Our Experience with Kirkwood College and CRST!!

I am writing this “journal” for all of those people who like to know what they are going into in advance. I searched for days about what CRST was like and couldn’t find anything! So, here ya go! Hope this helps J

Day 1 (Monday)
Attend orientation in the Operations Building from 10:00am-Noon. You will be signing papers and going over information. After orientation, you will go over to the Lodging Building, where you will complete a physical and a drug (urine) test. This takes approximately 3 hours! So your day should last from 10am to about 3pm.

Day 2 (Tuesday)
“Off” day. You will study the Commercial Driver License Manual on your own (or with a group, however you study best). Be prepared to start taking the tests on the following day. There are no meetings or classes today. Depending on how easily you learn will depend on how long you should study. For my husband and I, we started studying around 4pm and stopped a little after 1am (Including breaks for showering and eating). NOTE: I recommend NOT doing it this way lol. Start studying earlier in the day!

Day 3 (Wednesday)
We arrived at the DMV around 8:15am. There were about 30 people already in line. The DMV opens at 8:30am. NOTE: Items you WILL need to bring with you include: HARD Copy Birth Certificate (can NOT be a copy), Driver’s License, Social Security Card, Domicile Paper (you should have gotten this at orientation), and Medical Card (you should have gotten this after your physical). **Please note that the DMV will keep your out of state driver’s license and mail it back to your home address** After all of the paperwork was complete, picture taken, and tests completed, we were out of there at 10:30am. My husband passed all 3 of the required tests (General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination). Unfortunately, I only passed the General Knowledge. So, it’s back to the DMV tomorrow morning to try again. You can only take the tests once a day, but you have unlimited tries (until Saturday) and it’s freeJ.

Day 4 (Thursday)
I PASSED!!!!! We arrived back at the DMV today around 8:00am. Again, there was already a line. Not quite as long, about 10 people. I still had to go through the line again and retake my picture. I passed both tests and was gone by 9:00am!

Day 5 (Friday)
Meet with Brandi at the Operations Building at 2:30pm. This was just to find out who had passed their tests and who had their permits. The meeting was over around 2:50pm.

Day 6 (Saturday)
Nothing!!!! If you have not passed your tests, today is your last day!!

Day 7 (Sunday)
Nothing!!!

Day 8 (Monday)
Meeting with Kirkwood people in the Seminar Room at 8:00am. This meeting was to sign papers and lasted 30 minutes. You will need to bring your pass paper and permit/license with you to this meeting!!! That was all for the morning. We were gone around 8:30am. We went back to CRST at 2:00 to be picked up by the Kirkwood bus/van to start our first day. We were picked up at CRST at 2:30pm. We went in classroom 101. We were shown 2 15-minute videos (Shifting and Turning). There was no commentary given, no one really knew why these specific videos were shown. Then we were given a handout. **Note: this is a fill in the blank. You will view a PowerPoint and just copy it word for word! TOTAL WASTE OF TIME!!!!!! They could have printed this off and we could have spent the day actually viewing the truck!**It was an outline of the pre-trip routine that differed DRASTICALLY from the 2 different versions that CRST had given us. They even said ignore what CRST gave us, even though we had studied this for 4 days! There were breaks every 1 ½ hours. This makes it difficult to get s*** done!!!! It’s also difficult to get things done when 44 people in the class have to ask the same question 16 different ways! Then JJ came in and went over the rules one by one. Even though, at the morning meeting we had already went over the rules and signed them! Then Jerry came in and introduced himself as the In-Cab Instructor. We still weren’t finished with our handout from Roger. Jerry interrupted Roger to expel his own information! This went on for many hours. We finally got done with the handout and split up into groups to view the outside parts of the truck and the cab of the truck. You would think that after an extensive amount of time going over the handout that you would get to look at the truck for quite some time……Nope…..we had about 7-10 minutes to look at all of the parts, and get an inside view of the cab. After the “truck tour” we got to go home around 9:30pm. You will not get a scheduled lunch or snack time. However, you can bring food and drinks to eat during the class. There are refrigerators and microwaves. Also note: you will need to check the schedule at the front door to find out what time you will be meeting for the following day. Lucky us: the van will be coming at 5:30am!!!

Day 9 (Tuesday)
We arrived at Kirkwood Community College at 5:45am (We decided to drive to Kirkwood the rest of the time because we brought our car). We were told the day before to wait in Room 104. A man came in around 6:00 and we were all taken outside, in groups of 2, to begin our 1[SUP]st[/SUP] day of drive time. Here, everyone’s experience will differ. There are several different trainers who all have their own style. There is no intro. This is a VERY quick course and you have to be in the mindset that will let you succeed. This is how my (Sarah) experience went:
“My partner and I did a quick pre-trip of the truck. We then went into the truck and watched the instructor drive around the lot. The lot or “range” is about 3-4 football fields square. After about 5 minutes of the instructor, my partner got in the driver’s seat. We were told to start in 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] gear and work our way up to 7[SUP]th[/SUP] gear. This will be about 25mph. (It is a 10 speed truck). He practiced double clutching up to 7[SUP]th[/SUP] and down shifting back to 3[SUP]rd[/SUP]. After about 20 minutes, it was my turn. Again, the same thing. 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] to 7[SUP]th[/SUP] and back down, over and over again, for about 20 minutes. Keep in mind, there are other students in trucks practicing in the same lot. They may be going faster or slower or they may even be stopped. One student was traveling against traffic. Ok…then we were given a 15 minute break. We met back up at the truck and OH BOY…..we were told we were going to get on the interstate!!!!! AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING!!!!! We did it……but I was terrified and nervous the entire time. We each had about 20 minutes on the interstate. When we were both done, we weren’t told where to go or what to do. First, let’s hear my husband’s side before we continue with the day.”
“We got on the truck and my trainer immediately drove us to the local gas station so he could get some coffee. He answered some good questions and we got to see him drive and watch his tachometer and shifting patterns. However, this did cut in on our driving times. When we got back to the range, I drove first. My trainer wanted us to gain confidence in shifting up and down, so we didn’t get on the road. He allowed us to get up to 6[SUP]th[/SUP] gear. I had some trouble getting the hang of downshifting but upshifting I found to be easy. My partner had a harder time of it. He could not get it out of third gear. He accidentally made it to 4[SUP]th[/SUP] once and then successfully got to 5[SUP]th[/SUP] a couple of times. But he had a lot of trouble due to waiting too long between double shift pumps to get into gear. We drove from 7:00am to 9:30am. There is no opportunity for extra drive time. You get what you’re allotted, and if you miss it for any reason, it’s gone.”
So...there is no whining. They don’t want to hear that you’re curious about when the bus comes or what time you can take a break. It is VERY self-directed, even though people voluntarily group up. If you are not driving, you are expected to be studying the pre-trip. This involves looking at the trucks or pretending to look at the trucks. You will be there up to 12 hours, at least 8 of which are just for pre-trip. You get about 2 hours of breaks (which the times are posted for on the wall), but you will go brain dead about half way through the day. One thing we learned is to always look busy, even if you are confident with what information you know, go outside and pretend to look at the truck. Our day finally ended around 4:30pm after the schedule for the following day was posted. We only got to leave then because I asked if it was ok, and the fact that we drove and did not take the van. We don’t know when everyone else got to leave.

Day 10 (Wednesday)
We arrived at Kirkwood at 3:30pm. Luckily, we got the latest time today. As soon as we arrived we started working on pre-trip. At 6:50pm-ish, we went back inside and waited for our trainer, because our drive time was posted as 7:00pm. First, I must say that the night time crew at Kirkwood is SO much more laid back and friendly than the day time crew. The day was so much smoother since we didn’t have to deal with the day people. My husband and I switched partners tonight (not our choice, JJ did that for whatever reason, I believe most people kept the partner they had the previous day). My partner and I had Todd (he was better than my previous trainer and he’s a lot more personable!) for a trainer. My partner asked that I drive first, so I did. I drove for about 2 hours around Cedar Rapids. Then my partner drove for 2 hours around Cedar Rapids. We came back to Kirkwood around 11:00pm, checked the schedule and got to go home! Today was much better than yesterday. As you can clearly see, there was nothing to complain about, and I think that has a lot to do with us having the nighttime crew.

Day 11 (Thursday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 3:30pm. Again, our driving schedule was 7:00pm. Nothing different today, just a different trainer. We were able to leave at 11:00pm. We go in tomorrow at 9:30am.

Day 12 (Friday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 9:30am. Our driving time was set for 2:30pm today. Again, nothing any different, just a different trainer. We were gone at 6:30pm. We go in tomorrow and Sunday at 5:30am.

Day 13 (Saturday)
Starting to feel more fatigued and irritated. The schedules are crazy! Why can’t we just go in at the same time everyday? I understand that we need to drive in different circumstances (day/night, busies time/least busiest time), but I’m exhausted!
Sorry, I wrote that early this morning, but I thought it was kind of funny. Anyway, we got to Kirkwood at 5:50am. We were split up and put with a trainer. I had 2 other people in my truck and my husband had 1 other person in his. All we did was drive the CDL route over and over again. The people in my truck got to drive the route twice, since there were 3 trainees and only 7 hours. In my husbands truck they each made 4 rounds. We left at 12:25pm.

Day 14 (Sunday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 5:50am. Today, we practiced range skills (or backing). It’s not hard, just pay attention to exactly what the instructor tells you to do. We got about 3-4 practice runs. We got to leave at 12:30pm.

Day 15 (Monday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 5:50am. Today, we took our pre-trip test. My husband passed with an 83 and I passed with an 82. 85 is a perfect score. Some people also got to the range skills test. I passed with 6 points and my husband passed with 3 points. You can get a maximum of 9 points and after 9 you fail! Again, some people got to do the road test. I did and unfortunately for me, I failed. A car was stopped in the middle of my lane and I stalled. Stalling is an automatic fail. Hitting curbs is also an automatic fail. We left around 4:30pm.

Day 16 (Tuesday)
We arrived at Kirkwood at 6:30am. We had a short class about log books. They started calling people outside to finish up tests that weren’t completed the day before. My husband got called for his drive test and he passed with a 15 (36 is the most you can have, anything over and you fail!). I passed, too, with a 17. We left at 4:30pm.

Day 17 (Wednesday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 6:30am. Class about how to use an atlas. If you hadn’t finished tests, then you will still be doing those. We left at 3:00pm.

Day 18 (Thursday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 6:30am. Class about how to plan your route. If you hadn’t finished tests, then you probably won’t get a chance! Unfortunately, most people have to wait until Saturday to finish testing. The DOT came in today and chose 3 people at random to retake the pre-trip, range skills, and driving test. I (Sarah) got chosen to take the pre-trip. This is just to ensure that the school is not giving out CDLs to people who don’t deserve them. We left at 3:30pm.

Day 19 (Friday)
Arrived at Kirkwood at 6:30am. Watched 2 videos (Railroad Crossings and Truckers against Trafficking). All the people that passed their tests got to leave at 10:00am and go to the DMV. After we got our CDL from the DMV, we went to the CRST Safety Room to find out what time we would get to take the driving test for CRST. They told everyone to go to the “yard” at 1:30pm. We were going to drive in groups of 4 until everyone was finished. We walked out to the yard and waited for further instruction. Finally, at 2:15, a truck driver told us that he and another guy were going to be doing the testing. So, they chose 4 people each and told everyone else to wait. Long story short: we waited until 5:00pm and NEVER GOT TO DRIVE!!!! We were the last 6 people and they told us to come back tomorrow at 8:00am!!!! I AM BEYOND PISSED!!!! There was ABSOLUTELY NOOOOOOOOOO structure or order. They picked random people to test everytime. They could have at least told everyone to come in at a certain time instead of us standing out there (keep in mind it’s in the low 40s-high30s outside) for 3.5 hours.

Day 20 (Saturday)
Arrived back at CRST at 8:00am to take the drive test. We were the first group and finished around 8:45am. We got to leave and spent the rest of the day shopping J

Day 21 (Sunday)
OFF

Day 22 (Monday)
Arrived at CRST at 7:00am for the first day of orientation. Today is filled with paperwork!!! You will have a chance to take the CRST road test if you haven’t done so. You will also take 2 written, open-booked tests. They are the UPS test and the Log Book Test. We left at 8:30pm.

Day 23 (Tuesday)
Arrived at CRST at 7:00am. Today you will do the Agility Test and Hazmat Test. There’s also a lot of other things you go over, however, I’m tired and don’t remember a lot of it right now lol. We left at 6:30pm.

Day 24 (Wednesday)
Arrived at CRST at 7:00am. More classwork. We left at 6:30pm.

Day 25 (Thursday)
Arrived at CRST at 7:30am. Short briefing in the Operations Building for about 1 hour. Most people received their id’s, fleet managers and trainer information. My husband was one of the unlucky ones who did not get any information about the trainer or fleet manager. The list is supposedly updated every hour, but don’t rely on that. We were able to leave at 11:00am. We are back at the hotel now and my husband still does not know who his trainer or fleet manager will be. It’s 1:30pm. They’re supposed to call you and let you know who you’ll have, but no phone call has been received as of now. Finally found out what my husband was supposed to do around 3:00pm.

Day 26 (Friday)
I left with my trainer at 2:00pm to pick up his truck in Pennsylvania. My husband tried to call his trainer and fleet manager, no answer. He finally got ahold of his fleet manager and found out that he had been switched to a new trainer and a new fleet manager. He was told that his new trainer would call him and let him know what to do. No phone call was ever made.

Day 27 (Saturday)
Once we got to Pennsylvania (around 7:00am), we found that my trainers truck was disgusting! He was going to be leasing the truck in the hopes of owning it eventurally. When we got inside it still had someone else’s belongings inside! After this my trainer decided he wanted to leave the company due to some research his wife did on the internet and the condition of the truck. I’m not going into what he found, but make sure you do research CRST before you come out to Iowa! I called my husband to find out if he had spoken with his new fleet manager/trainer yet and he said no. After everything we’ve veen through with Kirkwood and CRST we decided that now would be the best time to quit CRST before we get to far in. We feel this is the BEST decision we made so far.

**REMEMBER: Do your own research!! I don’t want to mention the things we found about CRST just because I’d rather YOU read and interpret it how YOU want to! What we saw did not work for us, but it may not be a big deal to you. So, please, research!!!!

 

Yes we will owe them that money. Also, they don't just pay your way there for free. They finance it. It gets payroll deducted over time.

 

I'm sure if we knew exactly what to ask, we could have found something. However, I was looking for someone's day to day experiences.