C.R. England, my experience

I'm thankful and hopeful that I made the right choice today, based on this post of yours Dave.

I was scheduled to go to Burns Harbor today, I had set it up pretty quickly when I was gotten ahold of by the recruiter... but things he said and stuff I read on their site didn't add up exactly, so I remembered saving this forum link when I had come across it while job shopping... and I saw your post about C.R. England.

I printed it up and left it for my wife to read in the morning. She woke me up and told me to stay asleep, that I'm not going to go to C.R. England.

I had reservations when things didn't add up, and couldn't get back in touch with the recruiter with some questions I had, even though I tried to call him back within minutes of having just hung up with him...even leaving a message that I had a question and could he please call back.

My wife and I were impressed with the straight-forward detailed and calm way with which you wrote your missive. We couldn't help but give you credibility, because some of the things you wrote, were already happening. Like you say in your post, you were willing to give it a try. I was going to give it a try and drive there to see if I would start to experience the same things you had. My wife said no not to waste gas and time.. it was pretty evident that from your post and my original misgivings about the 'communication' issue I was already having with the recruiter, and the differences in what he said and what I read on their site, that maybe my intuition about this employer might be right.

Well, just to be polite I called to talk to someone at the school to say I wouldn't be coming. No one there, just voice mail.

So I called the motel to see if someone, like the doctor you mentioned, was there. They kind of laughed, said no one was there and the school was closed. I asked if the things I read about in the forum on the internet was true about this company and they kind of chuckled.

So even though I may need to get a job, the hopeful part, I'm glad I printed your post for my wife to read so she would see what I was seeing as mounting evidence as to why I may not want to go, the thankful part.

I wish all the messages I see about companies on here were as well written and documented as what you did. It would make someone's application efforts to 'legit' companies much more productive, and we could avoid the time and money wasters.

Thanks again for the excellently written report and to these forums.

 

Hello, I got my CDL back in November. The recruiters came into the class and gave there little speechs and made things sound real good. I tried to go with swift because it was right up the road from me. I took the driving test and did fine with that. The next step was their stupid physical agility test, which I failed one part of. Lifting 50lb weights in a box over my head. Did it one time and needed to do it two more which I could'nt do. I am glad that happened because of everything I have read about them. I still haven't found the right company. I think I find the right one and then read all the bad things about them on this site. I am glad the site is here. Someone please tell me what are the good company's out there. Do they all screw the drivers?? Thanks By the way I am out of the central Florida area.

 

nationwide southeast .... google them.. they have terminals nationwide they are hiring, you need 2 yrs exp...

 

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They claim they don't like working 9-5 and prefer working 9-11 even if they stopped getting paid at 8?


When I first went to school to drive a truck. Gene England came to the school in WA in a brand new freightliner conventional (many company's were using cabovers) and talked up his company CRE and got all but me and a husband and wife team to come work for him. The other 2 went to Pride trucking to run teams and I went to KLLM because they paid a penny more per mile and I'm not one to run with the herd.
In those days there was no Internet boards to find out which company sucked and which did not and I did not know anything except I was poor and wanted money to buy a house.

With the info that is out there I do not know why any experienced driver would ever want to work for a OTR refer outfit ,let alone CRE.

The only issue I had with the OP's post was that when I ran refers I made sure I had a trailer wash setup before I went to a rural area to PU a load unless it was to KRAFT which wanted you to go to get one even if you just had it done so they could make a buck.

Another thing I practiced when I had Home time was no communication with the company on my time off. I would have a PTA set and was MIA till that PTA and not a minute earlier. If the company is calling you on your time off, it can't be good for you.

 

Not to get off topic about CRE, but you only have to lift the 50 above your head for flatbed, so that means you would have still qualified for dry van. You also do not do the physical after the driving test but before, and if you do not pass the physical you do not even get near a truck. You go through orientation first which is a couple days.

With that said it makes me question the validity of your post.

I am not endorsing Swift by any means. I may be just starting out with them but I am no expert on the company. I just question posts that do not seem to add up.

As for this post, I think I will keep it bookmarked and eventually print it out with the website on the post, as to get others to this site. I did read about experiences with different companies and know Swift doesn't have a good rep, but they approved me for their school and I now have my CDL. So if things go south, I'm heading north! (Getting the heck out of dodge and finding another company).

I agree that it was well written and you kept a cool head about you. Thank you for sharing your experience and I only hope that others do not find out the hard way. I almost did and glad I am at least where I am now, even if it isn't the best. I'll get there some day.

 

If you do not mind sharing, what company do you work for? I am sure by the sounds of it that experience is required, but a goal is good for anyone wishing to get somewhere other than where they are now.

 

I wonder how CRE stays in business if there that screwed up?

 

Dave sounds like maybe you should have stayed at the "Green" job!!!

 

with newbees that know no better.

 

They dont tell their customers "yup we will abuse more of our drivers just to deliver your load".

I almost wish that customers were notified what the turn over rate is of their drivers. Then see whom gets the contract for freight.