CRST Questions

I went to Water Loo,IA community college with CRST as they had used it as an overflow when they had to many students for Cedar Rapids/NADA.

And as far as the APU , they have Opti idle and the truck rarely sits so..

My first truck was a Volvo 780 with a factory inverter! Talk about spoiled. When I had to turn that truck in due to mileage and after treatment injector problems. I was given a Freightshaker and couldn't figure out where to plug my stuff in at..🤣 (These are spoiled driver problems)

As far as finding a codriver, don't get hung up on it. They tell you in the beginning that trucking is a revolving door. That fact will start to sink in after your second codrivers drives him or herself home and quits because it's not what they had expected or whatever the case may be. It's not for everyone so keep that in mind when looking for your teammate.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

(These are spoiled driver problems)

Hey, I want to be a spoiled driver, too!

As far as finding a codriver, don't get hung up on it. They tell you in the beginning that trucking is a revolving door. That fact will start to sink in after your second codrivers drives him or herself home and quits because it's not what they had expected or whatever the case may be. It's not for everyone so keep that in mind when looking for your teammate.

That doesn't paint a very reassuring picture. But it is what it is. Maybe I'll get lucky after awhile and catch someone with an attitude and drive similar to mine.

I don't expect any special treatment going in, and I'm certainly not entitled to anything, but I wonder if you prove yourself over time (first-year maybe?) if eventually you can put in requests to team up with a person if you find somone that clicks...

"That doesn't paint a very reassuring picture. But it is what it is. Maybe I'll get lucky after awhile and catch someone with an attitude and drive similar to mine."

For me I came to this website before I went to school and spent some time here and had a pretty good idea as to the lifestyle and work demands so I had a idea as to what I should expect and what was expected of me.

I don't expect any special treatment going in, and I'm certainly not entitled to anything, but I wonder if you prove yourself over time (first-year maybe?) if eventually you can put in requests to team up with a person if you find somone that clicks...

They encourage you to find the right person and if your with the wrong person they will help you fix that also... Your never just plan stuck with someone.

Bradley

I was looking at CRST and my only reservation is team driving. I can get along with most anyone so that is not necessarily the concern. How was that overall for you? Also, how does the miles/pay work? Seems like I have seen multiple sites say different things on how teams are paid miles?

Thanks

I'll take a stab at it Retired Army... First and foremost teaming is not for everyone. But if you can get past living in a closet that never stops moving with another person. You've got the makings of a team driver.

With that you have another person to help you look up directions or look around as you drive down that tight road to a shipper or receiver. Did you pull into the wrong lot and now need to blindside back out onto the street? Guess who's got someone to wave off traffic.

And with that the other person is going to ask those things of you.. it's a two way street and great for keep the all important record clean for the first 6 months or so. After that you probably won't need another for those types of situations.

CRST pays you half of all the miles the truck runs. If the truck runs 6000 miles for the week your getting paid for 3000 rather you ran the truck for 4000 or 2000.

Jeremy, I wanted to ask ya how did you enjoy my diary? Did you finish it yet? Also are ya excited to change your life with CRST?

Jeremy, I wanted to ask ya how did you enjoy my diary? Did you finish it yet? Also are ya excited to change your life with CRST?

Million Miler!!!! Hope things are going great for ya! Yes, very much enjoyed the diary. Very detailed and encouraging! I have about 7 or 8 days until I head over there (next weekend.) Wifey and I are going to stay at a hotel for a night or two before checking in Next Sunday evening. After that, let the adventure begin!

If things works out when I'm there, then I'm really hoping to get in touch with you somewhere near the end of NADTA. If I can request you as a Lead, that would be awesome! If not, then I'd at least like to buy you dinner. There's a great deal we have in common and I have quite a few questions for you that aren't posted here because they're not really trucking related (and I'm not great about posting personal history online.)

Also, just added you to my old Twitter account (haven't used that thing in about a year.) Hope all is well for ya. Happy miles!

Thank you CWC for the reply. Jeremy, I was thinking that if I choose a team driving situation, I would like to look for a team(ster) while in school. Maybe someone you can see if you get along with day one. Also, you will start to notice work ethic, and all that. Good Luck, and I look forward to your diary.....

Thank you CWC for the reply. Jeremy, I was thinking that if I choose a team driving situation, I would like to look for a team(ster) while in school. Maybe someone you can see if you get along with day one. Also, you will start to notice work ethic, and all that. Good Luck, and I look forward to your diary.....

Yes, sir. It's crossed my mind that obersvation might show me someone similar, but they'd really have to be quite serious because that would equal two new drivers on the road. I've tried not to enter this with too many preconceptions or assumptions, but one of the things I've adopted from the beginning is that my first year out will be less about making money and more about learning. And while learning on your own is a rite of passage for many, I'd prefer to have someone with some experience letting me in on a few things here and there. Of course, that doesn't mean I've ruled out anything, because I might run into someone and we just click from the beginning and everything works, and who knows - that might be my driving buddy!

I know that's pretty wordy, and I hope I don't sound like I've got expectations or entitled to anything. Just want to be safe, learn, and have a great time - cause if you can't enjoy what you're doing, then what's the point?

Jeremy, Yeah I agree...I can't wait to step away from this desk, and have a mobile office.....change is good!!

Jeremy, Yeah I agree...I can't wait to step away from this desk, and have a mobile office.....change is good!!

While I'm grateful for your service, I sure hope your change date arrives quick and welcome! Open spaces are a calling...