CR England - The real story

Hey There...

Wow, I have been busy these last few days... Thanks Ronin, I will be careful, and I do agree there are good men and bad men in any industry, I will also take it a step further and say there are also some women who do not work or act in a professional manner and add to the mix.

So, as I said I have been busy, I have been talking to all sorts of companies and all. So, here is where I am at... I am fortunate that I could actually afford to go to a private school. What I like about the private school here, is that I will learn and train on automatics, 10,13 and 18 speeds. I also get to learn dry, reefer and flatbed, as well as get all my endorsements including Haz-Mat.

I have already talked to a couple of companies here and the prospects look good. So, I have decided to go to a private school to get my CDL, I start class Monday. After really researching it, it is actually going to cost me less to go to a private school, than attend a company sponsored school. For 1, no added housing costs for me. 2.Several companies offer tuition reimbursement, but what you really need to look at is the pay. With going through CRE or Central you are looking at getting maybe .19 cpm, and with three of the companies i am looking at now, I will be making twice that. 3. The schools offer financing with a much better interest rate.

The schools have job placement with several companies who come to the school and talk with you. In fact, I haven't even started yet or paid a dime and they put me in touch with a couple companies already. For me, I really wanted to get started right away, but I did check into WIA (Work Force in Action) it is a government agency that will pay for your schooling if you qualify It takes a few weeks, and I just didn't want to wait, plus I could afford school so I doubt i would qualify. But seems like a good program for those who can't afford school on their own, it just takes longer.

Well, I am excited to start school Monday... I have also been tossing around the idea of driving a flatbed... I know it is more physically demanding, with securing and tarping your loads in all weather conditions, from heat, to cold and wind... but I am actually drawn to that. I have heard that the economy has been tough on flatbeds, one of the companies I talked to said they felt it, but they were still able to to give their drivers around 2300 to 2500 miles a week, but the drivers did have to deadhead more.

I just can't wait... Oh by the way Ronin, I have two older brothers and three male cousins, I was the youngest and only girl, so I have always been a tomboy... but, I also got the low down and watch myself training... Every girl needs a brother or two... ; )

Thanks, Take Care...
Bren<<<<< soon to be trucking yippie

 

Onetruckerwife, thank you. That's the kind of stuff I like to hear. A friend of mine who's a freight broker had turned me on to CRE, said they were a decent company.

Brenyoda, I looked into the WIA program also only because if they're bailing out all the crooks, why not some of us normal folks. I haven't worked much in my industry since May & the thought of hanging out for another 4 -6 weeks to get thru the paperwork end of that deal didn't appeal to me. Thank the Lord for plastic

Capnsean, good luck at school in Cal, see you on the blacktop.

Be safe!

 

Sounds like a great school, and sounds like you have your head glued on straight. Good luck, keep in touch, feel free to IM at valleyautomotive on Yahoo.

 

I appreciate the luck! I've heard horror stories, in fact, I think I read them on here. What I've heard is that "X" amount of students come in, only about 1/2 or less of "X" make it through. I was reading through the CDL handbook for CA and it doesn't seem the least bit hard. So, where are students failing? I mean, they have up to four times to take the written test! What's going on?

Thanks again, LFoDT!
Bren, good luck as well!

 

Coming from outside the trucking industry several years ago (career military, then retail), understand you're dealing with folks who primary learn by doing, and unlike more technical folks (IT guys), don't test as well in written exams, but usually outshine the techno-geeks in practical exams, like driving tests.

Also, you're dealing with folks who (a) know the information well, but freeze up when testing (b) think they know the info, but didn't study, and reaize they can't BS a test, or (c) stupid people.

Every industry has their share of all three of those groups...

 

I know we had some trouble getting a Phase 2 this last time primarily because Aaron at the Dallas school said they were using those folks to move trailerd from the Pilgrams Pride location in Arkansas to SLC. Don't let them tell you know, push the issue. If you are in the area of one of the schools, stop in and make them tell you face to face there's no one available. DO NOT take no for an answer without an explanation you are happy with.

Another thing, since they have decreased out pay through the new contract agreement - force the issue even more. They specifically stated the reason for the rate decrease was to be more competitive in load bids. You are making yourself available to run longer roads by paying to train their new employees, make them give you a Phase 2 and use their own words to make sure you are getting the miles too.

Good luck.

 

To be more competitive in load bids, that kills me....no disrespect to you, ma'am, whatsoever, my disrespect is aimed at whover sold you that bill of goods.

With charging lease operators more than $600 per month for insurance than Progressive charges...for a self-insured company, plus approx $3000 per month in variable mileage allowances, while getting all of the tax advantages of depreciating the equipment, and not passing that benefit on to lease drivers...it's no wonder than the trucking news appointed CR England the 25th most profitable trucking company in the nation, despite being the 180th smallest...

All 6 of the people I was keeping in touch with from England left the company over the pay decrease, including 4 teams who had gotten new trucks.

Now that I'm a broker...I can see just how much money CRE is making compared to other companies without a "we rape 'em" lease program, and its obscene.

 

Hey There...

Ronin I owe you a big and sincere thank you! It was your response that encouraged me to take a step back and make sure I was making the best choice for my start in this career.
CREngland was the first to call and get met set up for school, and have me drive 15 hours away from home with no real assurance that I would have a job. Then I looked at Central and the school was also in Utah and no real assurances either.
So I checked out a prvate school here, they first had me get my DMV records for $3.00, after that passed, they had me get a Dot Physical and Drug Test which cost $88.00, then they had me talk to a few of the Trucking Companies that hire and finish training inexperienced drivers from their school as sort of a preliminary interview, a couple are interested in hiring me if all goes well at school and I do well. Now all of this was before I paid anything to the school or signed any contract. So now I start School on Monday knowing I have passed my DOT physical, drug screen, DMV check and have a couple of companies that I can go to work for.
I also got to tour the school, get in and check out the equipment, they teach and train you on automatics, 10, super 10 and 13 speed transmissions. Most off class is during the day, but they do also take you out at night a couple of times. I was able to talk to some current students and a few past graduates. The classes are small, so you get pretty much one on one training. In the current class, which they consider a large class there are 9 students, my class on Monday will have 6, 3 will do class time in the morning and field in the afternoon, the other 3 will do field in the morning and class in the afternoon.

I mention all this, because Ronin is right, we only get one first start in this industry, so we owe it to ourself to get the best training we can and give ourselves the best opportunity for not only success but fulfillment in our new careers.

Climbing into that big beautiful rig and sitting in the drivers seat was awesome, I even got to pull open the hood and check out the engine, got to climb onto a flatbed, lift the rolled tarp,it was heavy but I did it, I even got to throw a strap and chain over a load and get a feel for the work involved, I loved it. I am so excited to start school Monday, I will keep you posted.

Again, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Take Care
Bren

 

Absolutely, no problem. Keep your head about you, don't buy into everything you're told (other than facts about trucks and driving). And remember, there are a lot of drivers out there that if they don't hear a rumor or BS story by 9 am each day, they start their own.

 

By the way, Bren, what are Central's company and lease trucks governed at?