I hate crst van ex..

Come on now... I know you hate the company, but quit with the hyperbole and tell me; have you ever seen one of those trucks on the road with CRST colors and logo?

I'd bet money you haven't.

 

I think this company are bein sue with board of labor in state of Ca. Hope who ever sue win.

 

may u can find part time job at home and make more money. it not your fault if they can not finf u a co-driver

 

if you run out of so. cal.-and u have a good record-try Gordon trking.they have a terminal in rancho cucamonga. may not be the best,but they sure beat the hell out of what u r doing right now!!

 

not Jimmy's. But close.

 

Well, I just finished the 8 month contract. There is a lot of negatives about CRST here and perhaps for good reasons. Finding a decent co-driver can be a nightmare. For the last couple of months I have been running with a female driver and she puts all the male co-drivers I have been with to shame--except for her backing and sometimes wishy-washy decision making.

Before finding my present co-driver, there were all kinds of issues with other co-drivers--and I mean some were quite psycho. I don't know how these people actually function in life at all. I suppose they were not ready for the glamorous job of trucking..lol

I drove for JB Hunt some twenty some odd years ago and after their training was only making $300 a week because FM would not give me any miles. So, had to go through refresher course and this contract all over again. If you keep your nose clean, do your job, I found you can make a little money at CRST even at their .22 a mile split. But, if these team drivers cant deliver, fight, or whatever else then they will starve..some of these folks should not be driving at all.

I researched my options before I went with them. I understood that I committed myself to a contract. I completed my obligation. Yes, it has been extremely hard. It has been a little better after 6 mos. and they moved me to .31. They run the heck out of us (loosely speaking). But, we are hazmat, deliver on time, and communicate with them and basically do the job that any company wants a driver to do.

My co-driver has had things come up and they worked on getting us home. The truck blew a turbo and we were down ten days for parts. We were at motel and recieved breakdown pay. Went to Portland, and got our load home. Truck broke down again. So, we were down another two days. This stuff happens in trucking. Not really CRST fault.

There are a lot of things that can work against a person at CRST: bad FM, bad co-driver, bad truck, bad freight area, etc..But, if the first three are ok, then you can make it, but, it will require WORK, and I'm not just talking about logged miles.

I had a truck because co-driver left and I was glad of it. Truck had oil leak, and other problems that didn't seem to be addressed, but truck ran. Co-drivers called me a "super-driver" because I did my job, lol. Anyways, I had a good FM, a decent truck (with minor problems), and a psycho co-driver..Then, my FM tells me they are taking me off her board (along with other drivers so she could do something else) and so they gave me this new kid FM....Hmmm, what to do...
So, this co-driver got off truck to go back home to talk with his wife about whether he wanted to keep working for CRST..I called a co-driver. Hmm, she has a decent truck, a decent FM, but has problems backing. So, I dump my truck and the new kid FM, and psycho co-driver in one swoop. This is just one thing I have had to do to survive at CRST. But, really, its funny listening to one of these noobs throw out terms like Superdriver. lol, like after one month they have a clue about anything. (i can go in to details about some of these co-driver if necessary, but have done so a little in other posts).

I have driven for better companies, but they were smaller. I think to some degree, CRST or any company has a good deal to do with what a person puts in to it..so, I can't really dog CRST out overall because I have driven for worse companies years ago.
Temptinfates

 

Wow look at those oldies...must have been tough doin teams back then...

 

Well, since we are all telling our CRST horror stories I'll share mine.

I went to chool for Star Transport out of Morton IL. After a week with my trainer I told them my wife was to be induced on Nov 18th, and per my Agreement before coming in I needed off Fri Nov 15th when we got to SC so I could grab a Bus at my expense and would return after Thanksgiving. I was told ok and drove the week before my daughters birth. Come Time to go home no dice I was told have a job or see the birth. Thus how I ended up at CRST.

So Dec 18th CRST tells me come in and that I will be hired as a 0 -6 month driver and wouldn't have to go with a trainer. I set the timeand date as Jan 5th and got the bus the 3rd.

I arrived late sunday the 4th caught the shuttle to hotel. Not the Ritz but not a total RAT hole. Room stunk of soured water and bed was uncomfortable a prostitute sit in lobby waiting to see if anyone wanted to make her date book.

Monday morning comes the typical Monday Orentation Drug test redo apps, Physicals for those that were less than 6 months remaining on current. The {Why we are the Best Speech) And a agility test. Back to hotel.

Tuesday we show to do Road test. I bump curve with trailer instant fail. I go for second Road test Pass it. More Videos More YEAH CRST! and back to Hotel in OKC.

Wensday We get after a few hours I am called into office told I failed my second road test. I show them the paper that Scott signed saying Pass and ask what gives?
I am told that Saftey in Cedar Rapids made the call that I needed to do a 1 week refresher course in CR and then do a 14 day training. I agree begruging it but needed the job.

Thursday I grabbed a Bus to CR and started the refresher course. Basicly I from school back to yard and th was it. Instructer asked why I was there? I told him I was told I needed it according to Saftey. He asked"Vet? " I said yea. He told me that was why I was there then explained about Goverment grants to companys to train vets. I said that explains it.

Anyway I finished the week went back to OKC to meet my trainer. After 2 weeks I asked saftey about getting a codriver was told trainer didn't think I was ready. He showed me his evaluation reccomending me to be released from training and put with a co-driver. He was told no it was a 4 week course and to tell me I needed experiance before he could let me go. So I finished my 28 days again asked to get truck in Fontana to drive Back to Bama with my co-driver I had meet while laid over for 3 days there. Was told had to get back to where I started took 2 more weeks. My co-driver to be teamed up with someone else because was told to or be terminated. So 3 weeks later I'm told to meet my new co-driver in ATL (yeah I picked him but it wasn't much of a choice).

So me and my family went up to ATL, to meet this driver. He gets to the yard after we do. It takes him 10 min to get the truck backed under a trailor. I put my things in the truck, tell my family bye, and get ready for our first load assiment. We are to deadhead back to Gadsden, AL to pick up a load the next morning. 15 miles from where I live. The next month goes typical for new co-drivers, difference of opionions, learning each others abilities. We get told to go to the Fontana, CA yard. We sit for 3 days waiting on the load. I come back from the drivers lounge, to find him in the sleeper snorting Cocaine. After I litterly throw him through the window, I walk into the safty department. After a week of sitting, I'm cleared to drive solo to OKC to meet a new co-driver. This one and I make one trip when he tells them that his grandmother is sick and needs to get home. I sit in Albany, MS for 4 days, when he gets back to the trk. We get a load from Jackson, TN to Philly. Then after we get loaded his girlfriend shows up he quits. So I go to W Memphis AR to meet a team and swap trailer for an MT.

I sit 4 days again. Waiting for another co-driver to be bused up from Alburn, AL. He is only a temp to get me to my home time a week away. This turns out to be the best co-driver I had out of all 5 I had. During the week we are running, I find a co-driver the only lives 10 miles from me. I spend the next 7 mo with this guy and basically have to train him to drive. I finally request a new co-driver and am told that I will find out when I get home. Our last run from W Memphis, AR to Portland, OR. It is his turn to drive as we get close to Cabbage. I wake up to the sound of him griding the gears. I get up and sit in the passanger seat, and ask what gear he is in. He tells me I started down in 10th but tried to down shift and can't get it back in gear. After some screaming at him, we end up in the 1st run away ramp after the summit. I spend the next 3 weeks in the hospital. I'm then sent to CR to await on the doctor. My co-driver is killed in the accident and I wasn't told this till I get there. I then send another month and a half, waiting for the doctors release and saftey to evaluate the accident. I'm told as 1st seat that I might be held resposible even though I wasn't driving. Althought I am not a trainer, I'm being held to the same standards as one. I'm sent home, to find a new co-driver. Instead I find a new job.

The End

 

I'll share my "almost" horror story.

I made a decision in January 2008 of wanting to drive truck cross country. The thought of seeing new sights and meeting new and intersting people really piqued my interest. After discussions with friends and family, I started doing esearch on the various companies. After about a month of researching a myriad of companies, I had three on my short list that would train me, Swift, CRST, and PAM Transport. Gotta start somewhere, right?

I crossed Swift off right away after I talked to the recruiter. I'm a fairly good judge of character, and can see through the BS she was trying to feed me, such as home every two weeks, lots of miles, etc. Every company does that, but this lady just sounded way too excited to be just a simple recruiter.

So I was down to two. CRST sounded good from the start. All the training, co-driver (extra set of eyes in the truck, as they like to say), eight month contract (as opposed to a year at PAM). I put CRST on the back burner for the moment and called PAM. Because I live in Florida, they were extremely reluctant, but they talked to me anyway. They seem really nice on the phone, and gave me direct answers to direct questions I had.

Weighing the pros and cons of both of those companies was a real headache. But sometimes, you have to go with what your gut is telling you. although the prospect of the eight month contract sounded great, I also had to think long term. Do I really want to team with someone who dosen't know my habits, my strengths and weaknesses, and the like? And what company would hire me after eight months?

In the end, I turned down CRST and went with PAM. I know, not the greatest company out there, but I was satisfied with my decision. And in reading these posts, I know I made the right decision.

 

my husband has been on the road since april 13,2011 and he put in his home time for may 22,2011 so he can see his daughter graduate from kindergarden his fleet manager says he will be home on that day and they been giving him problems getting home..his fleet manager is a real dick...my husband done missed our daughters birthday cause they want to do nothing but play games with him..what can we do to stop this problem???? i am sooo over him missin out on important dates...because they messed up..