Originally Posted by TexasTruckDude

I've been with CRE since June 2009 to start things off.
I've been driving for 4 years now, and it's been..(for the most part)..fun, rewarding, and sometimes very lucrative.
Here are some observations and experiences for you.
Arrived at the CRE training facility in Cedar Hill TX, and after the 3 day experienced hire orientation, I hitched a ride with another driver to their headquarters in SLC to pick up a truck and team partner.
Make sure all is in order with your documentation when you arrive. Everything will be scrutinized, and you will be sent home for the slightest mistake on your app... if you forgot to put something down or maybe left something out on purpose...that sort of thing.
I know the industry, and I know what freights like in this economy right now, so I declined the lease program and opted to become a company driver.
Pretty painless in SLC. Met my partner who turned out to be a very cool guy, and off we went.
First run was a hot shot to MD. Great miles, had fun.
Pretty good checks for the first couple of weeks, but then the miles became very sporadic and scarce.
We would get these great runs....maybe 2500 miles or so, but given 5 days to get there as a team?
We were getting average solo miles at best.
Be proactive! Trip plan and figure out when you can be there and call your DM and ask for the delivery appointment to be moved up. If it can't, ask if you can drop the trailer somewhere for another driver to take in....it's called a swap. Call the customer. Most pick-up and delivery appointments can be moved up and changed. Was kind of bitter that I was doing customer service work for the company, but it increased our mileage a far amount.
Maintenance at the company shops are shoddy at best, had the same problem with the same truck for almost 2 months. 3 different shops "fixed" the problem to no avail......finally had to reroute...(at our expense)..to a dealer to solve the issue.
You won't get paid for detention, time lost because of breakdowns, or a myriad of other things most companies reimburse you for.
You will sit. We've never sat for more than 24 hours, but I've heard from other drivers that they've sat for days waiting on a load.
Communication between the departments is bad to say the least. You will get 5 messages regarding the same load from 5 different people. I guess they don't talk with each other. Forget getting help after hours or on the weekends..........impossible.
I was told by our DM that company teams have lower priority than lease teams.... thinking company drivers are on the way out eventually and they will go to an all lease fleet. Most lease teams consist of a student driver and a trainer. We can absolutely get a load somewhere much quicker than a team with a student driver as second seat. No offense to you guys, I was a rookie once also, but just a fact.
If company, you will be paired with the first driver your DM can get his hands on......... geographical location doesn't matter. My partner is from Michigan and I live in Texas. He goes home and I run solo until he's back and vice versa. OK fine, but the logistics that go into that can get quite complicated and the odds are you won't get home on the exact days you want.
I know the trucking industry is suffering as a whole right now. Every driver I talk to across the country is hurting, not just us.... freight is down across the board, fuel prices on the rise again. and the driver turn-around is crazy high right now. I'm fairly confident things will change...but how soon? At least I have a job right now, and making something at least.
Leasing.
Every lease driver I run into complains about barely making enough to cover their lease. And quite a few go into the whole weekly. Remember YOU are responsible for expenses related to the trucks operation.
Most have to train to make ends meet because they can get paid team miles with a minimal payout to the student.
Because of the lack of experienced drivers, your trainer will probably not have much more time behind the wheel as you. That can be scary to say the least. Use common sense, take your time no matter what you're doing and check and re-check everything!
I'm lucky. I'm divorced with no children, my only bill is a cell phone and on the road living expenses, and I get a military pension every month. I can afford to do this until I figure out what do with myself post-army. The industry is in a major slump now and new drivers with ANY major carrier are not going to be making much money. I plan on staying for some time longer........ for me it's no big deal. But I do hope to work local again soon.
Listen, I'm not bashing CRE even if it may seem like it. These are just things I've observed during my time with them. The other major carrier I worked for was far from perfect...... but freight was better then and the paychecks made up for it.
The major carriers are pretty much the same across the board, it's just a matter of getting used to their politics and policies.
Do not take any ####!
Be respectful, be polite........but be firm. A new driver will be forced to to do things an experienced driver would never stand for. Your safety, your partners safety, and the safety of the 4-wheelers around you are YOUR responsibility. Don't drive tired even if the loads due asap. Don't cut any corners or do anything that you feel is unsafe. Your butt is on the line and nobody else's.
Hope this helps.