C.R. England and Sons, Inc. - West Valley, Ut.

I have been driving tractor trailers since 1980, with a few breaks in between, and I have never seen anything like this.

The Facts:

1. The turnover rate is 'kept' at 205% (quoted to me by a fleet manager with over 25 yrs with the company). Kept is the important issue, it appears that if the rate is at or below 205% for the month they could care less if you quit or they fire you.

2. If you have a major accident (rollover, left the highway) in most cases you will be fired 'on-the-spot' and will have to find your own way home. Just ask the drivers about the woman driver in Colorado who rolled her truck and was sitting in the Flying 'J' after she was released from the hospital.

3. You (drivers only) will be forced to go through metal detectors, and empty your pockets, that are monitered by 'armed' guards if you want to see any of the office personnel at West Valley, Utah. Get a hint of the relationship between management and the drivers?

4. They will leave you for days (I had to sit idle for 4 days for a five hour repair) at the Freightliner dealerships should your rig breakdown. They refuse to allow any other shop or dealership work on their equipment even if it's not a warranty issue.

5. Watch the contract language! They outright lie in the school classes.

6. 75% of the school students are either on welfare, homeless, unemployment, state disability, or they have been released from prison in the last 6 months, (I met three guys who had just done over 5 years hard time). Granted, people that are trying to change their lives SHOULD be given a chance to do so but, over 60% of the 75% could care less.

7. All drivers will be lease operators by the end of this year. I know 2 long term lease operators at C.R. England well. Beware! If you can't keep your speed down to 60, and you can't be away from home 4 weeks or more you will go broke as a lease operator since your weekly payment is $650 plu everything else, for the first year...Pride is $750 a week.

8. Watch C.R. England's DOT rating! In 2003 the pre-passes wouldn't work in any state anywhere since their DOT rating was so low.

Now for reality, if you can't get a job, or CDL anywhere else, then go to C.R. England and put up with it for at least a year then make your move.