Question:
I have two questions. First, I am a recent grad with all endorsements, and an independant recruiter is trying to hook me up with CRST for my first go out. Does anyone have any experiance with them and, 2) How the heck do you know how much to pack, relistically, for 5 days of orientation and 28 days out with a trainer. This is my first post, but have been reading this sight for two days now, and I gotta admit, some of the stories and anti-trucking sentiment is starting to scare the lemonade outta me. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
You can use the search above to find lots of post on what to take. basically you want 2 weeks minimum clothing and your toiletries, phone reading materials etc. not much else is needed in training except maybe a map book and writing material. Just remember trucks are small on the inside and with 2 in there space will be limited. Take whats needed and not much else.
CRST is a team outfit. Not only will you train with some one but you would most likely end up as a second seat driver with the same person if you get along well and feel ok about it. That coiuld be a good thing with winter being here. The longer you ride with an experienced driver in the conditions that are out there now and will be coming the better off you will be.

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Thanks for the quick response, STUFFS. And who says we New Joiseyans aren't helpful. Your logic in CRST in being a team company with winter coming is precisely why I chose them. Even at a much reduced pay scale,(had other offers for more cpm as a solo) I thought it made more sense to have the experience to fall back on in the beginning. I've sized up the space in the truck, was trained on full sleepers and still seems tight for that much clothes. You certianly can't bring a suitcase, can you? I assumed a dufflebad, with one weeks clothes is still pretty big. I will reserch the forum futher like you said, and again, THANKS. See ya in the hammerlane.

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Just noticed something, either Sparta, NJ just became the trucking hub for the entire East coast, or this is some sort of inside joke that I just caught on to. WOW, maybe trucking IS my true calling!!!

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I would take enough clothing for 16 days in case some get wet or to dirty. One week and you'll be stopping for laundry to often. Just remember you have storage under the bunk and in the cab overhead. keep your second bag for dirty clothing under the bunk, thats where mine stays. Honestly though i barely have enough room in the truck for just my stuff so pack wisely. Hopefully your trainer will have half the storage room dedicated to you.
Good thinking on the longer training especially considering the weather. The more help and time you have to learn at first the better off you will be. There will be plenty of time later to run solo.

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Sparta, NJ is where drivers go after they figured out the truth about trucking. It's not like being a paid tourist.
No BillyBigRig drivers allowed.

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Caution
Really
Stupid
Trucker . Just kidding. I just hope your trainer /co-driver passes along some common sense and you all get along Ok . I've been noticing Crst trucks several times hogging the middle lane of a 3-lane road doing about 50mph while a bunch of trucks and cars are passing them on the right. There was one on 465 in Indianapolis doing 50mph in the middle lane when there was plenty of room in the right lane. Please don't be one of them. First of all its very hazardous and stupid to drive 50mph when most of the traffic is doing 70-80mph under normal conditions. Its even stupider to do it in the middle lane and forcing traffic to pass on both the right and the left. In snow and icy conditions take it VERY easy,don't apply too much power too quickly and if the roads don't improve look for a safe place to shut it down for the day. Have a safe winter and happy holidays. Disclaimer:Pick too ugly to post at this time,LOL.

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Thanks for the sound advise and encouragement, Jack. Funny you should post. This whole trucking thang got started with me to jazz up my resume, since my backround is in warehousing, and I wanted another bullet in my belt before moving down your way. Got a new brother-in-law ( I got married resently) down your way in Arlington,TX and freinds in Dallas. Fell in love with the area and the people were just great. I absolutely hate NJ. If/when I make the big move, I'll give ya a shout. Watch out for those centerline newbies!!!

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Good deal. I don't blame you at all for hating Nj. I don't care for it much myself
either. IF you move down here give me a shout and Ill buy the coffee . Be careful and have a safe holiday. Disclaimer:Pick too ugly to post at this time,LOL.

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Good luck buddy, hopefully everything works out for you, form your own opinion on the job, everyone has a different take on it. A team is a good thing some times, and a bad thing as well. Good luck and be safe.
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Your only 55 miles to a more relaxed NJ.
It is refreshing to see someone use commonsense when entering this industry. Most want their own truck in 3 weeks.

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Hey STUFFS, got your ears on? I just reached deeper into the old posts and saw some of yours about running teams. Seams you had a bit of a rough time there for a while! Guess ya either didn't have time to fill me in or you were taken a bit of simpathy on the new guy.( now that's not like you ) You seem like the type that rather tell it like it is. I guess I have to take into account, it is the holiday season!! Anyway this raises another question with me. Not that I'm expecting it but, what happens if I get teamed up with a lot-lizard chasin', low-bridge hittin', disapearin', non-bathin, multi-state girlfriend type that "don't speekida any eeengles". What are my recourses if you can't stand your lead driver/trainer? That is short of ratting the guy out? This job sounds hard enough, we all need to stick together. :

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I could've just told you to "use the search feature above".
You did good.
I'll tell you why I didn't say how much I hate teaming. As a fact I hate it so much I would wrather sleep under a bridge and be a begger than do it again.
I just spent 2 weeks running around in the snow. Was stuck in Ne. for a couple a days because I80 was closed. Then I got a load to the east coast after dropping in denver. It was cold snowing and freezing all the way to PA and I was happy when I saw it was nice and dry. But the next morning after parking for the night I found out it snowed all night and things were freezing up, like the road I was on. I left with a half clear sky to end up driving in it from the De/NJ line to south of Richmond. My opinion those conditions are no place for a newbie who finished a 3 week school and another 3 weeks with a trainer. Most of them are dangerous enough in good weather as a re many experienced drivers. I counted 16 trucks in the middle in that 2 week period of time. Most had jacknifed and were tore up. When you expressed a desire to stay with a team setting for a longer period of time I figured you were smarter than the average wannabe that comes here. Because you used the search feature and got some info you are well above many.
Teaming can suck big time and it definatly will cramp your space but it will give you a longer training period. If your trainer is an azzwipe then just ask for another one. Don't stop asking until you get one. There's no need to run around with an idiot. Idiots are in every trucking company that trains. Their in every trucking company, period. It will be up to you to make a change if it isn't working. If you get an idiot who is unsafe and a poor trainer in your opinion I wouldn't take 2 minutes worrying about ratting him out. Trainers for most companies make good money while training although most will lie about it. They have a responsibility to you and everyone out there to do it right. If they don't or won't then ratt them out. There's to many poorly trained newbies out there now and you don't want to be another one. I don't want you to be one either just as I don't want the ones who are out there driving now. Why, because I have a family to go home to and I don't care to be killed by some one that doesn't know what their doing.
My wife wants me to share a little more with you about my teaming experience since she took the brunt of many phone calls. The 40 year old guy I left in Texas was a real Mamas boy. His mother called and harrased me for a month after I left her little boy in Texas. How dare I be so mean.
You don't have to put up with idiots.

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Well, if I just keep asking for azzwipes, won't this limit my chances of getting some good training? I don't want to seem too picky with my DM, all his best azzwipes may already be on the road! Just kidding, you seem like a real straight shooter and I value the imput. Just couldn't resist!!! I guess bringing along a sense of humor is more important than a bar of soap from what I've been reading. The best one I've heard was from my own brother who has a small paving co. and runs triaxles. "I'd rather have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother in trucking! "

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[quote="I guess bringing along a sense of humor is more important than a bar of soap from what I've been reading. The best one I've heard was from my own brother who has a small paving co. and runs triaxles. "I'd rather have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother in trucking! " [/quote]
Isnt that true!!
Make sure your trainer is from the north or very experienced in winter driving. I ran with errr..., around alot of CRST trucks along the northern corridors.( I drove only the winter months in the lower 48 states. Comm. fished summers in Ak.) They seemed to do fine.
In general, drivers from southern states dont seem to have a clue on staying safe in winter. Heard the dammedest stuff from them in our mountains. But then again some southern companies run north alot and have great snow drivers. Kennisaw comes to mind.
If your trainer doesnt put safety first, get out of that truck. This job is tough enough with clueless 4 wheelers, killer dispatch etc.
I wont come back for anything but it might suit you..., for awhile. It did Me.