My "Rotten" CRST Experience

moneymaker · Feb 22, 2012

No Rotten I was not making my comments to u they were to the person talking about crst owning Cr England and western
And yes I team with my wife have for 7 years on and off and all will crst yes I leased a truck it has been paid for for 3 years this August and my heard work paid off last October when the fm I had when I was a company driver (planner now) called me now all I do is run TN TO MN and after all my bills are paid for the truck
Fuel ,insurance,Qualcomm
I take $4700.00 home a week and I am home Saturday morning and leave Sunday night and it works out that the run is only 800 miles one way so pick up at 9am and park at 11pm till 7am shower drive 1 hour drop and hook do it all over again
And as a o/o if I need more time off I just take it like in April I am taking 25 days off and going to Hawaii. For 2 weeks so yea life a crst is good for me and running team is ok

Rotten · Feb 22, 2012

I am happy for you. I had one great trainer and one lousy one. My experiences weren't all bad. I've made some good friends. Pay isn't what I was promised when I left my other job. My trainer was doing alright but he didn't train all the time only when his wife was off the truck.

Selahgal · Feb 23, 2012

Rotten said: ↑

You can sign a contract and owe them time or money.
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So I guess my original question stands ... how MUCH money does CRST demand for tuition payback? I am reading many conflicting posts as to the amount.

Appreciate any assistance ... !

sonic50 · Feb 23, 2012

Selahgal said: ↑

So I guess my original question stands ... how MUCH money does CRST demand for tuition payback? I am reading many conflicting posts as to the amount.

Appreciate any assistance ... !
Click to expand...

Call crst and ask..

free2frog · Feb 23, 2012

Selahgal said: ↑

So I guess my original question stands ... how MUCH money does CRST demand for tuition payback? I am reading many conflicting posts as to the amount.

Appreciate any assistance ... !
Click to expand...

3 years ago it was 4500.00 for full class and 500.00 for refresher. and no they do not pro rate the amount, so if you do 7months and 29 days it's still 4500.00. Your husband should have a copy of the contract he signed and it will be stated on the contract. Calling or asking CRST will only red flag you and get you starved out. as my co driver and I both hit the .32 cpm the same week and had been running 5-6k mile a week as soon as we hit .32 cpm we dropped to 3-4 mile per week would still get 4-5k at least 1 week out of the month.

Rotten · Feb 23, 2012

The preemployment contract reads $3950 + $50 for the phys + $50 for the drug screen + $150 a week for every week you are in school for lodging at the training building (might be more if you are at a motel). A 2 week student pays $300. + the cost of the bus ticket. Get your permit before you go, this saves time and money!

eazyliving · Feb 23, 2012

Rotten said: ↑

This is going to be an honest (as possible) personal assessment. I will try to post without personal bias. I was promised .31 cents a mile, my girlfriend was pre-hired to be my trainer After completion of training we were going to team together. This is the only time I would team with anyone. I wasn't wanting to drive teams, especially with a stranger. This is not my style. I have always wanted to drive and left a teaching position to do so.
Day 1 (Sunday) - Arrived at CRST Training Facility. The facility is Dorm Style housing and the cost is $150 a week while a student. There are 4 category's of student's . 3 week student's (those without permits from their own states), 2 week student's ( 2 sub-category's of these, are those with permits in hand and CDL refresher's) and the 1 week refreshers. You live with 2 others in your room. These very from trainers, to students to drivers who are on worker's comp. The guy that was in our room was on workers comp and didn't sleep at night. Up, down, up, down. Slam....not much sleeping here.
Day 2 (Monday) - 6:30 meeting and briefing in the East Building. This is meeting consisted of those with CDL's and those with out of state permits. You sign a Pre-employment Contract with CRST stating that you will pay $3950 plus additional expenses incurred (DOT physical $50, Piss Test $50, $150 for a room per week, and of course the cost of your transportation, you know that fabulous bus that you ride. Oh yes, you get to pay for that bus ride!) if you do not complete your 8 month contract and the Residency Paperwork ( a form stating that you are going to work for CRST and change your residency to Iowa). At 8:00 AM, Mike from Kirkwood Community College comes in and has you sign another contract with Kirkwood (This one basically states that you will be subject to paying Kirkwood $2050 if you do not complete the program or take a job with CRST). You sign, then basically race, or walk fast back to the CRST Training Center where you stand in the west line first (the wall closest to the TV room to get your BP, height, weight, eyeballs checked). Then to the east line to get your piss test and see the M.D.) This takes a while. At 2:30 we were taken by Kirkwood bus to the college. We wrote the notes on the PTI and listened to a lecture over the rules. John, the director of the Transportation School came in and gave us a run down on how the course runs and welcomes us. Out at 9 and then back to CRST and hopefully you don't have an early 5:30 pickup.
Day 3 (Tuesday) - 7:30 Pick up for me. There are various pickup times for students. The first bus is 5:30 AM. Then several others during the day for pickups. You are assigned a time. Those with out of state permits go to the DMV to take the tests over again. I took it and didn't pass the combo the first time. You are to keep the paper from the DMV with your number so they can look you up again when you go back, otherwise you start all over again. You spend at least ½ the time practicing pre-trips and the rest in the truck with 3-4 other students. You maybe get 1-2 hours driving per truck per day for the 7 days. The instructors (for the most part are pretty cool). I spent 1 hour the first day driving. 3 times around the range and then out on the road. I drove a Prostar with 3 others with Greg as my instructor.
Day 4 (Wednesday)- 7:30 pick up again.(I drove myself to CRST. I wasn't going to take a bus and I was supposed to be there with my girlfriend) so I drove to the DMV. Passed the Combo Test in around 3 minutes. Perfect score (I studied my ### off... I hate failing). Then drove myself to Kirkwood. Stood around doing PTI's most off the day. I had been feeling ill and it hit me. Dizziness, nausea, man I couldn't stand up. Sick of my stomach. Da**ed flu! I ended up leaving before I could drive, had to use it as a sick day. If you don't drive it count's as a sick day. 2 sick day's and then you are recycled. Ouch.
Day 5 (Thursday) - 7:30 pickup! Thank God! Although I can't sleep passed 4:30 anyway! My body is still on Eastern Time. This come's in handy for the rest of the weeks. Pre-trip for a few hours then in the truck with one other student! Drove around 2 hours today! Boy did I need that! I got Greg again as an instructor....good guy...good instructor. Went through down town and got a lot of practice stopping do to the #####****'s on the road. Switched out and the other student drove back. Then we drove around the west side out in the country and practiced shifting. Arrived back PTI for an hour and the bus back to the facility.
Day 6 (Friday) - 5:30 pick up. Pre-tripped and in-cab inspection's practice then off with Gary and 2 others. Gary is a good guy and laid back. Fun to be with and makes you feel good when you screw-up. Overall a great instructor. We drove back to the Taj Mahal.
Day 7 (Saturday) - 6:30 Pickup Everyone. ½ or more of the class head out to drive for the day. The other half (I was in ) practice the skills portion of the test. I got 1 and ½ hours in of backing practice. Wow...now I am a master (J/K)....Well at least I learned a little. 2:30 everyone goes home.
Day 8 (Sunday) - 6:30 Pickup again.....This time the other half drives and those that went out on the road stay and practice skills. Me and three others go out and practice on the road with Gary. I was having problems shifting in the Volvo, but after practicing skills in the Volvo the day before I got the clutch down better and am doing much better. Gary gives me some pointers and after the day I feel better. I get around 3 hours seat time this time. Testing starts tomorrow and I pray I get a Volvo. I haven't driven the Freight Shaker yet and don't know the clutch on it. We do laps around the CDL road test area. We have been practicing it most of the week. We head back on the bus at 2:30.
Day 9 (Monday) - 6:30 Pickup Everyone - PTI's start today. Took and passed the first time. Skill's are tomorrow, then road tests. Did a logging class. I get a call from Brock my recruiter that my g/f is no longer coming to CRST and now I am at .22 cents a mile. Wow.! I should have went with Prime! .22 cents!!!! I have signed the agreement and am stuck here!!!! He offered me an out, I can leave , but I still owe the money. Should have stayed teaching!!! Still 2 more tests to take. I will worry about it later.
Day 10 (Tuesday) - 6:30 Pickup everyone. Took the skills and passed it, passed it, first time. Only lost 2 points. Took the road test and failed. Loaded truck, and screwed up on remembering the splitter. Stalled the truck, automatic failure. Had mapping the rest of the day. Left around 4.
Day 11 (Wednesday) - 6:30 Pickup everyone. Mapping again all day. Took the road test again and passed it. We leave the school around 2:30 to go to the DMV. The bus dropped off those that are going to get thier licenses (for those that passed and then back to the Dorm. Make sure you have all your paperwork. SS Card, birth cert. etc... otherwise no license. Normally Friday is license day.
Day 12 ( Off do to Thanksgiving) otherwise we would be at school.
Day 13 (Friday) - 6:30 Pickup everyone. Safety class. Hookup class and off at 9:00. Wow it's over. Talked to the woman in charge of contract's. I am stuck with .22 cent's a mile. Not happy with it, or the situation. Training was to fast, not enough hour's in the seat, but I guess that is what the 28 day's are for. I will keep you all updated from the road.
Click to expand...

Kirkwood has some really good driving instructors.

Rotten · Feb 24, 2012

Good luck. All of the class I keep in touch with are doing their time and leaving. Surprising since all of them are very positive people.

emma · Feb 26, 2012

crst is well known for jacking over drivers and taking pay like with my own experience they claimed 9987.00 for bus well when i talked to grey hound they fell over since i had receipts for all bus fees and also hotel stays when working for crst the only thing one can say is to get duplicate receipts for every thing. the only other thing that can be told to new drivers for crst is the dispatchers do not send all the route to get you to customer like with my experience they sent us a load to Sacramento Ca that had us on i-5 to 57 for 5 miles was shorted 255 miles so caviet empter they will jack you then charge you for out of route miles even if it is their negligence

Professional-Trucker · Feb 26, 2012

emma said: ↑

crst is well known for jacking over drivers and taking pay like with my own experience they claimed 9987.00 for bus well when i talked to grey hound they fell over since i had receipts for all bus fees and also hotel stays when working for crst the only thing one can say is to get duplicate receipts for every thing. the only other thing that can be told to new drivers for crst is the dispatchers do not send all the route to get you to customer like with my experience they sent us a load to Sacramento Ca that had us on i-5 to 57 for 5 miles was shorted 255 miles so caviet empter they will jack you then charge you for out of route miles even if it is their negligence
Click to expand...

They pay practical miles. Very standard in the industry.

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