In 1955, Herald and Miriam Smith started Cedar Rapids Steel Transport out of a refurbished chicken coop they bought for $125. At the time, they had no trucks and no customers, but Herald, known as "Smitty," convinced firms he could save them money. He contracted with owner/operators who were hauling livestock to Chicago to return to the Cedar Rapids area with loads of steel instead of empty trucks. Family owned to this day, CRST has evolved from a trucking firm to one of the nation's leading providers of transportation solutions.
CRST offers a full paid CDL training program where you can get your CDL for little or no money up front. Click the button below to learn more about it:
The training at CRST will last approximately 12 weeks.
CDL training will last from 8 to 12 weeks. This will include 2 to 4 weeks of training to get your CDL, followed by a 4 day orientation session at a CRST terminal and 30-60 days on the road with a company trainer.
You will average approximately $550 per week during your training.
You are dispatched as a team during training with CRST
At CRST you will run team after training.
CRST runs almost exclusively with teams.
Reviewed case-by-case.
No DUI, DWI, or open container violations in the last 5 years. No more than 1 DUI in the last 15 years and no more than 2 DUI's in your lifetime.
Here is a more precise hiring map for CRST:
CRST operates all 48 contiguous states
CRST has the following home time options available:
1 day home time for every week on the road
Active Military Reservists and Honorably Discharged Veterans receive a $500 bonus on top of any other bonus offered at CRST.
CRST is approved to honor your G.I. Bill benefits through the V.A., and also provides credit towards your pay for your previous Military service.
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TruckingTruth was founded by Brett Aquila (that's me!), a 15 year truck driving veteran, in January 2007. After 15 years on the road I wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker. We'll help you make the right choices and prepare for a great start to your trucking career.
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