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Sage or CREngland?

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by MrStrype, Aug 30, 2011.

  1. Aug 30, 2011 #1
    MrStrype

    MrStrype Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Aug 29, 2011
    Layton, UT
    0
    Hello everyone, first time poster here.
    Long(er) story short(er). Been out of work for quite some time. Married with 2 older sons at home (14 & 17). Workforce Services will be paying for my CDL school. (So school cost isn't an issue). Both schools are very local to my home (20-30 min drive, so location also isn't an issue). The two choices I have been looking at (here in the Salt Lake City, UT area) are either CREngland or Sage trucking school. I've read quite a lot of posts/threads here, and mostly from what I've been reading CREngland is a place to avoid at all costs? And I've read nothing but good things about Sage.
    Still, I haven't read EVERYTHING and so I would like others opinions on which school would be better to go through.
    I have absolutely no experience driving a Big Rig (just so you know).
    Can I get some input from you fine folks about these two schools, and which one would be the better choice? I want to start this career out right and learn from the best I can.

    Thank you in advance.

    ~MrStrype
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2011
    MrStrype, Aug 30, 2011
    MrStrype, Aug 30, 2011
    #1
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  3. Aug 30, 2011 #2
    venne

    venne Light Load Member

    69
    6
    Aug 3, 2011
    Troy Maine
    0
    Take Sage. Do research on here CR has got a very bad rep



     
    venne, Aug 30, 2011
    venne, Aug 30, 2011
    #2
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  4. Aug 30, 2011 #3
    twhit2011

    twhit2011 Bobtail Member

    12
    3
    Aug 29, 2011
    Arkansas
    0
    All the opinions are just that opinions. Go to a truck stop and take a little time to talk to drivers of both carriers. Compare your notes and make asolid decision. BE SURE TO ASK MULTIPLE DRIVERS
     
    twhit2011, Aug 30, 2011
    twhit2011, Aug 30, 2011
    #3
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  5. Aug 30, 2011 #4
    THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

    1,478
    469
    Feb 13, 2011
    Wherever I park
    0
    I've been driving for CRE for a year and don't have any complaints. My advice with CRE is don't do anything you don't want to do. Make a plan and stick with it. The posts on this forum about CRE lying to drivers are full of shenanigans. Most of those posts come from people who don't read contracts and employee manuals before they sign them. CRE gives everything to you in black and white during orientation. If up to you to read the MONSTER stack of paperwork they give you.

    Oh, and the last thing you want to do is ask different drivers, because everyone has something different to say. You will run across those "man, I can't get any miles" drivers that do nothing but complain, but a follow up question of "how many late loads, accidents, refusals, claims, violations do you have" usually shuts them up. And a comment of "Why are you parked here at a terminal or truck stop complaining instead of bugging your DM for a load" irritates them. I average 2600 to 3000 miles a week as a solo company driver.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2011
    THBatMan8, Aug 30, 2011
    THBatMan8, Aug 30, 2011
    #4
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  7. Aug 30, 2011 #5
    pjw044

    pjw044 Heavy Load Member

    886
    279
    Jan 13, 2007
    Northern California-the land of fru
    0
    Research as much as you can, but you will find the ratio of
    negative posts about CRE far outweigh the few positive posts.
    Must be a reason why (where there is smoke,you usually will
    find a fire). My personal dealings with CRE are way to the NEGATIVE side.
    You should pay for your schooling at a PRIVATE school and avoid the "indentured survatude" that goes along with a company such as CRE, Central Refrig, Swift etc
     
    pjw044, Aug 30, 2011
    pjw044, Aug 30, 2011
    #5
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  8. Sep 2, 2011 #6
    MrStrype

    MrStrype Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Aug 29, 2011
    Layton, UT
    0
    venne, twhit2011, THBatMan8, & pjw044, thank you for your replies.

    I do believe I will be going with Sage trucking school. My EC (employment counselor) at WFS (workforce services) has said that he has everything he needs from me to push the case through, and that next week sometime we should have an answer on whether they will pay for the schooling or not...he doesn't foresee a problem.

    That being said, and considering it all goes well, when I start school I plan on starting a thread about it, then afterwards another for whichever company I end up going with. In the time being, I plan on studying to obtain my CDL Learners Permit before school starts. That way I'll just be that much more ahead of things.

    ~MrStrype
     
    MrStrype, Sep 2, 2011
    MrStrype, Sep 2, 2011
    #6
  9. Sep 6, 2011 #7
    mikelynn

    mikelynn Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    May 30, 2011
    Palmdale, Calif
    0
    Funny, I did an online recruitment app with CRE just this morning and already received 2 spam emails about their latest deal for classes beginning next week...
    Rec'd my first CDL two weeks ago and still exploring companies for experience...
    -Mike
     
    mikelynn, Sep 6, 2011
    mikelynn, Sep 6, 2011
    #7
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  10. Sep 9, 2011 #8
    chicadriver

    chicadriver Light Load Member

    180
    11
    May 5, 2008
    0
    Sage is good for a beginner. They'll get your foot in the door of a national company, likely as a 'company driver'.

    I don't know about CRE other than what I read. Seems to me you'll be pressured to lease with them and no beginner with a family should go that route right away.
     
    chicadriver, Sep 9, 2011
    chicadriver, Sep 9, 2011
    #8
    MrStrype and Nycmex77 Thank this.
  11. Sep 11, 2011 #9
    strawberryrhubarbpie

    strawberryrhubarbpie Light Load Member

    191
    57
    Jun 16, 2011
    Ft Myers, FL
    0
    If you go with CRE, then you HAVE to drive for CRE right? With Sage you can have your pick of the starter companies :)

    Getting the permit is easy, just know what chapters to study and go and take the test. If you fail you just go home, study a little more, and take it again (and again, as was the case of my husband haha).
     
    strawberryrhubarbpie, Sep 11, 2011
    strawberryrhubarbpie, Sep 11, 2011
    #9
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