Comments By Christy R.

Hmmm...note to self: if I make it through training, buy a bucket :) I hate to say it out loud, but maybe I should, while I can get some good advice. I have a chipmunk bladder and actually have a battery implant for my condition, which helps a lot, but there's no way I could go 12 hours without a bathroom. Snacks and baby wipes are a no brainer (I have two kids), and I'm not afraid to find a tree, but I'm guessing that's frowned upon in a city lol.

Here you go!

All you need is a 5 Gallon Bucket, A Pool Noodle and some good Garbage Bags. Maybe a bag of cat litter to drop a bit in the bag to help with the "mess" before you tie up the bag to dispose of it.

Bahahahahahaha!! That exact image just showed up on my Facebook feed and I posted it here under a new thread a mere 10 minutes ago :~p

Think I can fit this in the cab?? Lol

Hmmm...note to self: if I make it through training, buy a bucket :) I hate to say it out loud, but maybe I should, while I can get some good advice. I have a chipmunk bladder and actually have a battery implant for my condition, which helps a lot, but there's no way I could go 12 hours without a bathroom. Snacks and baby wipes are a no brainer (I have two kids), and I'm not afraid to find a tree, but I'm guessing that's frowned upon in a city lol.

Well, shucks on having to cut your Abigail time short :(

I'm in the Midwest and have US Cellular. Verizon is not an option for me as I had a major dispute with them when they decided my mom, daughter and I (we shared a plan) owed them $1000 out of the blue. We fought, and won, but now Verizon will no longer accept me as a customer lol. I personally think USC has better coverage in Amish country; the only time I've been without service was when I was "way down in a holler" and NO ONE has service "down there," lol.

I have not been outside of Missouri or Iowa lately, though. I'm wondering how their service is in other states?? In Missouri, I have service even when in an area shaded as "no coverage" on their map.

I've always used a RainX knockoff on my car windshield. I had planned to pack it with me to training; unless you guys think it won't be allowed??

I got accepted into crst training program and I'm looking to start August 17. I was just looking to see if anyone had any reviews both good or bad about the the school and process. I've heard all the horror stories but I'm the type of person where I want to experience it for myself. Would like to know how much I really will be making the first 6 months as well as what could keep me from passing the class. I am a heavyset fellow so I am on medication for high blood pressure will that keep me off the road? How often will I really be home I have awesome wife and 6 month old son and we have already talked and have a understanding that I'm doing this for them and it will be worth it in the long run. Any information anyone can provide will greatly be appreciated.

Thanks in advance Inspiring and anxious future trucker.

Most importantly stay safe out there RoadWarriors.

Hi, I'm planning to start CRST soon, too...but I also have a couple health conditions, so I'm scraping up the money to get my physical done before I go so I don't get a few hundred miles from home only to be denied. High BP is one of my issues; my recruiter said if it's controlled by meds, I'm good.

My understanding is that we start getting paid when we go out with a trainer at a SPLIT of $0.25 per mile (so divide that by 2). There's a chart in the packet.

I hope this helps; and maybe someone actually there can comment. I've met one so far via this forum.

Thank you both for the helpful tips and advice! its much appreciated!

I'm a little younger than you, but in nearly the same boat. Feel free to inbox me...I'm trying to make some friends before I get out there :)

I've always been a hard rock, metal kind of guy myself. Give me metallica, disturbed, motorhead, iron maiden, megadeath, slipknot etc. I also like mellowing out with bands like Live, 3doors down, the eagles, Boston, 38 special, etc. Nothing like some great music to get you through a long day

New Disturbed comes out August 21!! So excited :) I just blasted Stranglehold...wonder what the kids in my neighborhood thought (this complex used to cater to college kids and that's still the majority of the population... *am giggling maniacally* lol)

IMO (note, I'm still new too, less than 4 months driving), don't worry about doing the perfect jake brake slow downs for off ramps. If you're cruising up to your off ramp, just disengage the cruise control at about a half mile from it. Let the truck start slowing and if it's going down a slight grade put the jake on. Use the normal brakes to get slow enough for the posted speed. If you're heavily loaded, slow another 10 lower than the posted ramp speed.

The main thing for the Jake brake is to use it on grades to keep your speed down. You don't want to heat up your brakes. You want to keep your brakes cool for "just in case". But going into a ramp means you are going to slow down and probably stop. That is not a continuous use of your brakes. Yea they'll get warm by the time you come to a stop, but that's not going to hurt them. As a new driver it is more important to be safe than perform a perfect Jake brake assisted slow down.

Later on, as you get used to your truck, you can start practicing that perfect downshift and Jake slowdown for off ramps. I've done a few myself, but can't do it perfect every time, YET.

A perfect downshift and slowdown with the Jake is done like this. Going 65 (my cruise speed) turn off cruise and engage Jake. Slow till RPM is 1200 (note, I use the RPM gage, not the speedometer). Then press accelerator just a bit to release pressure from the gears and shift out. Then floor accelerator till max RPM of 1600. Then shift in and let off accelerator, the Jake is still on and re-engages to slow the truck. When RPM gets back down to 1200, repeat process until you are going nice and slow and the traffic behind you thinks your tail lights are not working because they never saw them come on while you were slowing down.

Now I can't always do that without missing a timing sometimes because my truck is not always loaded heavy. And using the Jake like that when empty is just not called for. You can only practice the high gears when empty and even then it's really not needed.

Remember the Jake's number one use is to keep the brakes cool during descents on long grades. Aannd to keep you from crossing that speed limit barrier that gets that cop on the shoulder to come and chase you down. In my truck, on cruise control, if the Jake is on, cruise control makes use of it at 5 mph over set speed. This keeps the truck from going too fast down those short grades or long shallow grades. For those posted 5% or more grades, you need manual control and a lower gear.

Anyway, that's how I do it. Someone might explain how I'm doing it all wrong and any improvements or correction are welcome.

The school or company I go to hopefully teaches this well, but gonna print for future use!! I'm nervous. The biggest thing I've driven is large moving trucks!! I do pretty good with those and somehow always get asked to be the driver, but I know it's nothing like driving a semi-tractor. Thank you for posting!