heading out to crst

Reading this thread is taking back to my 2014 refresher course with CRST/Hawkeye Community College. CRST was the only company who'd offer me a refresher out of the Ft Pierce Florida area, so I'd taken it because I needed the experience. I was all nerves during the training, but I eventually made it through orientation and the additional 4 weeks out with the trainer. The fear of not knowing used to cause me more anxiety than it should've back in those days, so I wanted to tell you to not sweat the small things... and don't volunteer information to members of dispatch.
You're not really privy to how much of your hard earned blood and sweat they're cheating you out until you've learned a bit more about this industry. They didnt pay for tolls; they'd require you to take out an advance to pay a lumper via comcheck; they automatically signed you up for the per diem program; They split the miles traveled down the middle between you and your co-driver; They'd opt for the drivers to unload the truck whenever it seemed to be the cheaper alternative; They didnt paid hub miles for loaded and deadhead; They required drivers to stay out 28 days at a time until completing the contracts; they would never want to pay drivers detention for waiting over an 2 hours though they were getting money as soon as their equipment touched the dock; They made you wait an extra day before paying you for breakdown; etc. It'd piss one off thinking about how much money one wasn't making, but I did need the EXPERIENCE .

Let us know about your experiences OTR, fam.

 

Was extremely uncomfortable with my trainer too, Gman. The trainer had IBS, so he had me stop at the Texas/New Mexico border on i-10 in order for him to s××× in a bucket between the truck and trailer. You'll end up with crazier stories as time passes. @ the unwanted advances

 

You'd think that having a condition like IBS would humble a man, but he was as rotten on the outside as he was on the inside (no homo).
Forgot to mention that he got mad that I wanted to stop @ a Petro on i-10 in El Paso, but urged me to stop a couple minutes later so that he could s*** on the shoulder. It was poetic justice

Had to switch co-drivers 4 times within an 8 month period while employed with CRST during those 9 months. Hopefully you get a co-driver who is willing to run as soon as your shift is over. Build a healthy level of communication with your co-driver to make sure the two of you are on the same page.
Get that money.