CRST Expedited Trucking School And Training Program Cedar Rapids, IA. A (re) Training Diary By Millionmiler24

06/12/2017:

I woke up this morning at 05:00 and had breakfast and then went over to the permit building for class which is right inside the shop. We got right into the info that we need to know for the permit tests. They gave me a condensed CDL Manual with just the info for the permit tests and also some handouts that were printed forms of power point presentations on General Knowledge, Combination Vehicles and Air Brakes. They told us that we would be testing Wednesday. I had to do my DOT Physical and Company/School Drug Screen today also. I think at least imo that the way the physicals and drug screens are done here are extremely backwards. They did my vitals 1st with a vision test then they do your drug screen (by the time it was my turn, I had to go like a Russian Racehorse, ROFLMAO ). Anyway, my first BP reading was 144/91. That was in the range for a 1 year card. Then we did the drug screen and I felt so much better afterwards. The reason my BP was high that 1st reading was because I had to go to the bathroom and also they took the reading on my RIGHT arm. My heart rate was up because I had to go to the bathroom and when your heart rate is high, it also elevates your BP. BP readings should and are supposed to be taken on your LEFT arm. For whatever reason every time my BP is taken on my right arm it is higher than my left. Anyway, after the drug screen, we had lunch and I felt even better after refueling. After lunch, I did the final part of my physical and they rechecked my BP and I let the nurse know my concerns about it and explained why it was high from that first reading. The 2nd reading was 132/90. Systolic was ok, Diastolic was right on the end of a 2yr card (Thank God!). That was the 9th DOT Physical I have had done and EVERY one including this one was a 2 year certification. After that, I went back to class and they were still going over permit stuff and we were dismissed at 16:30 to go back to our rooms for the evening. I went back to the lounge to study some more on the High Road Training Program. Monday through Friday here they provide Breakfast and lunch, Saturday I think is just lunch and Sunday is just dinner. I will update that as I go along if I find it to be different. After I ate dinner I went back to the room and went to sleep.

06/13/2017:

I forgot to mention: My room has a bunch of posters on the wall that has a diagram of each aspect of the walk around Pre Trip Inspection. I would take a picture and post it on here, but I dont think they will allow me to do that. Anyway, today was pretty uneventful to say the least. I woke up, had breakfast, reviewed the High Road Training Program, went to permit class all day, had lunch, back to class, was dismissed at 16:30, went back to the lounge for more High Road Training Program and to update the forums, and then had dinner and went back to the room and went to sleep.

06/14/2017:

I woke up this morning, had breakfast, a quick review of the High Road Training Program and then went to the permit class. My test time was set for after lunch (13:00). When I got into class, since there was no WiFi, I had to use the practice tests they gave me yesterday to study while I was waiting to test. DOT came to the school to test us. We didn't have to go to the DOT office. That was really nice of them. Also yesterday, Brett, you will be happy about this: I referred some more drivers to truckingtruth and the High Road Training Program and proved to them that this site is by far the BEST way to study for your tests. I am just like yall. I want everyone in this business to succeed and since it is my mission in life is helping others, I thought if I refer drivers to this site, it would help them. Anyway I took my tests and scored:

General Knowledge: 46/50 92% Combination Vehicles: 18/20 90% Air Brakes: 25/25 100%

Yes, I got a PERFECT score on Air Brakes. I was surprised when I saw that! As I have stated before: Brett, thanks so much for starting up this site. Also thanks to the other moderators for yalls advice and also in helping Brett keep and maintain this site. I LOVE that High Road Training Program. It is truly a GODSEND for everyone. It is truly the BEST way to study for your permit exams. I was able to score 90% or better on ALL my permit tests on the FIRST attempt. After the testing, I boarded the shuttle to Iowa DOT here in Cedar Rapids and I obtained my permit. When I got back, I had the permit instructor note my new permit in my file. After that, I showed my friends here my new permit and let my best friend in Florida know I got my permit and she was so happy. If it wasnt for her and 2 churches down there plus yall here on TruckingTruth, I wouldn't be able to do this. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! My gosh I am turning into Rick here. I can't help it. I LOVE THIS! Anyway after dinner, I went to the room for some much needed rest.

As yall can see. I am GOING BANANAS!!!!! Wait.......I AM ALREADY BANANAS!!!! ROFLMAO!!!

06/15/2017:

I woke up this morning, had breakfast, checked the forums, my e-mail and then went to the permit classroom again. I helped the people that didn't pass the first time with studying so we can get them their permits. Then afterwards, I went to lunch and then back to the permit room where the instructors separated us that got our permit yesterday and the ones that didn't and for the ones that did get our permits, we went over the walk around pretrip inspection. After we did, I am STILL NERVOUS about it, however I do feel a little better about it than I did before. I am in their computer lab updating yall on my progress today at the time I am writing this. Later on I am fixing to go and have dinner and then more than likely study the heck out of that pretrip guide they gave me. Then Sunday from what they were telling us, its off to NADTA to actually get some time on the driving range and to start the practice for our skills tests. Is there any guides (preferably offline guides) that you all have for the pretrip I can look over or study? Also, I will need help most definitely for the 90 back. If you all can offer any advice, I would be eternally grateful. I am MOST NERVOUS about the pretrip and the 90 back. I shouldn't have any problems with the driving test or the other 2 backs but any help will be great to have. Thanks again. Its much appreciated.

Daniel B has a pre trip guide you can download and print

06/15/2017:

I woke up this morning, had breakfast, checked the forums, my e-mail and then went to the permit classroom again. I helped the people that didn't pass the first time with studying so we can get them their permits. Then afterwards, I went to lunch and then back to the permit room where the instructors separated us that got our permit yesterday and the ones that didn't and for the ones that did get our permits, we went over the walk around pretrip inspection. After we did, I am STILL NERVOUS about it, however I do feel a little better about it than I did before. I am in their computer lab updating yall on my progress today at the time I am writing this. Later on I am fixing to go and have dinner and then more than likely study the heck out of that pretrip guide they gave me. Then Sunday from what they were telling us, its off to NADTA to actually get some time on the driving range and to start the practice for our skills tests. Is there any guides (preferably offline guides) that you all have for the pretrip I can look over or study? Also, I will need help most definitely for the 90 back. If you all can offer any advice, I would be eternally grateful. I am MOST NERVOUS about the pretrip and the 90 back. I shouldn't have any problems with the driving test or the other 2 backs but any help will be great to have. Thanks again. Its much appreciated.

Daniel B has a pre trip guide you can download and print

06/15/2017:

I woke up this morning, had breakfast, checked the forums, my e-mail and then went to the permit classroom again. I helped the people that didn't pass the first time with studying so we can get them their permits. Then afterwards, I went to lunch and then back to the permit room where the instructors separated us that got our permit yesterday and the ones that didn't and for the ones that did get our permits, we went over the walk around pretrip inspection. After we did, I am STILL NERVOUS about it, however I do feel a little better about it than I did before. I am in their computer lab updating yall on my progress today at the time I am writing this. Later on I am fixing to go and have dinner and then more than likely study the heck out of that pretrip guide they gave me. Then Sunday from what they were telling us, its off to NADTA to actually get some time on the driving range and to start the practice for our skills tests. Is there any guides (preferably offline guides) that you all have for the pretrip I can look over or study? Also, I will need help most definitely for the 90 back. If you all can offer any advice, I would be eternally grateful. I am MOST NERVOUS about the pretrip and the 90 back. I shouldn't have any problems with the driving test or the other 2 backs but any help will be great to have. Thanks again. Its much appreciated.

• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
• Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
• Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
• Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions

Daniel B has a pre trip guide you can download and print

06/15/2017:

I woke up this morning, had breakfast, checked the forums, my e-mail and then went to the permit classroom again. I helped the people that didn't pass the first time with studying so we can get them their permits. Then afterwards, I went to lunch and then back to the permit room where the instructors separated us that got our permit yesterday and the ones that didn't and for the ones that did get our permits, we went over the walk around pretrip inspection. After we did, I am STILL NERVOUS about it, however I do feel a little better about it than I did before. I am in their computer lab updating yall on my progress today at the time I am writing this. Later on I am fixing to go and have dinner and then more than likely study the heck out of that pretrip guide they gave me. Then Sunday from what they were telling us, its off to NADTA to actually get some time on the driving range and to start the practice for our skills tests. Is there any guides (preferably offline guides) that you all have for the pretrip I can look over or study? Also, I will need help most definitely for the 90 back. If you all can offer any advice, I would be eternally grateful. I am MOST NERVOUS about the pretrip and the 90 back. I shouldn't have any problems with the driving test or the other 2 backs but any help will be great to have. Thanks again. Its much appreciated.

• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
• Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
• Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
• Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions

Thank yall so much. I really appreciate it.

06/16/2017:

Today was probably the most uneventful day I have had thus far. I got to sleep in til 1100. Then I woke up and had lunch and then off to the permit classroom again. We basically sat in there today and looked at a power point presentation about NADTA and about what to expect over the next 2 weeks. I also found out when judgment day is: It is 14 days after the date of issue for your permit. So that means I will be taking my skills test and competing for that coveted NADTA White Hat. That is a reward given to students that pass their skills tests all on the 1st attempt. That day is on June 28th. I am SO NERVOUS about this. I REALLY want to PASS them ALL on the FIRST attempt. That way I can get that coveted CDL in my wallet. This way when I do the pre trip inspection on my wallet the FIRST thing will be: CDL Class A License, securely mounted in wallet and only to be removed if DOT asks for it. Anyway, I had to throw that in there. LMAO! Anyway on a more serious note, G-Town, I went over that link you sent me on the Pre Trip Inspection Practice questions. I kept going until I got 100% at least once on all 5 pages. I need to check out the other links also. I look forward to looking over Daniel B.'s Pre Trip also. Iowas Pretrip is split up into 3 forms: Form A consists of the front of the tractor to the firewall. Form B is from the Firewall of the tractor to the rear of the tractor. Form C is the ENTIRE Trailer. ALL students HAVE to do the In Cab Pre Trip along with the Pretrip of the coupling system and then the examiner will pick ONLY ONE of the other forms, either A, B, or C and you have to do it. One of the NADTA instructors did reassure me though that if you score perfect on the in cab and coupling and all you do is study just your brakes, axles and suspension, you will score enough to pass. You need a MINIMUM of 35pts out of a possible 45-47 depending on what form you get. A and B I believe is a possible 45 and C is a possible 47. From what I am studying so far Form A SEEMS to be the EASIEST but once I learn it all, they all will be easy. I am going to study it ALL and NOT take any CHANCES. This is my life we are talking about here. I am taking the SAFEST route and learning it ALL. Thats why whenever I am studying and testing, I wont settle for anything less than 90%. I want to score 100% though. Just look at my scores on the High Road Training Program and that should be proof that I am EXTREMELY SERIOUS about this. Every time I see one of our trucks it makes me realize truly HOW MUCH I MISS THIS JOB! I am SUPER EXCITED to be getting back out there and TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. Anyway, tomorrow is mainly a free day. I will TRY to post a diary entry in here if anything eventful or interesting happens otherwise I will either be in my room all day (other than when its time to eat) looking at and learning my pre trip inspection or if not in my room, outside actually pre tripping a truck and learning/relearning where everything is at. When I post on Sunday I may end up combining diary entries for tomorrow and Sunday depending on what happens at NADTA Sunday. In the mean time, Yall stay safe out there!

The main version of that Pre Trip is 95 pages long and the Printable version is 96 pages long. I thought a printable version would be more condensed. Anyway, the Checklist link, I cant get to work because it is in a .doc format, G-Town, do you have a pdf version of that link? I seem to have better luck with pdf's. Thanks. Much appreciated.

Ok, I subscribed to the link on the Pre Trip Forum, that way its easy for me to get back to it and if anyone posts any more advice on it, I will be one of the first to know.