New to the site so some background is due.
My name is Scott. I am originaly from New Orleans. GEAUX SAINTS!
I am about 28 days from separating from the US Air Force after almost 9 years of active duty service. Right now I am stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. I have a wife of over 8 years and a 1 year old son.
I understand and have read most of the anit-CRE threads and post. What I am looking for is a honest, straight forward answer about the school. I don't have the time to get a CDL and then try to find work as a new/unexperianced driver. I need to get into a training school that has hired work after completion.
After searching and reading, I see a lot of people are unhappy with them, but what I don't see is very much constructive feed back about what better options are out there.
Are there other CDL training schools for trucking companies that hire their students after completion?
Thank you for your time and assistance. It is greatly appreciated.
PS: Love the site!
CRE for training/segway.
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Meaux Jeaux, Sep 10, 2010.
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
-
-
-
CR England's school is actually a pretty good one. The school itself that is. What you'll want to consider is what happens AFTER you get your CDL... There's any number of schools out there that work with a company, but a well known redflag in the industry is when a company has it's OWN school. Such arraingements usually mean that you'll be on contract for a certain amount of time.
Or have the choice of paying nearly double what a private school would have charged. It's modern day indentured servitude... Some places take more advantage of that than others, but they ALL have motives besides your livleihood for putting that bait out. .. My advice: Pick a company that will 'prehire' you through a school. Swift is one, there are others.
On Job Training
It's standard (and for good reason) for a newly minted CDL holder to complete an O.J.T. phase with a driver trainer. It's a necessary step because there's a huge amount yet to learn. What I'd do is find out what a company requires of it's OTR driver-trainers. Anything less than a year is a huge flag. You'll want a trainer that's actually DRIVEN through all seasons. CR England is notorious for having bad trainers. Why? (I can vouch) They're going to more and more lease drivers... Their lease programs are filthy dirty and the Independent guy is gonna be desperate for miles and $. That's not a constructive motive for a teacher. Rule of thumb: The higher the qualifications a company requires for trainers the better.
Post training:
A driver's first year is a seasoning phase. MOST companies will treat a newbie pretty lousy during this time. Why? There are so many people who get into trucking... and then get OUT just as fast when they realize what the job's really about. MOST bottom feeders will have lots of horror stories, so it's a process of seeking out the non-emotion based gripes. My rule of thumb: If they pay $25.cpm but dish out $50.cpm worth of B.S... It's a bad choice.
----------------------------------
Hope my input helps! I would honestly steer clear of CR England though. If for no other reason, ask yourself: "Am I going to be happy stuck in a truck with another driver?" CR England's ONLY solo drivers are lease operators. If you graduate, hire, and roll as a company driver...You'll be paired with another newbie.
Some suggestions for alternative choices: Willis Shaw, Watkins and Shepherd, DeBoer, and ? I'm sure others can offer possible decent startup places. Good luck~!ac120 and Meaux Jeaux Thank this. -
-
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
