Heading Out To School For CRST (Dallas, TX)!

Oh and Congrats!!!

Congrats and good luck !!!!!!! The weather is definitely on your side.

Vehicle registration showing your address will work, Mail from your bank will also work. Any W-2 or 1099 showing the address. Voter registration card. Insurance bills. You'll need 2 of these items (different). I just went thru this last week at my DMV.

I have mail from the bank and the US government (multiple, very recent).

Unfortunately I didn't depart this past Sunday (29th) as planned. Something happened at the Greyhound Bus. The confirmation code for the bus ticket said it was 'invalid.'

The recruiter said he'll set me up before the weekend.. But it's already the end of Tuesday (31st) and still no response via e-mail / phone. Kind of getting antsy.

Hello.

I arrived at the hotel in Dallas today (Sunday).

The shuttle arrives at 6:45am sharp.

I remember a couple of users documenting there experiences on this forum, and it has inspired me to document mine! :)

I even brought my laptop, so here goes (from the beginning): Sunday morning at 5am I woke up, and got ready (mandatory coffee/unhealthy cigarettee). A good friend drove me to Greyhound, where I simply walked to the front counter, weighed and tagged my douffle bag. She waited until I boarded the Greyhound bus to leave.

They do not announce stops, or locations. We had ~3 stops until we hit the South Dallas station. After almost missimg it, and going to Ft. Worth by mistake: I followed orders and phoned the hotel. They asked for my name, location, and company. They sent a shuttle which arrived in ~10min.

The people at the hotel were super polite. The hotel is REALLY fancy with an in-door gym, pool, pong table, and other FREE stuff!

My roommate (only one older gentleman) is very generous and polite. We walked 2 miles to Starbucks, where he bought me coffee, and then Wal-Mart where we both got food.

He has said anything he buys: I am open to consuming. Just to let him know if I finish it so he doesn't go berserk looking for it, hahha!!

We had peanut butter, jelly, and frito sandwiches for dinner, with a glass of milk.

Hotel room has: Cable TV, WiFi with internet access, fridge/freezer, microwave, and of course: Bathtub/shower/toilet.

First day of class tomorrow. Meeting in the lobby at 6am. The weather is fair (58f, very humid, light rain).

Just got back to the hotel.

Pretty enjoyable day. I started by waking up at 5:40am. Smoked, ate breakfast down stairs. Then we left on the shuttle van to the class at 6:50am.

The instructor we'll call Mike. Mike's pretty cool. He has been in the industry for 10yrs he says. I understand why I see all those posts on the internet saying how the teacher is an *******.

Mike does rag on people, yes, but it is never unwarranted. We basically sat down in a room, with 30+ people. We filled out a bunch of paper work (MVR, references, previous jobs, bank name/acc., etc). Then sat listening to Mike rattle off highlighted parts of the Texas CDL Handbook.

We had a handful of breaks through-out the day. Nothing special. Smoke breaks outside. Around noon I was finally called for the DOT drug test (standard tinkling in a cup). As we were about to take an hour lunch: I was called for the DOT Physical.

Really simple! Signed basic release forms, verified my Texas residency, took my blood pressure with a cuff, checked my eyes with a flashlight, then read the board (#11 was the smallest, and I read it without issue.. Apparently I have really good eye sight). After that I took my lunch.

For the next 2 hours: He read more (basically identical to college from my experience). After that: We were handed two pre-tests, open book, multi choice. I scored: 97.5% on the "Special Requirements" portion, then 92.5% and 95% on the other half of the "Permit" test.

Not too shabby considering I didn't touch the book! There was no time limit. And, unfortunately: My roomie has to prove residency of Texas. He has a CDL A permit already, but recently hails from Hawaii.

Tonight we are supposed to study chapters: 5, 6, and 14! Tomorrow we are going to the Texas DPS to take the REAL test! We will also be issued our D.O.T. Medical cards.

I feel pretty confident about the tests, but, I plan on reading over the chapters anyway. I have to give a ton of thanks to this site, again, and The Highroad Training Program!!!!!! 3 feet behind, 4 feet in front (or do I have it backwards?) was one of the questions I answered incorrectly.

The schedule goes: Class Monday - Saturday. CDL A permit by Monday, then 2 straight weeks of range driving training until we take the CDL A test. After that: We'll drive with a trainer for 28 days, then we are on our own.

This is pretty bad ass. Oh! I almost forgot... The shuttle driver from the Greyhound Bus station was on the phone, driving erratic as can be, but I thought it was funny. I'm not quite sure, but! I think she works for this up-scale hotel.

Oh well.. Time to eat, then study, study, STUDY....!!!!!

So I've been researching companies and wanted to get my CDL and start driving. I seen your thread and wanted to know what is the pay during training with CRST ? If any.. And do they pick where you will train? Or do you have a choice seeing how I am located in Dallas already. And do you recommend I get my CDL first before attempting to get on with CRST ?

Just got back to the hotel.

Pretty enjoyable day. I started by waking up at 5:40am. Smoked, ate breakfast down stairs. Then we left on the shuttle van to the class at 6:50am.

The instructor we'll call Mike. Mike's pretty cool. He has been in the industry for 10yrs he says. I understand why I see all those posts on the internet saying how the teacher is an *******.

Mike does rag on people, yes, but it is never unwarranted. We basically sat down in a room, with 30+ people. We filled out a bunch of paper work (MVR, references, previous jobs, bank name/acc., etc). Then sat listening to Mike rattle off highlighted parts of the Texas CDL Handbook.

We had a handful of breaks through-out the day. Nothing special. Smoke breaks outside. Around noon I was finally called for the DOT drug test (standard tinkling in a cup). As we were about to take an hour lunch: I was called for the DOT Physical.

Really simple! Signed basic release forms, verified my Texas residency, took my blood pressure with a cuff, checked my eyes with a flashlight, then read the board (#11 was the smallest, and I read it without issue.. Apparently I have really good eye sight). After that I took my lunch.

For the next 2 hours: He read more (basically identical to college from my experience). After that: We were handed two pre-tests, open book, multi choice. I scored: 97.5% on the "Special Requirements" portion, then 92.5% and 95% on the other half of the "Permit" test.

Not too shabby considering I didn't touch the book! There was no time limit. And, unfortunately: My roomie has to prove residency of Texas. He has a CDL A permit already, but recently hails from Hawaii.

Tonight we are supposed to study chapters: 5, 6, and 14! Tomorrow we are going to the Texas DPS to take the REAL test! We will also be issued our D.O.T. Medical cards.

I feel pretty confident about the tests, but, I plan on reading over the chapters anyway. I have to give a ton of thanks to this site, again, and The Highroad Training Program!!!!!! 3 feet behind, 4 feet in front (or do I have it backwards?) was one of the questions I answered incorrectly.

The schedule goes: Class Monday - Saturday. CDL A permit by Monday, then 2 straight weeks of range driving training until we take the CDL A test. After that: We'll drive with a trainer for 28 days, then we are on our own.

This is pretty bad ass. Oh! I almost forgot... The shuttle driver from the Greyhound Bus station was on the phone, driving erratic as can be, but I thought it was funny. I'm not quite sure, but! I think she works for this up-scale hotel.

Oh well.. Time to eat, then study, study, STUDY....!!!!!

Vincent, we have a ton of information on CRST's training program and you'll find it here:

CRST Company-Sponsored Training Review

I'm not sure what facility you'll train at but their program is designed to take you straight off the street all the way to having your CDL and driving professionally. You will not need to get your CDL before you attend their program but you will want to do a ton of studying ahead of time from our High Road Training Program. These company-sponsored programs are really fast paced.