Deciding Between Prime Or CRST

These two companies (and maybe TMC) seem to be the only companies that will work with me and hire me etc. My questions though are about CRST. I see pros and cons to doing team driving. My question though, when you are with CRST, even after training, are you always with a co-driver? I would assume so, but just want to double check.

Also, when you complete training, do they put you with another nooby or do they put you with an experienced co-driver?

These two companies (and maybe TMC) seem to be the only companies that will work with me and hire me etc. My questions though are about CRST. I see pros and cons to doing team driving. My question though, when you are with CRST, even after training, are you always with a co-driver? I would assume so, but just want to double check.

Also, when you complete training, do they put you with another nooby or do they put you with an experienced co-driver?

Yes you are always with a codriver or your next load or two will be in the direction of picking up a codriver.

Rather they put you with a new person or someone with a little more or less experience is kind of on you. They let you pick who you drive with to within reason. They wouldn't put you with someone with years of experience because that wouldn't be fair to that driver. My first codriver was my roomie while in school.

Luke points out:

These two companies (and maybe TMC) seem to be the only companies that will work with me and hire me etc.

That’s an interesting comment. Please give a bit more insight on that...hard to believe only Prime and Cedar Rapids will “work with you”, and maybe TMC.

Yeah I ment to touch on that... Lots.. and lots... and lots of companies. If you haven't found more your not looking.

Over in the category area I believe there are 49-50 trucking companies list. I am going to assume that this doesn't include the small independent mom and pop operations.

Luke, we're having trouble understanding your choices. Saying Prime and CRST are the only two companies willing to hire you makes us think something is amiss. Those two companies are extreme opposites when it comes to their standards for hiring new inexperienced drivers. One is very selective while the other tends to throw out a large net just to see what they can haul in. Then you threw TMC in the mix which means you've got three companies that aren't even similar. One company is mostly refrigerated freight. One is expedited Team only freight. One is strictly flat bed freight.

Can you help us out? So far I'm more confused than you are, and I'm unable to help based on what you've given us. The only thing I am sure of is that I am not a fan of rookie drivers trying to be team drivers. My personal opinion is that those jobs are much better left to experienced drivers who already have established themselves and understand the difficulties of running a successful team truck.

Old school, this is what Luke had posted in a different thread

here is my situation with my record I have 2 felonies both white collar crimes wire fraud first one was in mid 90s I served 18 months of a 21 month sentence at a ffed camp finished probation all that second one was 2004 served 24 months of a 36 months at a low fed prison I got a year knocked off my sentence for going through a 9 month drug and alcohol program

That may explain why hes having trouble

Sorry for the confusion. I had a NO citation rear-end collision back in the spring of this year (regular car). Im not sure if its on my record or not and dont really have an extra 40$ lying around to see if it is or isnt. Also , from everything I have read, it is very important you are upfront and honest with these companies. (Even if it screws me).

I originally tried talking to Roehl, but they said no because of the collision, even though it wasnt a citation. For all I know its not even on my record and they only know because I told them. For everyone else, I have looked at TTs reviews on requirements to join paid CDL schools, and most companies wont hire you with anything under 3 years old, so I havent applied for them.

The recruiter at Prime (who I really want to work for) said they could overlook it because it wasnt a citation. At least thats what they told me. As I just said, I REALLY reaaally want to work for prime, but I also started thinking that maybe CRST could be a good choice too ( im not big on being social tho, I thought it may be a good choice though from an "extra training" stand point, "2 heads are better then 1" kind of things). CRST had called me relentlessly after I initially spoke to their recruiter and told them about the no citation collision and they said the same as Prime. So they were a backup option.

As I mentioned before, I have spoken with Prime multiple times, and basically the only reason I havent gone to their training yet, was their recruiter told me they couldnt accept my application until I was ready to leave (ive been moving into a new house the last few weeks, and still have a few more weeks of bs I need to take care of before I can up and leave). And as much as Ive heard bad things about recruiters, Prime has been the only one to assure me that the collision isnt an issue. I really want to do OTR with prime, but since I still have a few more weeks to make up my mind I just wanted to get an extra opinnion on the matter is all.

As for TMC, they have been relentless calling me as well, but I havent spoken with their recruiter yet, but I HAVE put in an application to them on Teamstreet10 app, where I mentioned the collision, so Im assuming they are either like everyother recruiter and are calling me trying to make comission or whatever, or they too are willing to overlook the collision from spring.

Old school, this is what Luke had posted in a different thread

I don't see that anywhere in his comment history. Could it be a different Luke?

I have looked at TTs reviews on requirements to join paid CDL schools, and most companies wont hire you with anything under 3 years old, so I havent applied for them.

Don't make that assumption. You should Apply For Paid CDL Training and see who will offers you a position. Then decide which company is the best fit.

I REALLY reaaally want to work for prime, but I also started thinking that maybe CRST could be a good choice too ( im not big on being social tho, I thought it may be a good choice though from an "extra training" stand point, "2 heads are better then 1" kind of things). CRST had called me relentlessly after I initially spoke to their recruiter and told them about the no citation collision and they said the same as Prime.

We see this idea of "two heads are better than one" quite often. The problem is that an experienced driver doesn't want a rookie driver for his teammate. He wants to be making money, and the best way for a team to do that is to keep that truck rolling 24/7. Rookies usually aren't capable of running a successful team operation. You will end up with another newbie who is most likely to quit when the going gets tough. Trust me, two heads who don't have a clue about what they're doing is far worse than one head who's determined to figure it out on his own.

If you want "extra training," as you put it, I'd say Prime is where you need to be. They have the most intensive one on one training of any one, and it is all done as "on the job" training pulling actual loads and dealing with real customers and issues. I am not a fan of starting this career at a company that strictly runs teams. I realize it's only my opinion, but I have seen very little fruit from this method. You will run as a team for the greater portion of your training at Prime, and you'll have the option of staying with that trainer if they are willing to run team with you, but you also have the option of going solo once your training is complete.

Getting started in trucking is challenging, and adding the many issues of running a team truck into the already complicated mix is just asking for trouble. Most people are so sick of running team in training that they are more than ready to be running their own truck after training. It is very challenging living together in the extremely tight quarters of a big rig with a total stranger.

I think that whole "two heads are better than one" idea is nonsense when applied to trying to get a trucking career underway. One good head you can rely on is all you need. A successful team is run one driver at a time. You sleep while the other person drives, and vice versa. How is a sleeping head gonna help a driving head? Are you going to keep waking them up so you can get advice, and are they going to keep you awake all the time because they don't have a clue about what they're doing? Does that sound safe to you - two drivers surviving on adrenaline and caffeine just so you can have "two heads?"

I'm not trying to flame you, I just know there are a lot of things about starting this career that we don't really "get" when we are considering taking the plunge. I want you to find success at this, and I think a hard working individual who is committed to learning how to do this is way better off depending on his own common sense than he is when trying to count on another greenhorn who is likely to not Have What It Takes to succeed at it.