CRST Hiring Overview For 2023

Is CRST on the Ban the Box list?

As an individual with a record, you need to be aware that there are organizations out there fighting for you and your success. The Ban the Box campaign and the Fair Chance Business Pledge are two such.

The Ban the Box group realized that former offenders weren’t being given fair consideration when applying for jobs. See, when an employer has an application with a criminal record section, they tend to be blinded by this information. This is why Ban the Box urges employers to remove all questions about criminal history. The applicant is then given an equal chance at being hired.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a way for a business to show their commitment to practicing fair hiring practices for everyone.

It’s unfortunate that CRST doesn’t support either of these initiatives. However, don’t allow this to cause concern! After all, it’s not a requirement in order to be able to hire someone with a record.

Does CRST have special programs for hiring felons?

No, they don’t. While these are great for any company to offer, not many have these types of programs.

What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

The odds of you getting a job at CRST with a felony are average. Even though we weren’t able to hear it straight from them, there is enough information online to support that they will hire people with criminal records.

Let’s keep reading to see how to get hired at CRST with a felony.

What are some entry-level jobs?

CRST is a trucking company that might hire former felons with locations throughout the U.S. Let’s take a look at some of the information we uncovered:

• CRST will help you obtain your license and also put you through a four-week training program.
  • You must be 21 years old to obtain a CDL.
  • After orientation, you will be matched with an instructor for 28 days of on-the-road training.
• Recent graduates will have paid hands-on training.

Experienced drivers will have the option of choosing a route and what type of freight they are delivering. If you’re interested in working for CRST, but not as a driver, check out some of the other positions they have to offer and their requirements here.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

We understand that a criminal record can make the application process a little more nerve-wracking. That’s why we’re here to help in this area too! We’ve put together a few pointers to guide you in the right direction to strengthen your chances at being hired.

The main areas we’ll touch on are:

• Application
• Cover letter and resume
• Interview

The application process is pretty straightforward. CRST gives you the option to include a cover letter and a resume. We recommend you attach both! Any time an employer gives you the choice to provide extra information, you provide it. They’ll be judging just how interested you are in the position.

A cover letter isn’t anything that should worry you, either. It’s a brief description of you, your interest in the company and the skills you have that make you a good fit for the position you’re applying for. This needs to be short and sweet — all your detailed information will be in your resume.

We know that the resume freaks some people out, so we created a guide dedicated to helping you with this specific area. Whether you’re just dusting your resume off or you haven’t the slightest idea where to begin, this guide will assist you. We show you how to highlight the right information and handle your past.

Your next step will be the interview process. This is the ideal time to discuss your criminal history. We know from glimpsing their application that a background check will be done. Go ahead and address this while you have the chance. Remember, they have hired felons before!

Yes, you’ll need to be prepared for a background check.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding background checks: 

There are now states that will only see an offense if it’s less than seven years old. Those states are as follows:

• California
• Colorado*
• Kansas*
• Maryland*
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New York*
• Texas*
• Washington*

(*certain pay or salary bracket positions require a screening.)

Luckily, we also have states that will see only guilty convictions. Here are those states:

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana (limited check)
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

Even though changes are being made, the majority of states will still look at everything. This includes:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana (extensive check)
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Company ratings

CRST is rated with 3.5 out of 5 stars on the review site glassdoor.com.

Looking to see how they got their score, it appears that many agree that it’s a good way to learn the industry and CRST provides great pay and benefits. However, many complain that there isn’t room for advancement and the work-life balance could be better.

What felonies CRST will not hire

Sadly, CRST didn’t share their list of no-nos with us. Our research gave us some insights, though. Read below.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?

All jobs have convictions related to them that may cause concern for the hiring manager. Here are a few offenses we feel CRST might zero in on:

• A driving violation of any kind will be looked at closely when applying for a trucking position. This can apply to tickets, DWIs and DUIs. There may be a period of time your record will have to be clear of these offenses. If this is a concern for you, make sure to ask about it in the interview!
• Violent crimes can also cause concern. Most positions involve contact with a variety of people, so you’ll face some barriers with that kind of record.
• You should expect drug or trafficking charges to be red flagged. Driving company vehicles takes a lot of red tape and they’ll need to be able to insure you.

Does CRST hire sex offenders?

CRST didn’t tell us, but we know they’ll have some extra questions for you about these charges if you’re applying.

Does CRST drug test?

Yes, you can expect a drug test. Also, when you apply for a CDL, you can expect the Department of Transportation to require a drug test as well.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!

Have you or someone you know worked here with a felony? What can you tell us about how to get a job at CRST with a felony? Please tell us what you think about our article. We appreciate your feedback!