Husband And Wife CRST Journey.

MAY 2016 We are heading to Dallas, TX to start our truck driving school. He is Military Veteran and we both have our permits already. We like being together maybe too much :) so we have been looking for a job we can do together. There are plenty of jobs like that. Well we like to travel and like to be alone without the boss looking over our shoulder. That narrowed it down to trucking. We did our research and landed on CRST. We wanted team based company that would pay for school. Plus the SIGN......... we have never seen a CRST truck in our town before, on my way to workout early morning a CRST truck was pulled into a small gas station. I stopped and talked to the driver and he told me the only problem he has had is team drivers. He said you wont be with someone for very long because the close space makes people difficult to deal with. Not a problem we are worried about after 12 years together. We will update this post after each phase of training : Classroom, driving school, orientation, driving with trainer. ANY ADVICE for married couple getting into this career is appreciated. Btw Truckingtruth.com has made this decision and our studying very easy. Thank you to all the trucking truth staff.

We have arrived at Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School in Dallas, TX.

The Clarion hotel that CRST put us in actually surprised us, in a good way. So here is the good and the bad of the living conditions. BAD I like to start with the bad....... The breakfast made more than a few people sick after the 3rd day we stopped eating it entirely and bought our own. The lunch was a sandwich already soggy at 6 am now think about 1pm lunch, wife did not eat it after the 2nd day and i quit the 4th day when someone found a roach............... one Saturday the hotel filled with children and chaos ensued. Car alarms, knock and runs, security yelling for them to go to rooms or leave. To top that night off when we woke and went to go out side it looked like it snowed in the hallway with footprints then I noticed the safety pin from the fire extinguisher. GOOD being a couple we got a king bed and full sized sofa, Fridge, microwave, desk, coffee machine, iron and board, blow dryer. very close to places you need to go. Walmart, movie theater, many good restaurants near, and gas station that is 100 yards away. The 7/11 next door has the most polite and professional employees I have seen in a long time. The hotel staff is polite and quick to fix any problems you may have. They have a pool and hot tub but never have time to use them.

We have finished school at Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School in Dallas, TX. So here is the recap before we head off to Orientation in OKC, OK.

The School Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School CLASSROOM The Class we started with had 32 day one by day two 16 by day three it was 12. Drug screening and backgrounds took most people out. The instructor who ran our class was named CARL. He is a good man who taught in a way that was entertaining and made the information stick. you will be cracking up and actually enjoying your time. However i must say you should study before coming, it is a lot of information in a short time. One week. Everyone there will help you in anyway they can. DRIVING RANGE the start of the driving range our class had shrank to 8. some had problems with the written tests. The driving course was just that day one 710 am we were driving. We lucked out big time. the 2 guys that got in our truck were great. Gus super funny and just plain good guy, and Reggie quiet but when he did speak cracked you up. Our instructors LT and Chanta again very funny and taught in a way that kept the stress low and entertained you. We all took to it very quickly. NOTE on the equipment: most of the trucks had some issues. Two broke down during our time, luckily not ours.

TIPS If you are going to follow this path here are a few thing we did or wish we had done. First save some money before going. We are glad we did. Between the food issues and getting out of the hotel on the weekends to relieve stress you will need some money. Bring your car. W brought our because who wants to be stuck when you can avoid it. Make sure you bring all important documents. Several people got delay because of one piece of paper.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! I am to start soon with CRST (Cedar Rapids, though for me unless something changes), so will find your posts a priceless commodity. Please continue, I can hardly wait to see your next posts!!

Best of luck with your new adventure, I shall keep you both in my prayers for your every success and safety.

CRST Orientation Day One : Oklahoma City

The Comfort Inn they have us in is very nice. We have two beds this time with all the amenities, fridge, microwave, iron, coffee maker, blow dryer, and way more channels than we can surf. The shuttle takes to the driver center at 6 am after we get our brown bag breakfast. The breakfast includes a bottle of water, danish, piece of fruit, yogurt, nature valley bar. the class does not start until 7 am. Then paperwork, paperwork, and paperwork. Oh wait we forgot PAPERWORK! Long day. Lunch is served hot and was huge plate of spaghetti with fresh bread. It was very good, much better than we expected. After lunch the tests started. Open book so not hard. the shuttle was called early but still did not show until regular scheduled time of 5pm. BTW within 1.5 miles is walmart, various restaurants, and conveniece stores.

CRST Orientation day 2: Oklahoma city

Today was much like yesterday. We started out with the brown bag breakfast. Took first shuttle and got to class for more paperwork. Fixing messed up or incomplete paperwork from yesterday. A few videos and then some more tests. All the tests are easy. Lunch was chicken tenders, mash potatoes with gravy, and fresh bread. Then it took a bad turn. They brought out our contracts with our pay rate. His contract was 13 cents low.................... They did not receive the paperwork from our recruiter showing his military or experience. Okay no problem call recruiter and have him email or fax it over........ ring, ring, ring, message....... Okay his cell? this number has changed or is disconnected. Okay WTF. Called CRST recruiting HQ and very nice lady tried to help, but we have to wait for our recruiter to answer our messages or hers. Spent 3 hours trying to get in touch with our recruiter. Hopefully we can get this resolved tomorrow.

CRST Orientation day 3: Oklahoma city

Same as the last two days for the first half. Paperwork, test, videos, rinse, repeat. Well the rate we were told prior to attending school was not what we were given. Arguing and getting the run around finally came to reasonable agreement. We chose CRST over other companies for a few reasons none of which were the pay rate so a lower rate was not a deal breaker. Just annoyed we were told one thing and got another. His trainer called and is ready to get him. Her trainer is still unknown. She may have to wait and do not know how long for a female trainer. Neither of us are comfortable with her going out with a male trainer for 28 days.

TIP: Be prepared to be BORED!!!! Bring every piece of paperwork you could imagine just to be safe.