crst orientation

A couple posts to me..hmm.
Well, I did get a female co-driver against what were my better thoughts...
To be honest, she had over a year experience and for the most part was the best co=driver I have had working for CRST. She got off the truck yesterday--mainly due to burnout and maintenance problems with the truck---probably spent 20 of last 30 days in a motel while the truck had a Turbo replaced for 10 days and an A-frame rebuild for another 9 days..The truck uses way too much oil....
Anyways, she dumped the truck on me and now its somehow my responsibility, and the whole finding a co-driver game gets old....I spoke to a prospective c0-driver and told him about the truck and its problems for last month. Then I called DM and she says I shouldn't have told this prospective co-driver about the truck's problems---Ahem--exactly when do I tell this guy why he is having to check the oil
and replace it? I mean..sooner or later he would want to know or else I would have a truck with a burnt motor...Then the DM asks me how I know there is something still wrong with the truck "are you a mechanic"? Really" do you have to be a mechanic to know the truck is still having the same oil use problem that it had before they did the A-frame rebuild? I mean, it's been in three different dealerships plus the fontana yard and the certified mechanics couldn't fix the problem.....I said when it gets silly.....
So, I called another company and sent in application today..If they approve me, it looks like I will be leaving the world of co-drivers altogether..
I just got off phone with DM and let her know I got a co-driver, but I am looking for employment elsewhere....
I consider myself a pretty honest person. My DM basically said I shouldn't tell other prospective co-drivers about the problems I have had with the truck...but I think they are entitled to know. You have to live with someone when you team, and sooner or later, they are going to know about the oil problem..It doesnt leak, so where is it going? Truck has less than 140,000 miles on it. Freightliner/Detroit know they have a problem with new trucks with problems with Turbos and this oil usage condition. Not CRST fault for the lemon truck, but, something has to give. When a DM puts the condition that you have to be a mechanic to know whether or not a truck is using way too much oil (which is why they did the A-frame) and the condition is the same as when it went in-----then it has gotten too silly for me.
Temptinfates

 

Tammie,
I hope that these threads have helped you and I do wish you all the best. It's perfectly ok to be nervous. Pay attention and do your best. If you complete the schooling and go out with a trainer, just consider it a prolonged job interview--keep your nose clean and learn all you can.

My last co-driver had real problems with backing--and she had two years experience...believe me, I tried to help and encourage. It wasn't a major problem--I just had to do the backing in the tight spots, lol. Backing can take some people a long time to "get it". I tell you this so you won't be too discouraged if it comes slower to you

Let me know how things are going. I like people that put effort into things.
Temptinfates

 

Best thing is, keep your nose clean..no wrecks, no tickets and get your experience under your belt. Learn what works for you on the truck as far as teaming--and by that, I mean the system and hopefully a good co-driver. I will come back when I am in town to post..Until then, keep it between the lines
Temptinfates
PS. My co-driver is an ex-diesel mechanic......I suppose my DM can have her talk about who's qualified to check the oil and know if there is a problem with him..lol...

 

Update on truck issue..I traded trucks in Cedar Rapids and the Shop foreman told me "yeah, they know about it, we got a volvo right over there with the same problem". I never told anyone what the cause of the problem was, because I didn't know. When a truck uses a gallon of oil in 2-300 miles, is a relatively new truck, and isn't leaking oil, it doesn't take a genius to know there is a problem. That is why they did the A-Frame rebuild--to hopefully fix it. When it came out of the shop and the same problem exists, It doesn't take a mechanic to know that their is a problem--which was my point. It may take a mechanic to fix it, though. Regardless, I got rid of the truck.
Temptinfates

 

I gave CRST my two week notice in good faith. When I traded out trucks, I got an older (but functional) truck. The way trucks are assigned to DM's I was moved to a newbie dispatcher board that I really didn't want to be on. The two weeks I gave as a two weeks notice were miserable as a result. I can't tell anyone what to do, but, if I had to do it over, I would have just went with the other company without giving a notice. I talked with a manager and nothing was resolved. My wife had called the President of CRST and talked with secretary...who knows--I might get a phone call.
As for some of you that are just getting into CRST, learn all you can, get your experience and keep your spirits up. There really are some good opportunities out there--but they will require experience--as in time. Your hometime will count as experience (wink,wink).
They tell you that getting Hazmat will get you more miles. This is not always true. I have doubles on my license (so same deal here--works the same). They took a 3000+ mile run off us and gave us a 2000 mile run instead because they needed someone to run doubles. So, if they have a 3000 mile run and they need someone to run a 1200 mile hazmat load, you might get the Hazmat load instead of the 3000 mile load....but they don't tell you that.
They don't tell you that they will keep you in a city such as chicago or laredo doing city work. No joke, I spent three days doing 70 miles for the day with no city work pay. I made $8 and spent 7 on food.
They tell you to call someone if you have a problem with a co-driver and they will get you a new co-driver. Well, that will just make issues for you..Go home. Get off the truck.. call other co-drivers..see if they have good Dispatchers. If, so, this is how you work around the B.S. and change things for yourself. Got a truck with issues that don't get resolved? Go home, same as above.
I am trying to help you get around things that will come up. I am telling you, if your dispatcher is C.O. or K.B.(Kate B. is ok) ...do what you can to get off their boards. I'v told you how.
They don't want to give out tripsheets at terminals anymore. You are going to have to find a way to get copies. Get some before you go out on a truck. Get them while you are in orientation, before you get on a trainer truck, and after you get off trainer truck. Fontana only wanted to copy us off two tripsheets..no joke.
This is a good time to get your experience--during spring and summer. This means you have an easier time to get truck basics down without weather issues for the most part.
If you can afford it, always try to find a way to string out another day or two of hometime or (wink,wink) looking for another co-driver. An extra day or two at home still counts as experience..catch my drift?
Save up money when you can. If the truck breaks down and you have to be in a hotel for extended periods of time, you may need it. I was broke down for ten days. I had $500 in advances and $479 in motel bills and was told by FM that she couldn't authorize any more advances--I would have to get any more authorized by a manager..So, you have to pay for your eats for ten days, cigs if you smoke, etc..sure, you make $40 a day, but you won't get that till you turn in your next tripsheet...so, prepare for this situation--even if it doesn't happen.
Just trying to help some of you out here. Stuff can happen out there. Try your best to be prepared. Don't spend money on worthless junk when you don't have a cash reserve.
Temptinfates