my home time. Then me and my co driver get our truck. I can stay out the 3 weeks they want then come back and do my drill for the air guard.

 

OK folks, here's the skinny on CRST.

I was a driver trainer for a year for this "outfit". And while the laws on slander and libel are rpetty specific, I will be careful not to name any names.

They hired me off the street into a trainers' position. I had about 6 students in the time I worked for them. One of my student co-drivers had a massive heart attack while in my truck. Had it not been for the fact I am a veteran paramedic, that man would have died. Had it not been for the kind people at a hospital in OH, he would have had to hitch a ride back to his home in TX.

That company left me stranded in PA after THEIR dr. refused to sign off on a physical after MY own dr. gave me some prescription pain medication. My posession, or use of prescribed medication was not a violation of DOT regulations, but a student (admitted addict of narcotics) complained about the prescription being in my truck, they made me clean out the truck and left me with no way to get home in TX. This was not the first time they had done that to someone, and not the worst of what they did to me.

I went home with the help of my brother. They wanted me to go to yet another one of their physicians. Again, the dr denied me a DOT medical card, and my own dr was no longer certified to sign those by the state of TX. I was then hospitalized, because after all of this my medication became unregulated and began to interact.

I spent twenty-six days in the hospital, to learn that my employment had been terminated two weeks earlier. They did this because I was on their insurance. I could never find a lawyer to handle this for me, but if you folks are considering CRST for employment...THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE YOU GET INTO ONE OF THEIR TRUCKS.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!!!!

 

Well I have been sitting here in west Memphis ar for about 3 days and no sign of a load. My dispatcher decided to take a vacation and I'm due home on the 9th. Doesn't look like I'm gonna make that date.

 

i have my class A and I was looking for job for 1 year witn no (+) results, now I'm going for orientation with CRST, any to go to all the process o only the refresh ?

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This is along the same lines I've chosen to see it from. I'm entering a new career in an industry in which I have no experience. Obviously it's not going to be "perfect," but I can still choose to make it an ideal experience.

No matter what industry you start in - you're gonna start at the bottom and prove yourself. Just the way it is and, really, how it ought to be. (Not that anyone should get ripped-off just because they're inexperienced and/or naive - but everyone should realistically expect to start at the bottom knowing full well what it is that rolls down hill.)

I've chosen at my own risk to go with a company that is not well-regarded on these boards. Understand that I don't doubt what people have said here about the company, and I've been fortunate enough to find you folks and learn of at least a few of the probably many things I should watch out for - as well as those I should prepare myself for being in store for. That knowledge will make all the difference for me - especially since there won't be such high expectations and, therefore, not as many deep disappointments during my experience.

But I've put alot of careful thought into whether I want to drive or not and I've decided that I'm willing to go through rough times in order to get to better ones. And, unfortunately, I don't have a CDL or experience, so I realize there's going to be a price to pay (in more forms than just $) to be able to do what I want to do. Hate it for me, but... oh well.

The point to this is: nothing really worth doing is ever easy. If it were, it wouldn't have much value. So I agree with Phatom18. If someone wants to begin a new career bad enough, realize the fortune in finding all the good folks and years of experience here. Understand that, most likely, it's gonna be a rough road for at least the first year or two. And the hardest part is going to be keeping a level attitude through the initial commitment. If we can do that and pay attention to the wealth of information (and hopefully friendships) available here, then we'll pay the price for the first year or so. But all the years to follow will far outweigh the cost.

I mean, really, what new industry is anyone going to start in that won't be considered a pain in the ##### to begin with? If I wanted something easier... I should've gone to college.

 

Good luck to all crst drivers, May god be with you in your travels, and please don't starve out there.

 

CRST is a Great company. They will keep you on the opposite side of the country than you live in. Long layovers, too far from the house to go there, keeps you under there control till you get sick of them. then they will bring you home , then send you back to the otherside.... And did I mention the horible color of the trucks.....