CRST - Training Adventures In Cedar Rapids
Topic 22473 | Page 1
An adventure it certainly will be! Good luck!
Quick update... It appears that even though you usually have to supply your own meals on evenings and weekends here, they are serving Popyeye's for dinner for everyone tonight. Still not sure if that's a regular occurrence or maybe just occasionally, but I will find out and post it. I think I recall someone saying there was a cookout on their first night here.
Also, still not sure what Popyeye's is... Cans of spinach for dinner? Well, blow me down!
Also, the room I'm in has a locked door and they give you a key card (like at a hotel) to access your room. I do kinda like that. Whole place seems pretty clean and orderly for what seems like 100+ people here right now.
Also, if any husband/wife teams come to CRST, I believe they put you together in the hotel across the street because they don't have any co-ed rooms here. There are women here, but they only room with other women.
Have to get ready for orientation. More later.
Ahh yes Popeyes... Really amazing chicken and biscuits.. Enjoy.
I love me some Popeyes. You'll find them in some TAs and Petros. I'm addicted to the spicy tenders
'Love that chicken from Popeyes!'
Have fun Jeremy and study hard!
Jeremy, I will be heavily following your adventures as you take your journey. I am glad you made it there and are bein safe. If you need anything just let me know on here.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Yes, I will be reading very intently.....I am waiting for my pre hire letter....can't wait to follow your journey.
Kick some arse....
Pre Hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Again, I owe many thanks for the support. You guys are awesome!
Well, orientation was about an hour. Signed a lot of paperwork releases for background checks, drug screen, etc. Most of it I had already done electronically, but no harm in giving them a hard copy.
Went over rules for training and for the training facility. Couldn't believe some of it, about how to dress appropriately or how NOT to speak inappropriately to others, etc. I would think these things are just part of being a mature adult. But I guess these things needed saying, because they were pretty adamant about clothing issues and behavior.
They went over potential income based on mileage, which I won't get into because I'm not sure if that would cause trouble or not. Better to tread safely. But I do know we had some vets in the class and their compensation packages vary from others, but the vets were told that would be discussed with them personally tomorrow, so I got no info on that. (Sorry Chris, I had the freq tuned in, but apparently the signal was scrambled.)
Missed Popyeye's because my wife was just up the road doing some shopping when I called her just before orientation. She came back and we got to spend another hour together. And I'll take that over dinner any day of the week!
I thought it would be easy to just say goodbye for awhile and get started with this. But man did it suck when she drove away the first time. However, the second time she left me here, I was humming an old Clint Black tune, something about Nothing But The Taillights. 
Finally, I was talking to one of the other new guys here outside just a bit ago and mentioned that I had been studying for about a month already. I wanted to mention TT to him, but before I could, he cut me off to ask, "You came here to study so why would waste your last month of freedom?"
I just stood there with my mouth hanging open, my usually quick wit failing me - I just had no words. Still don't.
Well, drug test, physical, and more tomorrow, starting around 7 AM, so I want to be there by at least 6:45. So, today's chapter concludes and soon the snoring begins.
Safe travels everyone!
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Well arrived here about 4 PM. Got a room key, three to a room it seems, and there is some sort of lockable cage for your belongings. Shouldn't be necessary, and if it is... Well, you know the old saying: Don't bring any valuables unless you have enough to share with the whole class.
So, there's an orientation tonight at 6 PM for us newbies. That's all I got for now.
Awesome to be here, let the adventure begin!