Profile For Mike L.

Hello Matt - How is it going 6 months later...? I was interest in your early string of message as I am considering a career change to driving. I live near Akron Ohio and could commute to TDDS like you did. Sounds like the school worked for you and there was help in getting placed. Any updates?

thanks Mike

Thanks G-Town. If I continue the idea of team driving via CRST I really would like to find an experienced team driver in northeast Ohio who can teach me the truck driving business that you don't get in the 4 week training. And it has to work out logistically as Old School stated. The responses are making me reconsider the team approach and rather find the right company that has strong freight activity in Oh/PA then go solo.

safe travels.

Thank you very much. Good information. Mike

Thanks for the response and I will try to clarify. I am just in the beginning of my research about a trucking career. This would be a career change for me. I have made no commitments to any particular company-sponsored training program. CRST was simply one of the companies that has surfaced in my research. Ohio does seem to be in the CRST “hiring area”.

I understand some of the pros and cons of company-sponsored training vs independent school. I was leaning toward the company sponsored training as it seems to provide some assurances of being hired upon successful completion. I think it is a good trade-off for someone like myself just getting started with no license or experience. “You help get me started and I will commit a locked in period.” At CRST that period is a year and in a teaming arrangement. I just need to make sure the logistics are realistic or it will be difficult to get home.

Teaming - I am beginning to realize that maybe a lot of teams are planned in advance based on both team members location. I don’t have an intended team member at this time. I did ask the recruiter at CRST to put me in touch with some drivers from Ohio or a driver manager who works with drivers located in Ohio. I wanted to understand CRST presence in Ohio and I don’t have that information yet although I just recently asked. The teaming approach is good for the company and challenging for the drivers but that is probably why it is easier to get a start that way.

Getting start…you said, “I just think you need to think it through completely and make an informed decision on where to get started.” I agree and will continue my research. Ideally, I would find a company who offers a fair company-sponsored training and with enough drivers near me that it makes sense to team. I think the solo driving opportunities are more competitive and less assurances that they are available upon completion of training.

Thanks, Mike

I need some feedback on the CRST team driving and cdl sponsorship program. I am looking for a CRST driver who resides in northeast Ohio (as I do) so I can understand how this location impacts commute for each OTR trip. I need to continue my residence near Akron Ohio due to family. Should this influence the company I choose for CDL sponsored training?

thanks for feedback. Mike