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Company:

CRST Swift Prime

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CRST Company-Sponsored CDL Training Program

Get Your CDL Training Through CRST

• Getting Started With CRST

  

• CRST Company Overview

  

  CRST (originally Cedar Rapids Steel Transport) is based out of Cedar Rapids, IA and began with a 50 mile freight radius in 1955. Now, the company boasts a 1,500 mile average length of haul with more than 1,100 company-owned tractors, 2,500 van trailers, 2,000 team drivers, 350 solo drivers, and more than 250 independent contractors.

  Since the vast majority of the fleet consists of team truck operations, they are considered an expedited freight carrier with the ability to transport cargo across the country quicker than most other carriers.

  In addition, CRST is responsible for training thousands of drivers each year through their CDL sponsorship and training programs.

• CRST Terminal Locations

  
  Full-Service Terminal Locations:

  • Fontana, California (Orientation Center)
  • Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Orientation Center)
  • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Orientation Center)
  • Carlisle, Pennsylvania

  Additional Terminals:

  • Eldridge, Iowa
  • Conley, Georgia (Atlanta)
  • Dallas/Ft Worth, Texas
  • Riverdale, Illinois (Chicago)
  • St. Louis, Missori
  • Tusla, Oklahoma
  • Seattle, Washington

• CRST Minimum Hiring Qualifications

  • Must be at least 21 years old.
  • Must pass a DMV/D.O.T. (Dept. of Transportation) physical and a pre-employment drug screen.
  • You must have a good driving record and have been licensed in the United States for a minimum of 2 years out of the last 3 YEARS.
  • No DUI or DWI violations in the last 5 years. No more than 1 DUI in the last 15 years and no more than 2 DUI's in your lifetime.
  • No open container violations in the last 3 years.
  • No felony convictions in the last 10 years. All felony convictions must be approved by CRST management.
  • No misdemeanor convictions involving crimes of moral turpitude in the last 3 years.
  • No Felony Possession of Controlled Substance charges ever.
  • Misdemeanor for Possession of Controlled Substances must be outside of 15 years and also must have management approval.

• CRST Other Important Considerations

  

• CRST Physical Requirements For Hiring

  • No loss of foot, leg, hand, or arm.
  • No impairment of hand or finger that interferes with power grasping or no impairment of arm, foot, or leg that interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks of driving a motor vehicle.
  • No history of diabetes that requires insulin for control (oral medication is okay).
  • No current diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina, pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or other cardiovascular disease known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive heart failure.
  • No history or diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with the ability to control a motor vehicle.
  • No current diagnosis of high blood pressure (140/90 is the maximum) likely to interfere with driving a motor vehicle.
  • No history or current diagnosis of rheumatic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular, or vascular disease that interferes with the ability to control and operate a motor vehicle.

• CRST Physical Requirements For Hiring (continued)

  
  • No history or current diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause loss of consciousness.
  • No mental, nervous, organic or functional disease of psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with operating a motor vehicle.
  • Distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (with glasses or other correction) in each eye, field of vision of at least 70 degrees and the ability to perceive red, yellow, green and amber.
  • Ability to perceive a forced whisper in the better ear at no less than 5 feet, with or without using a hearing aid.
  • No use of a 'Schedule 1' drug, amphetamine, narcotic, or any other habit-forming drug.
  • No current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism.

• CRST Hiring Zones And School Locations

  

  Where do you hire from and what are your no-hire zones?

  CRST hires nationwide, but may include or exclude certain states and areas based upon demand.

  Where are your schools located?

  CRST does not own any of their own driving schools, rather, they contract out to 30 different CDL schools across the country. Upon signing up for their company sponsored CDL program, they will find the nearest CDL school in their network for you to attend.

• What Advantages Does CRST Have Over Other Companies?

  • CRST is a non-union and family owned trucking company which has been in business for more than 50 years.
  • Classes begin weekly to obtain your CDL class A license.
  • Schools are located throughout the United States.
  • You have a choice of either attending a company-sponsored school training program and signing an 8-month contract, or simply choose to prepay the tuition with no contract to sign and a higher starting pay.
  • Guaranteed home time. If they can't get you home using your truck, they'll find another mode of transportation.
  • Full benefits including medical coverage from day one.
  • Twice-a-week paychecks.
  • Longest average length of haul in the industry (1,400 - 1,500 miles)
  • 99% no-touch freight
  • 80% drop and hook

• TruckingTruth's View On CRST Training So Far

  

  The hiring requirements and qualifications are about normal for most trucking companies. However, CRST mostly hauls team based freight making it a very unique trucking company. The entire OTR division is team operated, so expect to drive with another individual for at least the first year, probably longer. Only about 12% of their drivers run solo trucks. If you'd like to drive a solo truck, this may not be the company for you and you must transfer into a dedicated position which only requires a single driver. But if you like the advantages of driving a team truck, CRST may be a good choice.

  Also note that CRST does not operate their own CDL schools, rather, they contract out to private schools and pay your tuition for you.