My First week at CRST...

Discussion in 'CRST' started by CWiLL23, Jul 13, 2012.

  1. CWiLL23

    CWiLL23 Light Load Member

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    Jun 23, 2012
    Detroit, Mi
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    Well, I have been here a week so far and I really can't complain. The week all you are doing is studying for your CDL permitt which to me is completely boring especially if you pass all 3 on the first day now you are sitting around for a week waiting to start school the following week at Kirkwood Community College.

    Now as far as the company goes to me they are a great company besides the low pay, but hell what do u expect coming fresh out of school 50k-75k lol now I am not saying it can't be done, but CRST is putting up a lot to YOU your CDL. They bus you in and give you a roof over your head while you attended school and give you 2 meals a day. Yes, you can argue that you are paying for your room but lets face it if you had 3-5 grand to spend on school then you would not need to come here.

    Now as far as training goes at Kirkwood I can't really say to much because I have not entered that week yet, but they tell you it's accelerated and they mean it. You basically have 1 week to learn to drive a truck so your best bet is #### and listen. Then your second week at Kirkwood (from what I hear) is preping for the pre trip inspection and road test. I also hear that you only get about 1 hour of drive each day IF you are lucky.

    Now let's talk about the pay and yes it does blow balls but then again like I said look at all that they have done for YOU and if you get your CDL from them GREAT now you can take the CDL & OTR experience and go wherever the hell you want and I'm sure that's priceless. So here is the breakdown of the pay

    ALL MILES FOR TEAM DRIVING IS SPLIT PAY
    Months 1-3 .22 CPM
    Months 4-6 .23 CPM
    Months 7-12 .31 CPM

    YOU ARE TO AVERAGE ABOUT 5000-6000 Miles a week minimum and from what I hear you do get that much. Now what all all them expensive YOU occurred while here well folks CRST will deduct $40 each week until its paid in full so that Greyhound bus you pay it the physical yup that a hot $50 that Drug test another hot $50 and a nice processing fee of $50 then $150 for each week you spend in that lovely room with 2 other guys.

    So, if you are looking to go to CRST in Cedar Rapids here is what you can expect. Remember you are here for 1 reason and 1 reason only and that's to get your CDL and a job. You are not here to meet friends and be in a 5 star hotel no this is trucking school NOT a vacation and as far what I have seen GREAT JOB CRST!!

    So, I am going to end this by saying you either gone make it or you not its ALL up YOU!!
     
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  3. CWiLL23

    CWiLL23 Light Load Member

    125
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    Jun 23, 2012
    Detroit, Mi
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    I have a few typos but I'm on my iPhone and sorry I'm not going to fix them but they not that bad lol
     
  4. Muskeg

    Muskeg Bobtail Member

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    Jul 13, 2012
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    Please keep us posted. I am thinking about doing their school in Cedar Rapids soon, but have found all kinds of awful stuff about them online. I am a woman, older, probably not a target for hitting on but I do dread the kind of trainers I keep reading about that just plain want to kick somebody around. I also read that some new drivers have so much trouble getting miles that they sit around for 2 weeks waiting for a trainer ..... I think that one was in southern California, maybe it's different here in the midwest. Where did you hear that you do get good mileage - from CRST itself, or a driver that has no ties to their management?
     
  5. CenutryClass

    CenutryClass Road Train Member

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    Feb 15, 2006
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    Lol first few days and you sound like a recruiter.
    Come back after six months and we'll see if youre singing the same tune
     
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  6. CWiLL23

    CWiLL23 Light Load Member

    125
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    Jun 23, 2012
    Detroit, Mi
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    Well, CenturyClass funny thing I'm shipping out tomorrow to see if I can get into Con-Way the pay is waaaaaaaaaaay better and it's closer to home. If I can't come up with the 2 Grand to pay US Truck Driving school then I'm coming back to finish my training. Since I did not start school I just owe them for the bus tickets and the other misc items.

    While I got you Class I read on Con-Way site that for team driving they have the "guaranteed pay" is that just for experienced drivers or after my 4 weeks with a trainer can I get in on that and also is that split pay?
     
  7. CWiLL23

    CWiLL23 Light Load Member

    125
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    Jun 23, 2012
    Detroit, Mi
    0
    Muskeg the information I got was from drivers and management. I talk to a lot of drivers here just to see how they feel some drivers love it and some can't wait till their 8 months up. As far as new drivers goes my first day here I shot pool with a guy who was complaining about sitting around and waiting on a trainer but the next day he was gone lol and I witness a guy get all his info and met up with his trainer and shipped out in the same day.

    All I am saying if you looking for someone to make sure you are getting it and to check on you then you will fail here. Ask questions and take in as much as you can and you will do fine.
     
  8. Lspilot82

    Lspilot82 Light Load Member

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    Aug 8, 2010
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    I've been at CRST for three months now and so far so good. The 5000 to 6000 miles thing isn't accurate. You will see 5000 miles a lot but i never seen 6000. We are always hovering around 5000. This week is going to suck. We got to a drop and they said they won't unload us till Monday. So here we suit till Monday morning. CRST said be there at 8 am and when we get there we are told there isn't anyone to unload us so we sat till 6pm when a guy finally came out and said we never had a appointment. Wtf...so here we sit. Other then this snafu its been ok.
     
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  9. FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

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    Dec 23, 2008
    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
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    If you are near a drop yard this is where you need to bug dispatch and tell them to let you drop it at the yard and get you on something else.
     
  10. Slavic

    Slavic Bobtail Member

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    Jul 4, 2012
    Ephrata, PA
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    I just finished my school at CRST and i dont know if i should sign the contract at orientation or just walk out since i got my cdl. I think i can make more money at any other company. Training is very minimal. The people who passed almost all had prior experience with some sort of truck. One week for a student who never drove a truck is very hard to learn since they give you 6 days of driving(anywhere from 15min to 1 hr, depending how much patience your instructor has for you.) and one day of parking (about an hour of practicing to park, back up, etc. which equals to parking the truck 2 or 3 times..)(I had only one try at trying parking, straight line, alley and right hand turn) The instructors are just retired truck drivers. You get a new teacher everyday and each one of them wants you to drive their way. Besides that, the school is very unorganized. if your not driving, your sitting in a class room starring at the wall from 6am in the morning to 5-8 pm in the evening, until its your turn to drive...when i came here there was about 130 people, the week we started kirkwood there was about 65 students. the 3rd week there was 49. today only about 25-30 people got their cdls..you get 3 try's for pre-trip, skills, and road test. If you fail one 3 times, your going home. If the instructors see no progress in your driving withing 3 days, you get sent home. I didnt do any research before i came here, so i regret coming here..Im really thinking of paying the 2800 and leaving to a private fleet company my buddy works at. Crst is very unorganized, you have to do everything yourself, if you don't, you'll be here for months. And one more thing.. recruiter tells you, you do school, go home for 5 days and then do the 28 days. but here is how it is. you come here for 3 weeks, they say orientation is 3 days, it takes them at least one day to make your id card, then couple days to wait for trainer/lead driver, IF NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG( if your company that you worked for hasn't verified you, you'll be sitting here until they do, and you have to make sure everything else is OK, because they will not tell you, until you ask. ). since lead driver comes on Friday night, and sits here waiting for a load, usually till Monday. (4weeks) Then you leave for 28 days, that's about 2 months...so i dont really know why im still here...and besides that, this place is filthy...
     
  11. CWiLL23

    CWiLL23 Light Load Member

    125
    41
    Jun 23, 2012
    Detroit, Mi
    0
    Slavic now u know u can't go to another company till that money for school is paid in full it's like they have some type of lien on you...
     
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