CRST
Company-sponsoredNationwide
Team-driving-focused carrier with fully sponsored training and one of the shorter commitment periods in the industry.
Pay ladder
Estimated annual pay by career stage — read the note under each bar, not just the number.
Third-party sources report contract/student drivers starting around $0.30/mile in months 0-6 (CRST runs primarily a team-driving model for new hires).
Pay moves to roughly $0.33/mile split pay in months 6-11 as the team-driving contract progresses (third-party).
CRST markets team-driving pay 'up to $200,000+/year' and cites $110,000-$325,000+/year for certain roles on its own careers portal — using the low end of that company-published range here; treat as a marketing figure, not a guaranteed rate.
Not part of CRST's team-driving program. Industry-wide owner-operator gross pay commonly runs roughly $80,000-$180,000+/year before truck, fuel, and insurance costs elsewhere in trucking — a general ballpark, not something CRST itself offers.
Operations & benefits
- Fleet size
- ~3,335 trucks
- ~3,335 tractors, ranked #28 on Transport Topics' 2025 Top 100 For-Hire Carriers list. CRST announced a ~200-truck (~4%) fleet reduction in December 2025 amid an OTR restructuring.
- Route types
- LocalRegionalOTRDedicated
- Offers Dedicated, Local, OTR, and Regional freight (dry van, flatbed, specialized), historically centered on a team-driving model for new/contract drivers.
- Pay structure & benefits
- Team CPM model; recent postings report $0.76-$0.90/mile split plus $30-$34 stop pay for experienced dedicated teams. Up to $7,500-$15,000 sign-on bonus, 60-day Medical Bridge plan, 401(k).
CDL program cost
$0 (sponsored)
CRST sponsors CDL training at partner schools (100% sponsored) with one of the shorter employment commitments in the industry, or a $6,500 up-front paid option said to come with higher starting wages and a sign-on bonus. Two free meals/day plus a $40/week stipend during sponsored school.
Leaving before the training contract is fulfilled may require repaying roughly $3,000-$6,500 (third-party estimate). Contract length reported as ~6-12 months of active employment (not independently confirmed on an official page).