CRST - DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!

[missouriman]

These are the facts about the scam, which should be illegal, that CRST Van expedited is running.

1) The recruiters will lie to you about the pay you may make. You will start after training at .22 cents a mile. Do the math, it barely makes minimum wage, even with good miles.

2) If you bail out on their "contract", get a lawyer. They don't tell you that the intrest jumps to 18%. I think this is illegal.

3) If they don't hire you, you still have to pay the contract, another reason to get a lawyer.

4) They get federal money to send you to school anyway, so they are making a profit off of you making the ridiculously low wage.

5) Ladies beware!!! There are stories, which I have gotten first hand of male trainers (and you don't get a choice) having liberties with their female students, and even tying them up and making them stay in the bunk.

6) If they can't find a partner for you, you are out of work, out of salary, and you still owe.

7) They "advance" you the money for orientation. They will charge you for the room, bus ticket, and anything else that goes along with it.

8) They hire convicted feolns and use them as trainers. I know this first hand.

Do not go to this company. They do dishonest business and sucker people in everyday with promises of money and success. What can you say about a company that has only 1600 trucks and has orientation for 100 plus people every week. Run away, run far away.

[Double L]

I have to disagree! I say this cause I have a lady friend who has been with CRST for about 2 years now! She is under their lease purchase and is doing great. She is getting miles and plus she stays out for long periods of time but that is her choice! Even though CRST is a team operation they do hire solos and my lady friend was driving team with her ex husband but they got a divorce and she has been running solo with CRST for about a 1.5 year!

[Syncrosonix]

military recruiters also tell half truths. if you know somebody who is going into the army as 11B, and they believe it'll be a lot like college because the recruiter said so. man, they deserve to be laughed at.

[ohiomohawk]

Hello missouriman


The first 4 things you listed are some what common in many starter companies.

There is some good information on these boards I know you are new but thanks for the info.

Some companies get bad comments more often than others and CRST happens to be one of them.

[Useless]

C. an't

R. eally

S. peak

T. ruthfully

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

[belpre122]

Sorry that you decided to attend Trucking 101: The Basics, only after you had already been burned. Or burned yourself. Whichever is the case.

Everything that you posted above is very possible. It's a tough industry, any way you slice it. If you would have taken the time to come here and ask questions beforehand, we could have warned you about these possible pitfalls.

Sorry that it didn't work out for you. May I suggest better preparation for your future endeavors? Solid preparation will save you a lot of time, money and unnecessary frustration.

CRST class of 06/05. Still trucking and lovin it!

[Orangetxguy]

Sorry that you decided to attend Trucking 101: The Basics, only after you had already been burned. Or burned yourself. Whichever is the case.

Everything that you posted above is very possible. It's a tough industry, any way you slice it. If you would have taken the time to come here and ask questions beforehand, we could have warned you about these possible pitfalls.

Sorry that it didn't work out for you. May I suggest better preparation for your future endeavors? Solid preparation will save you a lot of time, money and unnecessary frustration.

CRST class of 06/05. Still trucking and lovin it!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah HAAA! NOW we know from wence comes your bitterness to OTR !!! :wink:

[belpre122]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah HAAA! NOW we know from wence comes your bitterness to OTR !!! :wink:

Me, bitter? I dunno what you be talkin bout Stanley!

[Syncrosonix]

bel was simply messing with all of you. many of you took the bait and he ran, ran, and ran some more with it.

[JeffTheTerrible]

2) If you bail out on their "contract", get a lawyer. They don't tell you that the intrest jumps to 18%. I think this is illegal.

They don't tell you, or you don't read the fine print? CRST has been doing this for a while.. I'm fairly certain they know how to cover their asses already.

3) If they don't hire you, you still have to pay the contract, another reason to get a lawyer.

Yes, they'll make you pay for your schooling. If you attend university, get a degree, and don't get a job immediately afterwards, you still have to repay your student loans and such. They held up their end of the deal there. It's not their fault you didn't make the cut. Didn't you realize you were taking out a loan to pay for your school?

4) They get federal money to send you to school anyway, so they are making a profit off of you making the ridiculously low wage.

Did you actually research this, or is this something you've just heard?

5) Ladies beware!!! There are stories, which I have gotten first hand of male trainers (and you don't get a choice) having liberties with their female students, and even tying them up and making them stay in the bunk.

It's been my experience that most "firsthand stories" come from someone who heard it from someone else, who heard it from someone else, who heard it from someone else, etc, etc, etc. One thing you'd know already if you had spent any time in this industry is that truck drivers tend to be full of ****. Not every single one of them, but enough of them that you should know better than not to take every rumour you hear at face value. All those drivers out there who were Green Berets in the Navy, CIA paramilitaries, SEALS in the Merchant Marine, etc, and they all started driving big trucks at the age of five, and... well, you'll learn the fishing stories for yourself once you get out there.

6) If they can't find a partner for you, you are out of work, out of salary, and you still owe.

Finding a trainer/mentor/partner/whatever the hell they want to call them is going to be a trying process with most entry level companies. You don't take off like a greyhound out the gate in this industry. Just the way it is. If you're on your dispatcher's ass constantly to get paired up with someone, then you're just sitting in the corner, out of sight, and out of mind, and you'll get passed over in favour of the person who'll make their presence known every single time.

7) They "advance" you the money for orientation. They will charge you for the room, bus ticket, and anything else that goes along with it.

Now that's a bit - ebonically speaking - whack (that one was for you, Double L, even if you'll be pissed off at me for it :P)

8) They hire convicted feolns and use them as trainers. I know this first hand.

Then stop with the "I know this firsthand" bull****, and give some details. What were they incarcerated for? Were their crimes actually felonies? Somehow, I'm just a little skeptical that they're going to hire someone who poses a risk of their loads being hijacked, or others coming under harm as a result of their actions - both cases which would leave the company liable, and subject to lawsuits.

Do not go to this company. They do dishonest business and sucker people in everyday with promises of money and success. What can you say about a company that has only 1600 trucks and has orientation for 100 plus people every week. Run away, run far away.

I'm sure there are legitimate gripes about CRST, but, from your post, I'm getting the impression of someone who either came into this industry with their head in the clouds, or who simply found out the hard way that they couldn't hack it. Perhaps this occupation isn't the ideal choice for you?

[Double L]

Why would I be mad for you using the word whack? Anyway Jeff I've heard that the training companies do receive grants for sending students through their school and training them. I think it was on a website where I heard it but it's escaping my mind right now.

[JeffTheTerrible]

Because I'm stereotyping. I feel so rebellious when I'm politically incorrect 8)

I don't doubt that some sort of incentive is offered by the government. Of course, they may get money from the government, but I doubt Uncle Sam reimburses them for maintenance of the $100k truck tractors which they have to maintain and allow students who've never driven one before to operate. Community colleges receive federal money to support their educational programmes, as well... but they still charge tuition.

Anyhow, the idea was more to point out the sensationalist nature of his post, which he provides absolutely no corroboration of, instead refuting to the old, "well... I know it firsthand" spiel. And some may say it's a valid arguing point, so let's put it to the test, shall we?

The earth is flat! I know this firsthand!

Have I convinced you that the Earth is flat?

[Double L]

Because I'm stereotyping. I feel so rebellious when I'm politically incorrect 8)

I don't doubt that some sort of incentive is offered by the government. Of course, they may get money from the government, but I doubt Uncle Sam reimburses them for maintenance of the $100k truck tractors which they have to maintain and allow students who've never driven one before to operate. Community colleges receive federal money to support their educational programmes, as well... but they still charge tuition.

Anyhow, the point was more to point out the sensationalist nature of his post, which he provides absolutely no corroboration of, instead refuting to the old, "well... I know it firsthand" spiel. And some may say it's a valid arguing point, so let's put it to the test, shall we?

The earth is flat! I know this firsthand!

Have I convinced you that the Earth is flat?

I gotcha now! I don't care if you stereotype me or not. It doesn't hurt me and plus their just W-O-R-D-S!

[Orangetxguy]

bel was simply messing with all of you. many of you took the bait and he ran, ran, and ran some more with it.

My beef wasn't with Belpre...I already knew what he was about. My beef was with CFM/LBJ, which I thought was pretty clear.

[Orangetxguy]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah HAAA! NOW we know from wence comes your bitterness to OTR !!! :wink:

Me, bitter? I dunno what you be talkin bout Stanley!

HAaaaaaaaaaaaaay! We all had to start some where..some were unlucky enough to chose CRST. I never woulda driven a gold truck. But I did drive some Orange & Black ones!









no it wasn't schneider either! :P

[belpre122]

HAaaaaaaaaaaaaay! We all had to start some where..some were unlucky enough to chose CRST. I never woulda driven a gold truck. But I did drive some Orange & Black ones!

Oddly enough Stan, I have nothing at all against CRST. They were good to me and overall I had a very positive experience there. When I read about some of the tricks that some companies pull, I really never did see any of that at CRST. I hesitate to go too far on the defensive for CRST as my opinion is understandably biased, but it is a good place to start in my opinion. If you don't mind teaming. I especially liked that fact that 180 days after orientation, my contractual obligation was up. None of this "starts after your training" crap. I would train with CRST again with no hesitation.

Surprised Stan? :wink:

[Orangetxguy]

HAaaaaaaaaaaaaay! We all had to start some where..some were unlucky enough to chose CRST. I never woulda driven a gold truck. But I did drive some Orange & Black ones!

Oddly enough Stan, I have nothing at all against CRST. They were good to me and overall I had a very positive experience there. When I read about some of the tricks that some companies pull, I really never did see any of that at CRST. I hesitate to go too far on the defensive for CRST as my opinion is understandably biased, but it is a good place to start in my opinion. If you don't mind teaming. I especially liked that fact that 180 days after orientation, my contractual obligation was up. None of this "starts after your training" crap. I would train with CRST again with no hesitation.

Surprised Stan? :wink:

NAaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

[Bug]

I drive for crst as a lease operator the only gripe i have is i very seldome get preplanned loads from them. Also i hear their insurance isnt very good for company drivers.

[belpre122]

I drive for crst as a lease operator the only gripe i have is i very seldome get preplanned loads from them. Also i hear their insurance isnt very good for company drivers.

I'm not sure about the company driver's plan. I do know however, that they offer a "bridge plan" for the 6 months that I was in training. It was Iowa Blue Cross. I used it once or twice and it paid right off. Another thing about these "bridge plans."

I got out from under $40,000 in back surgery debt because I opted for that bridge plan. Since I had not let my COBRA/bridge lapse for more than (63) days, my new employer's insurance carriers had to foot the bills. This insurance carrier Sagamore was trying to claim "pre-existing condition." They fought me, but I fought back 10 fold. Greedy bastards!

It's all called Insurance Portability, with the way we bounce around jobs in this industry, everyone should at least be familiar with it. It saved my arse to the tune of 40k!

Take a minute to browse this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIPAA