Need Honest Assistance with CR England

How long do you think that would be? Around 2-3yrs.?

 

So it is possible for a newbie, who can't get into any other company right now, to start at CR England and endure the ******** for at least 6 months, without giving in to their lease program, in order to open doors later on in this trucking industry. I hope so because that's where I'm going next week...CR England. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

How long do you think that would be? Around 2-3yrs.?

 

I just hope I don't get screwed by CR England after the 90 days of Phase 1 & Phase 2 training after I tell them that I want no part of their lease program and prefer to be a company driver, working as a team.

 

Sounds like the answer to your question doesn't really matter.
If 100 out of 100 responded with a resounding
NO!
It is NOT possible.

Would it affect your decision to roll the dice?
It's a chancy risk that you've decided to take.
Your drivin' career could begin and end there.

Personally, I want to read your success story,
so I'm rubbin' Buddha's belly for luck.
Considerin' that Buddha is a baddass pit bull,
who doesn't like his belly rubbed by ANYone,
I hope you realize the sacrifice I'm makin' by
doin' that for you.
Don't let me down by walkin' out of CRE before
reachin' your goal.
UnLESS, your report includes deckin' a few of those
brave CRE office types, who hide behind bullet-proof
windows and partitions and metal detectors. :smt075

 

I kinda gave up with this particular series of threads when I started running into the inevitable "I luv CRE" type. Yes, believe it or not they are around and I have absolutely no intention of getting into a silly forum argument with them.
Trust me on the following:-
You will not make any money with CRE,
They will try and pressure you into leasing,
The training is poor,
The training is exorbitantly overpriced (particularly for what you get for your money)
The trainers motivation is to occupy your logbook. (although there are good guys most are trainers because they want to buck their pay up).
The CAT part is to offer assistance to a desperate leaser not to train you.

Solution:-
NUMBER ONE don't give up hope. If you have made your mind up to be a trucker stick to it. There is always a way.
Yes your idea is sound. Refuse a lease truck. Team if you have to but don't lease.
Soon as you feel you have some brownie points LEAVE!
Search around the companies well before you plan going. They will all talk to you even with literally a couple of days under your belt. They will stick you in a computer bank and get back to you at a more appropriate time.
Training time counts towards experienced driver time. So if you waste 3 months goofing around with CRE it still counts as experience (oh boy and what experience!), it wasn't wasted after all.

Lastly and most importantly. You have picked a great time to become a trucker ALL the companies are hurting for drivers right now.
Crete has 600 parked trucks they are trying to fill right now. If they can't get drivers you know you are on the winning side of this particular equation.
Good luck, hope I helped

ps
read what aftershock says also, he is invariably on the money although people on this forum (particularly the inexperienced) want to argue the point.

 

I wanted to add a 2nd post which really has nothing to do with CRE per se but is extremely valid later on.
You have heard CRE get slammed because of their crummy business model but please don't think you are out of the woods once some experience arrives and you split.
There are many, many issues that folks don't take into consideration when they are allowing the honey tongue of a recruiter to massage their ear-hole.
Some examples.
Can I have an inverter?
Can I have a pet?
What is your smoking policy? (a truck is often ruined when a heavy smoker occupies it for any length of time)
How much time off can I have in one go?
What is your vacation time / pay?
Do I have an opportunity to buy the truck in the future.
Will you cancel my medical insurance if I go on vacation (Crete did that to me)
WHAT IS YOUR IDLE POLICY (thats a biggie).

I will stop there but I could continue. If you are a 2 weeks out and back to the missus kinda guy then some of this stuff doesn't apply but if you live in the truck, as I do, then it is ALL valid.
Always make sure you have several thousand $$'s saved up because your 'home' isn't your 'home' it is their truck and they can take it away in a heartbeat. Then you will be one of those guys you see at on ramps by truck stops wearing a basball cap and sitting on a collection of hold alls.
A Swift driver trying to get home (or was that Arrow?)

 

I appreciate your response. And I also appreciate you being staightforward and blunt about this issue. The truth hurts but it also sets you free. You have also provided some helpful advice and it's greatly appreciated. Thank you.