CRST Specific Questions (and General Team Driving Questions)

Honestly I don't recall rather my DM was planning loads or if they came from a planner. And here's why, by the time I felt like I had any position to ask for "special" loads my DM was already looking out for me. And it seemed he and I knew that I was there to run.

Such a powerful and important statement... That just sums up so much right there!

And just for a bit of humor, I had a codriver near the end of my time whom had completed his contract obligations. "Had been driving for 10-11 months" who I on several occasions came out of the sleeper to get him back in a gear cause he couldn't shift consistently... His moto was "Back up till you hit something" no... I'm not joking. But he had about 30 years on me and I have a respect your elders complex.

Best advice I can give is don't focus on what your cpm rate is goin to be. I you have what it takes to be a Top Tier Driver then you will make great money no matter your cpm rate...

Exactly! CPM and such is for drivers that have establsihed themselves and earned the right to question or worry about such things. In the beginning there is so much more for untested and inexperienced drivers to focus on that CPM concerns are simply tantamount to arrogance.

(That statement isn't aimed at Retired Army, as Chris seems to possess extremely high charactert traits, but rather just a blanket statement.)

Only drawback is very little privacy or you time when truck is shut down for any reason.

This right here is a concern - a big one! But I'm hoping with some creativity (and a little luck) it can be dealt with sufficiently.

Does CRST ever have their drivers hit CRST (or any other) terminals? If so, do they have showers, break room, etc., available for drivers?

Does CRST ever have their drivers hit CRST (or any other) terminals? If so, do they have showers, break room, etc., available for drivers?

Yes we do. Some drivers like myself take hometime at the terminal and also we get relays at the terminals also.

Carlisle, PA and Riverside, .CA Were staples in my planning and yes both have showers and washers and dryers along with a place to get away from the codriver. Carlisle has places to eat within walking distance and delivery menus hanging around. Riverside has a cafeteria onsite.

On a side note... if you bring an empty into Riverside, .CA don't unhook from it until someone tells you to as they have a "no bobtail out" policy.

Hey Jeremy.

Teaming....where to start? Hmmmm.

Well; as ever, Rainy pretty much nailed it!👍😀

So, I'll just add my $0.02 worth to hers.

My team mate and I are in exactly the situation you describe. He is a total newbie with only the experience gained during his OTR company training. I have, give or take a little, 9 to 10 years experience; although admittedly, mostly in Europe. Sounds like it could be an almost perfect set up right?

Well; in many ways it is. Chris has the almost boundless enthusiasm and eagerness of most young men and I have a love for the job combined with, hopefully, a little wisdom earned the hard way; by "getting 'er done" through the years.

However; this set up is not without its pitfalls and traps for the unwary.

My experience so far has taught me a bunch of stuff that, frankly, I was unaware that I needed to learn! lol And, in all honesty, most of it has been about myself! I believed that as a former Airline Pilot, well versed in multi-crew operations, I was ideally equipped to 'team drive'. Wow! Talk about Hubris! And thus began my education!....

😮😜 lol

First and foremost, you absolutely must, I repeat, MUST set out each others ideas and expectations with regard to the training/learning situation. I wrote an earlier post on the site about "Where do I draw the line and when do I cross it?"...find it if you can...and was given much sage advice by Rainy, Susan, G-town et al. And boy oh boy, have their words of wisdom ever been proven! lol

I have found out that my much professed love of teaching combined with my tendency to strive for perfection can be a great asset....But, and it's a BIG but....it can also lead to irritation and even even anger on both sides if not combined with equal amounts of understanding and the ability to step back and really analyze any given situation. I have learned rapidly that I can be a real PITA about things that may not really require so much coaching and maybe need a little more relaxed approach in order to facilitate the ever present learning process.

With Brett and all the other Moderators blessings, I would love to write a long article detailing some of our trials and tribulations and how we have dealt with them. Right now I am just back from 10 days off and preparing to hit the road, so have to end this here. Forgive me.

Let me just close for now by saying that, in many ways, teaming is really great...insane mileage....decent pay...lots of laughs along the way. But it definitely comes with some stresses and strains that, if not dealt with professionally and with a degree of humility, will test your character and also your friendship and relationship with your team mate.

If you have any specific questions, I am more than happy to try my best to answer them.

In the mean time, may I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

Be safe.

Cheers,

Simon

Hey Brett? Is it ok if I nominate Simon here to be a Moderator on this site? This is some great stuff here. 😁

Hey Brett? Is it ok if I nominate Simon here to be a Moderator on this site? This is some great stuff here

It's absolutely amazing stuff but he's just been out there a short time. He needs to get a little more experience under his belt. I'm thinking we may ask him to start writing articles for us though!

Hey Brett? Is it ok if I nominate Simon here to be a Moderator on this site? This is some great stuff here

It's absolutely amazing stuff but he's just been out there a short time. He needs to get a little more experience under his belt. I'm thinking we may ask him to start writing articles for us though!

Cool with me. If only I could find the time, I would try to do the same when it comes to articles however I am really busy and tired all the time plus I am not that great of a writer. I am not Brett or G-Town or Rainy or Old School especially when it comes to writin good stuff. Yall all should follow in Brett's footsteps here and write books about yalls experiences out here, or maybe take the articles yall have written for this site and combine them into a book. I would certainly buy a copy of yall do that. 😁

Hey Brett? Is it ok if I nominate Simon here to be a Moderator on this site? This is some great stuff here

It's absolutely amazing stuff but he's just been out there a short time. He needs to get a little more experience under his belt. I'm thinking we may ask him to start writing articles for us though!

Hey millionmiler24 😀

Thanks for the vote of confidence....I am seriously flattered. But Brett, as ever, hits the nail right on the head! No surprises there, hey?

I love this site and it's unwavering stance on "The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth"..... and the truth is, Brett is exactly right. I don't consider myself to be experienced enough with the trucking industry here in the good old USA to feel confident about putting out hard facts and figures...especially when some of this is soooo critical to newbies and rookies. When it comes to that sort of stuff, it is critical that it is correct. As, I am still in what I consider to be the "learning while earning" phase of my own second career, I would be really hesitant to impart vital, fact based info; especially, as I said, to the 'new kids on the block.'

As, I'm sure you're aware, my posts tend to be a bit more on the philosophical side (for want of a better description lol) and I am happy to ramble on about the impressions I get, the effects of various situations and life OTR in general.

I don't mind jumping in when somebody spouts obvious 'hogwash' about situations that I am somewhat knowledgeable about i.e Life as a Stevens driver or teaming etc.

So, once again, thanks for the vote of confidence....it means a lot.

At some point in the future, I would love to contribute more cogent, fact based observations. But, for now, i am more than delighted to let the Masters and Gurus of the site educate us all.....and occasionally to jump in with posts saying basically, "Yeah...what he/she said!" I continue to stand in awe of the depth and breadth of their combined wisdom. I learn something every time I visit the site!

In the meantime, I shall continue to ponder and ramble on in my own peculiar way about the vagaries, trials, tribulations and experiences of this life we lead and that I love.

Cheers and continue to be safe.

Simon (Gramps) 😜👍

I appreciate all the replies. FYSA, the only real reason I asked about the CPM , is because the recruiter told me, my military service allowed me to start a little higher. To be honest, I would take less CPM to be in a better fitting position. Thank you again.

...to the 'new kids on the block.'

Dear God, let us be newbies, chumps, or any other moniker... Just not NKOTB!

Sorry, I'll get over it. Think I'm still a little sensitive about the 80's.

...because the recruiter told me, my military service allowed me to start a little higher.

I keep forgetting you guys (and gals) have that well-deserved compensation available from the better companies. If I'd had the character and a better frame of mind many years ago, I'd be inquiring about that same CPM bump myself. Anyone that qualifies for it had best pursue it because a closed-mouth doesn't get fed. But anyone else just starting out (without that option), and pursuing CPM interests, is focusing on the wrong thing.

As noted in my other post above, you strike me as someone who had a better reason for inquiring about CPM than most other people. 👍

Jeremy

Thanks for the reply. I am excited to start something new, but to be honest, hanging up my uniforms is going to be a pretty difficult thing. I love change, but the unknown makes it more challenging.

Chris