Profile For L

Phase 3. North American Driving Training Academy. Or NADTA.

Pronounced by, like, everyone nadda. NADTA is a crst owned school owned by crst with crst owned employees and I do mean owned some of them are still under their 10month contract.

Your first day there is exciting and intimidating as you see the class before you enter the class room throughout the day showing off their hat that they get when they graduate some eve cry they are supposed to give a speech... mostly they go on about... listen to your instructors... never give up. That sort of thing. All day you'll be watching videos and doing lite quotes don't worry you can't fail them.

The next day you get to drive yayyyyy.... 5mpg and don't you dare touch that acceleration don't you dare.... the next day BAM you're driving on the interstate because... yeah you just are. I don't know why anyone would want to be an instructor... daily events include whiplash and near death experiences.

You will go back to the training center scared ****less or excited for the next time.

The following weeks for a total of 3 you will be doing backing driving backing driving backing driving backing driving backing driving... get it? The amount of time you get though behind the wheel is a direct dependent on how big your class is. We had 50 some classes have like 15. Get the picture?

The 4 main tests you will be required to take before you graduate is:

The smith system, 3 chances

Pretrip inspection, 3 chances

Backing, chances are up to the guys that run nadta, some people get 3 some set 13. Just show you really wanna be there and show you are learning.

Driving, same with backing. Keep showing improvement.

You start testing 2 weeks after you get your permit REMEMBER THAT!

When you complete your driving the sense of accomplishment is over whelming I totally hugged my instructor even though her job is to fail me... no seriously these guys don't play they failed 15 people in one day for some seriously questionable things.

You talk to the nadta boss you get your hat you either get the white hate if you completed all tests with oUT fail or the black hat. You sign your soul away and you walk into the class looking at the newer students thinking "your nerves are about to **** themselves" but you just smile and say listen to the instructors and don't give up!

Guess what? Too the dmv!!

You get your real cdl now man congratulations!!!! Now back to the training center. Time to take pics in front of trucks and post your CDL on Facebook with the hashtage "truck life" because you're totally a trucker now.

Phase 4. Orientation and 21 - 30 days.

Okay relax, breath deep you're not going home, right? You made it this far. Your next step is orientation 3 days of open study and videos on what not to do just don't fall asleep they don't like that... no seriously we had a guy that fell sleep twice and we were like wtf man and he said " I didn't know I didn't sleep during class" everyone looked at him like -_-

After orientation you get your crst gar and your crst I'd card because now it's official man a real badge, with your face on it! Mad official.

You meet up with your lead driver and away you guys go into the sunset for 21 - 30 days.

I have yet to completell my lead training.

Phase 2. Your first week at the training center.

You're fresh off the buss in the middle of nowhere near a tree and a picnic bench. You may have towait a few minutes, I waited roughly 45 minutes and then a **** came and picked up the group waiting. Most likely the bus will be dropping off people that are going home for various reasons.

You're driven to the training center. This should be in the AM Sunday morning. You are told to wait in line for your DOT physical and drug test they are quick about this. Let me stress this, they will send you home if you had taken antibiotics for a cold and didn't tell them prior, I'm not kidding . This process takes awhile, a few hours at least make sure you have all your information... Birth certificate, social security card, drivers license. You will be given and access card to your room. You'll be bunking with 2 othwr dudes these rooms do not have tvs and the showers are a commute down the hall. Breakfast is at 4am till 630am breakfast includes fruitloopa, cocopuffa, frosted flakes raisen bran toast and things you put on toast. After this you will be told to go to building 1 "the building right over there take the walk way there walk until you get there go into the building take a left right up down sideways and then a left" you're looking at them like.... K.

In building 1 you you sit down with abinch of other new people and you sign documents many many papers. Read them, I was told they were important. Something about a 10month contract and owing them for the bus ticket and DOT physical and drug test and room and board, what what?

Yes you owe them for your stay at their training center... once hired they will take the money out of your check until 6 months. Should be around 800 or so. You agree to the 25cpm split miles until 6 months then 33cpm split miles.

After signing all these documents you will told to go to building 3 for your CDL permit training. Yes, lots and lots of walking... get used to it lots of waking here at the training center. You arrive at building 3 you go to the training class and you will be instructed by Miss Judy and OG Gary... pretty sure Gary was born with a cdl he's the guy you listen too when he talks about he's like the old wise Indian giving someone advice sometimes it makes no sense but once you're out here on the road you'll be like "Ohhhhhhhhhh so thaaaat what he meant by a yard lizard"

Judy will break down the cdl permit test she basically gives you the answers for the tests you will be expected to take on Wednesday... by the way sometimes your buss arrives late... mine arrived 13 hours late while some arrived 55 hours late.... too bad you still take your test Wednesday. U highly recommend downloading the app Brett made from truckingtruth it's a cdl permit test helper app and it's awesome it made the test easier... use it with the in formation Judy gives you.

Find yourself a study team and stick with them... if you're out playing pool or domino's all night guess what? You will fail.

Testing day, you will either take your test at the center or take a buss to the dmv. Make sure your phone is off during the test if it goes off a single time you'll fail. I know this is a no brainer... right? But they even told us before the test starts to turn your phones off and phones still went off in the test room. Whatever, moving on.

You will need to compete 3 tests, general knowledge, air brakes and combination. If you fail 2 out of 3 don't worry come back the next day and retake the one you originally failed. You will have 3 chances to complete the test, if you fail 3 times you will find yourself going back home.

After you complete the test you will be given a voucher to get your CDL permit congratulation!!!!!!....! Head out to the dmv along with your fellow students and get your pretty lite picture taken. You will surrounder your home state license and receive and IA license.

Depending on when you completed the your permit testing you may have a few days off before getting to NADTA,

Okay where to start.... wanting to go for your CDL probably, right? I was researching trucking for a lite over a year before making the jump. This site helped me prepare for this significant life change and I do mean significant.

There aren't too many CRST threads that I can find on the training specific and that to expect so I will tell you what to expect in detail about the cedar rapids terminal and the NADYA training school.

Cedar Rapids Steel Transport or CRST is manly based in Cedar Rapids IA and where the majority of the candidates go for training.

Phase 1. Contacting your recruiter.

Contacting the recruiter is the first most important step with any trucking company, they will be with you pretty much every step of the way until you are a full fledged employee. But they are a recruiter, they are there to get you into their scool keep that in mind the second they start talking to you.

Ask them questions, over and over again, If you have a record BE HONEST they will find out anywhere. I swear these guys can find out the last time you picked your nose and then send you home for not disclosing said nose picking. Know your dmv record before calling, you can usually download it for around 5 bucks online from your states dmv site.

Once agreeing to a start date ( it's going to be Sunday morning) you will be emailed a greyhound bus ticket with the date and time you need to be on that bus. You will be given a packet of information on pay, what to bring, and the crst sister companies and an information packet on why crst is the best company ever ever ever ever EVER.