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lisag
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Go Iowarider! Happy and safe driving to you! :) You're going to do great! I hope you can check in here and let us know what life on the road is like sometimes too. |
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iowarider
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:23 am Post subject: |
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| Well, I guess they figure we may as well learn how to hurry up and wait from day one. Over half of the class I finished with still do not have drivers assigned. This makes for the fifth day in the motel for us. I just got my assignment this morning and found out the drive had just gotten home Friday and would not be back until Wednesday. Would have been nice to know that Friday, I could have went home and visited my boys, but now they are in school during the week so that probably will not happen. Besides, still no paycheck. They did advance money to me last week, but according to policy, no layover pay when your at your home terminal. My dispatcher was going to see if he could help with that since it will be a week before I even get on the road. Probably another advance. Don't like that. Can't say at this point if that is normal or just something that is happening with CRST. Makes us all wonder why they keep bringing people in if they are having this much of a problem getting them hooked up with drivers. |
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GirlnamedShannon
Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 356
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| Never mind. |
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iowarider
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:52 am Post subject: |
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I can see that. It does have to be a GIANT headache to schedule trainers back through Cedar Rapids to pick up students. At least I did find out they are paying us $40/day layover pay starting Monday (yesterday) so that helps a little.
Boy the competition for drivers with experience must be stiffer than I thought. One driver that is 10 days from putting in the mandatory 28 days with a trainer told us he talked to a Dart recruiter and they offered to buy out his contract if he wants to go with them. That's a surprise, although I think he has some previous experience. |
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iowarider
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Today was the big day, met my lead driver, got stuff put away in the truck, started to do the pre-trip with him, and the tractor had an air leak. :shock: This was at around 9:00 am. Found out at three the truck would not be in the shop till 8:00 p.m. and not back in service until 10:00 tomorrow morning. Ah yes, the exciting life of the trucker. LOL. nothing else to do may as well laugh. |
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yoopr
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 12866
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Get used to it :P |
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TruckinRanger
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 451
Location: Lexington, SC
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Well look at the bright side at least you have a trainer now. |
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belpre122
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 541
Location: Local Hoosier 1/4 cab BBR
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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Lisa,
Hi, name here is Gary. I am in Indianapolis and getting ready to start CRST school May 23rd. I havent seen too many posts on CRST's school and wondered if you would be able to answer a few questions if you have the time. Hope that everything worked out good for your husband there.
Best Wishes,
Gary
lisag wrote: Congrats on your CDL. My husband is there now, hopefully it won't be long before he gets his too. We are also living on the charity of his parents, not a fun place to be but it's better than being homeless I guess!
I hope you enjoy your new career! |
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lisag
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Gary, yeah, ask away...I'm happy to answer anything I can. Sorry I haven't been on here in a while to see your post.
He's doing pretty well, and so far likes CRST, though he's having problems sleeping in the truck! |
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iowarider
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 8:21 am Post subject: |
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well I'm back from my training run. little earlier than expected, but that's OK as well. Saw lots of the country and that was great fun, drove the truck through rush hour in Denver Colo., and several other major towns, actually was not that bad. I've got to say though it has been very disappointing in the making money end of things. Most of that is due to being stuck with a trainer that complained constantly about not getting miles, and how CRST was the worst company out their to work for. He never failed to point me to other truckers that were down on the company as well. The bigger problem was he constantly was looking for reasons to shut down. We only averaged 2700 miles a week, split that and pay .18/mile and you get the idea. I worked a month, and literally brought home maybe $200. I would take a $100 advance a week for expenses, had CRST take out $75 for family insurance. The first two weeks I was owing them money.
This trainer just would not plan well and literally blow up if I tried to help. I never drove my full eleven hours, he constantly thought he had to stay up and then would drive his 11 hours. claimed he could not sleep until he was really exhausted, I was scared to death with this guy at the wheel half asleep most of the time. I'm not sure if I'm even going back on the road now. I could not stand another month with some jerk that was like that again. my last bit of advice, Really consider solo company |
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lisag
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Iowarider,
Good luck in whatever you choose. We just got J's first "check" - it was for a negative amount too. It was pretty funny to see, though it was pretty sad too.
Anyway, how long do you have to decide what you want to do? |
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phoneguy
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Greetings fellow Iowan!
I didn't read all 4 pages of this thread but, why didn't you consider Schneider or Roehl? |
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TruckinRanger
Guest
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 451
Location: Lexington, SC
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| so Iowa are you finished with training?? or do you still have some more to do???I was riding out to Cali with a two CRST Trucks. Hang in there man. The money will come. Just make sure you get a damn good Co-driver. Sounds like your trainer was a $&!+ bag. |
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lisag
Guest
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Any advice on how to get a good co-driver? |
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8ball1977
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Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| iowarider,just wondering if ya had the same one hubby had,sounds about like the same guy :shock: |
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