CR England No Respect; Going OO.

Just before Christmas I, against my better judgment, signed off on a guy ("Brad"). He met the bare minimum to pass, but he didn't handle being corrected and had very little self awareness. In the two months he's been driving he has shown little growth - his backing is still marginal and he relies on the gps. When a dock worker (an overworked man whom I've always found to be polite and helpful, it a bit taciturn) told Brad he wasn't centered in the dock (square left to right, but at an angle so the dock lock couldn't engage), Brad got snippy with the dock worker. When he got back to the yard, Brad complained about the customer being 'jerks'. Brad also thinks out yard jockeys are 'disrespectful' to him because they have (on multiple occasions) talked to him about sliding/locking his tandems and once made him recouple and slide his tandems back. Friday was Brad's last day - he is going to work for an intermodal company where "they respect drivers". I told Brad "if everywhere you go, you run into 'jerks' who 'disrespect you', maybe it's not everyone else who is the problem - maybe it's you. If you think our yard guys are 'disrespectful', just wait until you spend some time in the rail yards", before wishing him luck and walking away.

I'll say the same thing to you - you probably had legitimate gripes with CR England, but the way a person goes about seeking resoultion has a huge impact in how things play out. If you truly want to own a truck, there are times you'll need to be the bigger man. You'll need a thick skin and be able to roll with the punches. Getting irritated by not gettting instanteous repsonses and then lashing out at a little snark is an indication that you will struggle dealing with brokers/agents/customers.

Added to the fact you have less than 3 months experience with a bottom of the barrel company I don't think you are anywhere close to being ready to pull the trigger on a truck purchase.

 

You need to be on your own, the brokers will treat you with the upmost respect and you’ll never have a pay dispute.

 

$150K is more than enough. Much better than taking a second mortgage on house to do that but If indeed, 3 months experience is all he's got...then no way that's a good idea.

Besides:
1. If my grandpa left me 150K. I would not piss it away on a truck with one puff. I'd feel an overwhelming pressure not to fail with that money and succeeding here is never guaranteed.

2. The becoming of o/o is exactly becoming - time taking process. Not buying into it with a load of cash.
The very idea of allocating most of it in a truck purchase without leaving enough of it for reserves is an indication of having no clue.

 

I don't know if I've ever ran into anyone with a good experience from C.R. England.
That said, in my opinion, I think you should get much more experience before you invest in your own truck. Of course, it doesn't have to be with your current company. Chances are you can get on somewhere else. I'm a Swiftie and I'm happy with them. It hasn't been perfect, no company is, but I haven't been lied to and I've been treated well and respectfully. Not sure all Swifties have had as good an experience with them as I have had. But, I have no intention of moving on (I started at the Swift Academy, had a mentor and been solo for around 17ish months now).
When I first started this grand adventure, I thought I'd gain experience and go the owner op route. However, after being out here for awhile I've come to realize I'd rather be an company driver and not have to contend with the added complexity and hassles as an owner/op. Naturally, others have different views on all that. But, my opinion is you should probably get more than just a couple months experience before you make such a leap. Stick the money in a CD or similar, let it accrue a bit and when you hit 2 years experience, make your decision and move then. Two years is a general target based off insurance issues. Gonna be alot cheaper on insurance after 2 years.
Regardless of what you decide, good luck and I wish you the best.

 

90 days
Every New Guy Leaves After Ninety Day’s

 

####, has 150k and is going to spend 130 on a truck.. what trailer are you going to haul.. air?
Out of respect to your grandfather.. DONT

 

On the right we have the new recruit, just out of the classroom, on the left, his trainer and senior man at C.R. England with not only 91 days with the company, but also 91 days behind the wheel.

 

I would buy a house cash. Or pay off your house if you have one. If houses cost more move to an area you can pay cash for a house. Better investment then a depreciating truck. There are good trucking companies out there that make good wages. Do your time then move on. Being debt free will probably make you more wealthy faster then a truck. Buying a truck is like the stock market. Can make you or it can sink you.

Can never go wrong with real estate. Yes houses tanked in 08 but now everything has bounced back or even tripled. Real estate always bounces back.