Question:
any of you gone through this training?
If so what should I expect. I understand it is a M-F school from 0700 to 1600 for 3 weeks and then off to company OTR training.
I am approaching this as a 6 month apprenticeship where you receive very little compensation. Sort of like becoming a teacher!

Answer:
((
I am approaching this as a 6 month apprenticeship where you receive very little compensation.))
Good way to look at it I guess. I presume your talking about C1 school. I went to the CRST approved school in Atlanta, but met many at Crst orientation in Carlisle who went to C1. There were some who hated the place. Some also had problems with one individual there, I beleive whom was the owners son. (Crst was also aware of this person giving students problems)If you could do it, I would recommend the school in Atlanta. Real friendy instructors and staff.

Answer:
CRST has been known to bring students to the main facility in Cedar Rapids Iowa, merely on a student request... That's right all ya have to do is ask your recruiter and he will arrange for you to train right there in IA.
That's where I went and I found two very good advantages to it:
1) I got to enteract with my dispatcher, the pay roll department, and so forth- IN PERSON! It doesn't matter where you are from or where you train, the dispatch and pay roll issues will be addressed in IA and if an issue or conflict should come up, I found it nice to know the person to go to (not just the phone number of a faceless person).
2) Since Kirkwood is right there- 5 minutes or so from the CRST terminal they over see it far better than they can any remote location, elsewhere. I did not run into any of the conflicts- I have heard so many others talk about (no complications from an owners son, or any Bull**** of any kind). My instructors where GREAT!
Maybe it's just me but I've also been the type to go straight to the source (myself) rather than settling for a list of names & phone numbers for those actually in charge of things back at head quarters...
NEVER drive faster than your gaurdian Angel can fly...
Angel

Answer:
Don't recall hardly any CRST drivers posting here before on a regular basis. I would like to read posts that would compare a newbie team outfit to a newbie solo outfit, mileage and pros and cons. That is sort of a hole in the archives here. Newbies can't be 99.99999999% sociopaths and psychopaths, like the rest of the OTR industry, can they?
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Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
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This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
As you can probably tell I like CRST and think highly of the company (as a whole) BUT...
Driving Team- can be problematic!
Consider This... they typically pair teams together based on GEOGRAPHIC Location and I have found from experience that isn't a good rule of thumb. Getting to know your codriver before you get into a truck together is VERY IMPORTANT!
Because- you will have to live with that person, in cramped quarters for long periods of time. So, you have to be able to get along (otherwise, it could be sheer misery... believe me not all of my experiences with CRST have been pleasant).
Hey Rokki, do you remember the nightmare, of my first lead driver... Girl that wasn't funny at the time but I still get blow back for doing what I did and now I just laugh about it! Does anyone have prince albert in a can? well, my dispatcher said "let him out" and I told him NO WAY am I letting him out but I guess ya had to be there Ha! Ha!
Anyway, the bottom line is: You have to trust your co-driver with your life (LITERALLY) because when you trade drivers and it's your turn to sleep any mistake made by that other person can and will affect YOU too!
So, get to know them before you put your life in their hands... that's also a lesson I learned the hard way.
Be Careful & Stay Safe out there!
NEVER drive faster than your gaurdian Angel can fly...
Angel
[This message was edited by TheMidnightAngel on December 20, 2003 at 16:36.]

Answer:
Thanks Angel!
When I talked to Sherri in Driver Development we spoke in length about the team mate placement process. I provided her with my list of priorities which include:
no smoking, no constant cursing, cleanliness, attention to detail, safety and respect for others.
Now I realize that is a very abstract list that, with the exception of smoking, cannot be precisely quantified. I was told that team mate assignments that don't work should be addressed early on as it doesn't serve CRST to have incompatible people working together.
I am a very "laid-back" sort of person and generally enjoy conversation. I just can't generally stand to be with "crude" conversation, but I can be tolerant and patient until an opportunity for change is appropriate.
The trust and safe driving issue of course is of paramount concern. I guess that is an issue you just have to deal with as it comes along.
Thanks for your comments and perhaps we shall meet on the road some day. My email address is george<nospam>@katiraimports.com.
All the best and happy holidays!