CRST Trucking School Review – Company Paid CDL Training

If you’ve been eyeing a career with steady paychecks, real benefits, and a skill that no algorithm can take away from you, truck driving keeps showing up on the list for a reason. The catch that stops most people is money. CDL school can run several thousand dollars, and paying for training before you’ve earned a dime in the industry feels backward. CRST Trucking School removes that hurdle.

If you are worried about credit checks in order to secure qualifying for any of the company sponsored truck driving schools, you don’t have to worry. CRST Trucking School offers company paid CDL training for anyone who has a clean driving, work, and criminal history.

CRST offers to pay your CDL school cost in return for a 10-month commitment, making it a quick and easy experience on your way to your shining truck-driving career. In as few as two to three weeks, you can obtain your Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and be on the road making good money.

This review walks through exactly how the program works, what it costs, what you’ll earn, and what life actually looks like once you’re rolling. No fluff, no pressure. Just the details a career changer needs to make a smart decision.

Who CRST Is

CRST has been moving freight across the country for more than 60 years. That kind of staying power matters when you’re picking the company that will train you and sign your first paychecks.

The company is the nation’s largest team carrier and one of the top dry van trucking operations in America. Every year, CRST trains thousands of new drivers and brings hundreds of fresh professionals into the industry.

For a first-time driver, size translates into something practical: freight to haul, trucks to drive, and a support system that has been refined over decades. You aren’t a test case. You’re stepping into a program that’s already produced a small army of working drivers.

The company credits its reputation to two groups: the professional drivers it employs and the staff and management team that looks out for those drivers. That’s the culture you’d be joining.

CRST is committed to hiring qualified people who are dedicated to driving safely and meeting customer needs. For a career changer, that focus on safety is a good sign. It means the training you get is built around habits that keep you employed and insurable for the long haul, not shortcuts that get you through a test and leave you unprepared on the highway.

The Low Barrier to Entry

Here’s what makes CRST worth a serious look if cash is tight. The program is built so you can start with almost nothing in your pocket and still walk out with a Class A CDL and a job.

Approval is based on your driving, work, and criminal history, not your credit history. There’s no credit check, no co-signer, and no loan application to sweat over.

With the Free Class A CDL program, CRST covers the CDL fees. You also get two free meals per day during training and a $40 per week stipend while you’re in school.

The rest of the costs tied to school are handled up front by CRST and repaid slowly out of your paychecks once you’re working. Those deductions don’t start until after your sixth week of employment, and they’re capped.

Your total payroll deductions will never exceed $40 per week for everything combined. That covers your bus ticket to school, your DOT physical and drug test, and your lodging.

Here’s how those pieces break down:

• Bus ticket to school. The cost depends on how far you travel. If you provide your own transportation, there’s no deduction at all.
• DOT physical and drug test. The combined cost is $100.
• Lodging. The average cost is $165 per week. If you don’t use CRST’s lodging, there’s no deduction.

Add it up and the math is friendly. Even in a worst-case scenario, you’re looking at $40 a week trimmed from your pay, starting more than a month into a paying job.

You’ve got options at CRST, and each one fits a different situation. The three paths below decide who pays for your training and how it affects your starting pay.

Option 1 — Company-Sponsored Training (10-Month Contract)

This is the path most people take, and it’s the one that needs the least money to start. If you need to obtain your Class A CDL but lack the funds to do so, CRST’s company-sponsored program covers your full tuition up front.

In return, you agree to work for CRST Expedited for ten months. You’ll sign a 10-month contract and become a CRST “contract” student.

CRST will not deduct the cost of your training tuition from your paychecks. As long as you stay employed for those ten months, your training is genuinely free. The only deductions you’ll see are the capped $40-per-week school costs described above.

Ten months is one of the shortest employment commitments in the industry. Plenty of carriers lock new drivers into a year or more, so this is a lighter obligation than most.

Option 2 — Pre-Pay ($6,500, No Contract, Higher Pay)

If you’d rather keep your options open, you can prepay your training costs. The prepayment amount is $6,500, paid before you start orientation by money order or charged to a credit card.

Pay your own way and you skip the contract entirely. You become a “non-contract” student, and you start driving at a higher rate of pay than a contract student, plus a competitive sign-on bonus.

Under this plan, you don’t pay separately for transportation to school, for the physical, or for lodging. You are responsible for any CDL permit or licensing fees.

This route costs more up front, but it buys flexibility and a bigger paycheck from day one. For drivers who don’t want to be tied to a 10-month agreement, it’s a fair trade.

Option 3 — Veterans and the GI Bill (Heroes on the Highway)

If you’ve served, you may not need to spend a dollar or sign a pre-employment contract. Veterans eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can use those educational benefits to cover the cost of training and housing.

That eliminates the need to sign a contract with CRST. Your service already earned the funding.

CRST’s Heroes on the Highway program goes a step further. Eligible veterans earn a higher rate of pay based on their total years of military service. Your time in uniform counts toward what you take home.

How the Training Works

CRST’s training program is designed to get you on the road with a Class A CDL in as few as two to three weeks. Classes are held weekly and usually last about three weeks, though the exact timeline depends on you.

CRST sponsors hundreds of students every year at certified truck driving schools across the country, and it operates its own driving school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Wherever you train, the curriculum is built to meet state minimum requirements in both the classroom and the truck.

Expect a real schedule. During training you can plan on long, full days, often running 8 to 12 hours and sometimes stretching across the weekend. If that sounds grueling, remember you’re not paying tuition, and every day gets you closer to a license and a paycheck.

The split between theory and hands-on time is weighted toward the truck. Roughly 20% of your training happens in the classroom, and 80% happens behind the wheel.

Here’s what you can expect once you’re enrolled:

• Depending on which school you attend, your training will last approximately two to three weeks.
• 20% of your truck driver training will be in the classroom and 80% will be behind the wheel of a truck.
• All state minimum requirements will be met, both in the classroom and in the truck.
• On average, there will be no more than 4 students per truck, but this will vary by school.
• You can expect to be very busy on a full-time schedule, Monday through Friday, and possibly Saturday and Sunday.
• Some schools also offer part-time paid CDL training on weekends and evenings.
• If you’re attending school out-of-state, you must transfer your license to that state.

Trucking is a heavily regulated industry, and CRST’s training reflects that. The goal is to get you on the road safely, legally, and reliably with a clean license, not just to rush you through a test.

What to Bring and How to Prepare

Showing up prepared keeps your first days smooth. A few documents are non-negotiable, and packing the right gear saves you money and hassle once you arrive.

Bring these important documents with you:

• A valid United States driver’s license.
• A valid Social Security card. It must be the original and in good condition. Copies are not accepted. 
• Acceptable immigration documentation if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Any employment documentation needed to complete the CRST driver application, such as unemployment records, tax forms for self-employment, or notarized letters. These help the referencing department during hiring.
• A voided check if you want direct payroll transfer. If you don’t have one, a letter from your bank on bank letterhead works, as long as it lists the account holder’s name, account number, and routing number.
• An original (with raised seal) or certified copy of your birth certificate or passport. No copies.

Now for what to pack. Breakfast and lunch are provided Monday through Friday, so most of your spending will be for weekend meals and personal items.

• While breakfast and lunch are provided Mon–Fri, you’ll need money for meals on weekends.
• Money for miscellaneous expenses.
• Toiletries including soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, towels, a shaver, and the like.
• Seven days’ worth of clean clothes: jeans, sweats, short and long sleeve shirts, and winter gear if needed.
• Hat, sunglasses, work gloves, and sunblock if needed.
• Work boots. They must be no-slip. Absolutely no cowboy boots allowed.
• A battery-powered alarm clock.
• Flashlight and batteries.
• Notebook, pen, pencil, and paper.
• A sleeping bag and pillow, or twin-sized sheets and blankets for the truck.
• Any medication or medical items such as eyeglasses, contacts, an inhaler, or a CPAP machine.
• A Rand-McNally road atlas, truck stop guide, and calculator (available from CRST for $28).

One more money note. All licensing fees for your permit and CDL are paid in full by CRST, so you don’t need to budget for those.

Orientation

Once you graduate from the program, you’ll enter a four-day orientation program to prepare you for training on the road. CRST runs orientation at its major full-service terminals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Riverside, California.

Orientation is where the company’s policies and procedures become second nature. You’ll learn how CRST operates inside and out, then prove your knowledge through written tests, physical tests, and a road test.

You’ll also meet some of the staff who become important to your career, from dispatchers to safety personnel. These are the people you’ll lean on once you’re out running freight.

Think of orientation as the bridge between passing your CDL exam and actually earning a living. It’s short, it’s structured, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.

On-the-Road Finishing Training

After orientation, CRST matches you with a CRST Lead Driver, an experienced trainer who rides along as you learn the job for real. This is the hands-on finishing program, and it’s where classroom knowledge turns into muscle memory.

You’ll spend 28 days on the open road with your lead driver, moving real freight across the nation’s highways. During this stretch you’ll develop your skills, build your confidence, and get your first honest taste of life on the road.

During your OTR training, you’ll complete a minimum of 14,000 combined miles between you and your trainer. Those miles are the fastest way to grow from a licensed beginner into a capable professional.

At first, your truck will be dispatched as a solo operation. After 4 to 7 days, you and your personal trainer will operate as a team, splitting the driving and keeping the truck moving.

Once that 28-day session wraps, you’ll be paired with another experienced driver to solidify your transition to the CRST team. The philosophy is simple: get you certified, confident, and earning as soon as safely possible.

What You’ll Earn

Pay is the reason most people are reading this, so let’s be straight about it. As a contract student, you’re paid on a split mileage scale that climbs every single month you drive.

You start at $0.30 per mile in your first month, and the rate rises a penny each month after that. By month 11 you’re earning $0.41 per mile split pay.

Here’s the monthly progression for contract students in the sponsored training program:

Miles are what turn those rates into real money, and CRST runs some of the longest average miles in the industry. To put numbers on it, a driver averaging 4,000 miles a week earns roughly $600 in month 0 and around $820 by month 11. Push to 5,000 miles a week and month 11 lands north of $1,000.

At the 12th month, everything changes for the better. All drivers move off the training scale and onto the experienced pay table, where the rates and earning potential step up.

Experienced CRST drivers earn up to $72,800 per year and up to $1,400 per week. Average driver pay lands around $62,000, and where you fall depends on your miles, your route, and how hard you want to run.

Students who pay their tuition up front start out at a higher pay rate than contract students from the very beginning. That higher rate is one of the main reasons some drivers choose the pre-pay option.

New drivers also receive a $1,500 sign-on bonus as CRST helps you transition into the career. Experienced drivers who come aboard collect their full sign-on bonus within 12 months, guaranteed.

You get paid every Friday through the COMDATA system, a financial services company that handles CRST’s transactions. You’ll receive a COMDATA card for fuel, which CRST pays for, and your earnings are deposited directly into your COMDATA account.

That setup gives you 24/7 access to your money. You can check each deposit and view your pay statements online, so you always know exactly what you’ve earned.

Expedited drivers also benefit from twice-a-week paydays, so your earnings reach you faster than the standard weekly cycle at many carriers. A per diem tax benefit is available too, which can lower your taxable income and leave more money in your pocket at the end of the year.

A Job Waiting When You Finish

This is the part that separates paid CDL training from a standalone driving school. When you finish the program and meet CRST’s hiring requirements, a driving job is already yours.

You don’t graduate and then start applying. The training, the orientation, and the on-the-road finishing phase all feed directly into employment with CRST Expedited.

For a company-sponsored student, that means 10 months of guaranteed employment the moment you graduate. You’re moving from student to working professional without a gap.

Typically, trucking companies require at least a year commitment. If you’re someone looking for a short-term investment of your time in exchange for free training and a guaranteed job, CRST Trucking School may be a strong fit.

The Lifestyle Shift of OTR Team Driving

Becoming an over-the-road driver changes your daily life, and it’s worth being honest about both sides before you commit. CRST is the nation’s largest over-the-road team carrier, which shapes what your weeks will look like.

Most CRST trucks run as teams, meaning you and a co-driver share one truck and keep it moving while one of you rests. After training, you’ll typically be on the road for up to two weeks, then go home for up to five days.

Home time is guaranteed, and the rule of thumb is one day off for every week out. That predictability helps you plan life around the road instead of guessing when you’ll see your family.

Team driving has real advantages, especially early in your career. Consider what a co-driver brings:

• Both drivers can earn a higher income than they would driving solo.
• You run more miles, which builds confidence as you gain experience.
• It’s safer, because there’s another set of eyes and ears in the truck.
• Your co-driver helps with trip planning, navigating, and sharing the workload.

Now the honest trade-offs. Life on the road asks something of you and the people who care about you.

You must be mentally and physically able to be away from home for at least seven days at a time. No pets are allowed in your truck, and no passengers, since most trucks run as teams.

The freight itself is easier on your body than many people expect. About 99% of CRST’s freight is no-touch, and roughly 80% is drop-and-hook, so you spend your time driving rather than loading and unloading by hand.

For a lot of drivers, the rhythm becomes the appeal. You see the country, you’re paid by the mile, and the truck becomes a second home. For others, the time away is the hardest part of the job. Knowing which type you are before you start will save you a lot of second-guessing.

Full Benefits Package

A steady paycheck is only half of financial stability. The benefits behind it are what let you build a real future, and CRST’s package is built for drivers who plan to stick around.

You’ll receive full benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, plus a 401(k). The 401(k) becomes available after only 90 days on the job, and CRST offers a matched plan to help your savings grow.

Coverage starts with a medical bridge and moves to full major-medical coverage at 60 days, with PPO options that include dental and vision. Life insurance is provided as part of the package.

Beyond insurance, you’ll see pay for the situations that used to go uncompensated at lesser carriers. That includes layover pay, drop-off pay, vacation pay, and more.

The equipment matches the pay. CRST runs hundreds of new trucks with late-model equipment, and the average fleet age is just about 1¼ years. Newer trucks mean fewer breakdowns and more comfortable miles.

Rounding out the package:

• The longest average trucking miles in the industry, which means more earning potential.
• Guaranteed home time of one day off for every week out.
• 99% no-touch, 80% drop-and-hook freight.
• Affordable top-carrier medical, dental, and life insurance.
• A matched 401(k) plan.
• An industry-leading truck driving safety program.
• Per diem tax benefits and internet payroll access.

Trucks are equipped with electronic logs to keep you compliant on the road. If you’d prefer a trainer who doesn’t smoke, you can request one, and CRST will do its best to accommodate you.

Requirements to Qualify

CRST’s requirements are straightforward, and most career changers meet them without trouble. The company reviews your background fairly, and several factors are weighed case by case rather than used as automatic disqualifiers.

Here’s what you’ll need to qualify:

• You must be at least 21 years of age to apply.
• You must have a valid state driver’s license, and you’ll need to have been licensed in the U.S. for a minimum of 18 months out of the last three years.
• You must undergo a background check.
• You must pass a DOT medical examination.
• You must pass a DOT drug test.
• You’ll be required to obtain your Hazmat endorsement within 60 days of employment.
• Drivers who meet TSA requirements can complete background checks and fingerprinting at orientation.
• You must have a clean driving record for the past 3 years.
• You mustn’t have had an open container violation in the past 3 years.
• You mustn’t have had any drug or alcohol related violations in the past 5 years.
• You mustn’t have had more than 1 drug or alcohol related violation in the past 15 years.
• You mustn’t have had more than 2 drug or alcohol related violations in your lifetime.
• You must be physically able to perform the job requirements without any aid.
• You must be mentally and physically able to be away from home for at least 7 days at a time.

Criminal history doesn’t automatically end the conversation. All criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by management, so a mark on your record doesn’t necessarily rule you out.

You must also pass a DMV/DOT physical and a pre-employment drug screen, and maintain a good driving record. If you meet these standards, you’re in a strong position to be approved.

Train Your Partner Program

If you have a spouse, relative, or friend who’s also curious about driving, CRST built a program for exactly that situation. It’s one of the more practical perks in the industry for people who want a ready-made team.

Through the Train Your Partner program, CRST will sponsor your partner’s CDL training. Once they’ve completed school, they’re handed off to you for road training in one of CRST’s trucks.

The arrangement works in both directions. Your partner fast-tracks their certification with someone they trust, and you gain a reliable co-driver you already know.

For couples especially, this can turn OTR driving from a source of time apart into a shared career. You run the miles together and split the earnings, all under one roof on wheels.

Is CRST Trucking School Right for You?

No single program fits everyone, so here’s the honest read. CRST makes the most sense for a specific kind of person, and it’s worth checking whether that’s you.

This program is a strong fit if you want to enter trucking with little money up front, you can commit to 10 months, and you’re comfortable running as part of a team. The low barrier to entry and the guaranteed job on the other side are hard to beat for a career changer starting from scratch.

It’s a tougher fit if you can’t be away from home for a week or more at a time, or if team driving isn’t for you. Those are real constraints, and it’s better to know them now than three weeks into training.

For drivers who value flexibility over the lowest possible upfront cost, the $6,500 pre-pay option keeps you contract-free and bumps your starting pay. For veterans, the GI Bill and Heroes on the Highway program can make the whole thing cost nothing while paying you more for your service.

Weigh the commitment against what you’re getting: free or low-cost training, a paid finishing program on real freight, full benefits, and a guaranteed job with the nation’s largest team carrier. For a lot of people ready to change their lives, that’s a fair deal.

Take the First Step

Getting your Class A CDL doesn’t have to start with debt or a credit check. With CRST, you can train in a few short weeks, step into a guaranteed job, and start building the kind of stable, well-paid career that stays with you.

The industry needs qualified drivers, and CRST has spent 60-plus years turning beginners into professionals. If steady pay, real benefits, and life on the open road sound like the change you’ve been waiting for, this is a solid place to begin.

Your next career is a few short weeks away. When you’re ready, take the first step toward a great future.

CRST Trucking School Locations:

CRST Trucking School*
3930 16th Avenue SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

*CRST paid CDL training is also available at certified truck driving schools across the country, and orientation is held at full-service terminals in Cedar Rapids, IA; Oklahoma City, OK; and Riverside, CA.