CRST Or Swift Company Training?

Christy, they won't make you team with a male. Some companies like Prime Inc will give you the option of going on the road with a male trainer if you're comfortable with the idea. But nobody will force you to train or to team up with a male you don't know.

Christy, they won't make you team with a male. Some companies like Prime Inc will give you the option of going on the road with a male trainer if you're comfortable with the idea. But nobody will force you to train or to team up with a male you don't know.

I don't know how to attach a picture here, but I received an information packet from CRST. Under the FAQ's, question 19, page 14, it says, "CRST cannot promise that a female recruit will train with a female lead driver. Every female student should expect that she will train with a male leader driver for 28 days."

Christy, they won't make you team with a male. Some companies like Prime Inc will give you the option of going on the road with a male trainer if you're comfortable with the idea. But nobody will force you to train or to team up with a male you don't know.

I don't know how to attach a picture here, but I received an information packet from CRST. Under the FAQ's, question 19, page 14, it says, "CRST cannot promise that a female recruit will train with a female lead driver. Every female student should expect that she will train with a male leader driver for 28 days."

Really? That's the first time I've ever heard that mentioned about them. I would imagine they'd accommodate you if you told them you weren't comfortable with the idea. There's a history of lawsuits in the industry over that.

That's totally up to you and I wouldn't do anything I wasn't comfortable doing. Every decision you make in trucking is a calculated risk. If you're not comfortable training with a male then don't do it. Nobody would blame you for that. Ultimately it could mean looking for a different company, but I'm sure that's doable.

Info I just learned from a Prime Inc recruiter: must have two years tax/employment history. So if you've been out of the work force (in my case, temporary medical reasons), you cannot start at Prime Inc. immediately. The recruiter told me to check back with them after I have a year of otr experience (he said one year, but he got my name wrong a few times and may have meant 2 years).

Really? That's the first time I've ever heard that mentioned about them. I would imagine they'd accommodate you if you told them you weren't comfortable with the idea. There's a history of lawsuits in the industry over that.

That's totally up to you and I wouldn't do anything I wasn't comfortable doing. Every decision you make in trucking is a calculated risk. If you're not comfortable training with a male then don't do it. Nobody would blame you for that. Ultimately it could mean looking for a different company, but I'm sure that's doable.

I actually get along with men better than women (no, I DO NOT think trucking is a dating site!! I want to work, be good at what I do and make money while traveling). I would not mind training with a male AS LONG as he is knowledgeable and "well-behaved" (for lack of a better description), but I would expect the same qualities of a female trainer, too.

Am i required to include cases that has been dismissed on applications

I have been doing a lot of research trying to determine where I want to start my Truck Driving career. I have no money available for private training so I have decided I am definately going to one or the other. I'm hoping I can get some guidance from currently employed CRST and / or Swift Truck Drivers. Any information provided is going to be very much appreciated. I am really concerned about making the right decision that is going to affect my future. I have a Florida CDL permit and plan on getting my DOT Medical Exam within 2 months of going to school. Have planned out my financial budgets for each company and made the necessary preparations. I live in South Florida so some companies don't hire in this area. I am a very dedicated person so once I start anything, I go all the way.

My main concerns are:

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4) Is the training at CRST actually paid for by the company or do they take out the money out of my check every week?

CRST (Jacksonville Florida class) pays for:

Bus trip to school - $40 - $120 Hotel Stay - ~$840 (Breakfast at Days Inn Baymeadows [mon-fri = bagel, coffee, and banana] [sat-sun = waffles, yogurt, banana, juice, coffee, bagel, cereal, and muffins] J-Tech course fee - $2995 (Lunch [not terrible, not great, think school lunch] served mon-fri, you will be responsible for sat) DOT Medical Exam - $50 CDL testing Fees - $7 to $48 So almost $4000

After six weeks of employment they will take $40 per week out. You are under contract with them for 10 months. So they will get 38 weeks worth of payments for a total of ~$1500 if you complete the 10 month contract. However, if you break contract they will collect $6990 from you. Not a bad deal if you stick to it.

5) What school will I attend if I go to Jacksonville, FL for CRST? Is it completely paid for up front?

Jtech - http://jtech.org They collect no money. You will only need money for dinners, and weekend lunches.

6) Are meals actually provided at the traing facilities or not? I love to eat all the time. All 142lbs of me.

Breakfast is at the hotel, and lunches are at the school. You will not have time to eat all the time (grazer). You will be in class until lunch and then back to class until you leave. Did not bother all 300 pounds of me.

7) Is the possibility of getting a new truck with less than 100,000 miles?

More than likely you will get a truck with much less than 100,000, but you will not get a current year truck until you build seniority. Keep in mind these companies retire trucks at 500,000 to avoid the huge expense of the engine overhaul at the 500K mark. I hear it cost on the order of >$20,000.

8) How do you get your HazMat endorsement if your're constantly on the road?

You study on your phone with an app called DMV Genie and read the book. Then when you get hometime you go to your DMV and take the test.

9) When I go for my physical, what actual excercises do I have to preform. (pullups to lift my own weight?)

No pull ups or anything like that. The only physical movement you will need to demonstrate in the DOT will be a duck walk (look it up, it is a football exercise and not difficult to do) because you will need to crouch under the trailer to check the fifth wheel. You will need to be able to climb a ladder and such, to be able to get in the cab of the tractor.

Any input anyone can offer will be great.

I hope that helps