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Starting trucking at CR ENGLAND

by Jessica
(Tucson, Arizona)

Hello all. Well I am reporting from the house. My Husband (love of my life) left Saturday to go to CR England by bus. Don't get me started on how bad Greyhound is! Can you even believe they are still in business.

First let tme say he is arriving with his CDL license already he went to school to get it serveral years back but has not been able to use it seems everyone wants 1 year experience. So that is why we thought maybe cr england was an option.

Well he finally arrived in Hammond IN and realized all the people on the bus with him were going to CR England too. HMM> No one had had any sleep and no food thinking they are heading to get a physical and drug test and then to the hotel for bed until Monday morning. The shuttle took them to a rat hole hotel with a strip club in it. made them wait for 2 hours for another bus to take them to cr engalnd for the drug and physical test. Oh by the way if you get caught in the stip club you are gone. Once he got to the location for the physical and drug test he got past that after waiting all day no food no sleep. He said they had trouble getting his blood preassure because he had not eaten or slept in a long time. After that they were giving people ROAD TESTS. No one had had any food or sleep all night from riding the bus and they were having these guys do a road test. Good thing he says they sent him back to the hotel they didn't get to him. They would do his road test thursday he was told. Thank god. well i talked to him a few minutes last night and found out all this. he said he had to be in the lobby to get on a bus to go to cr england at 6:15 am to have 3 days of class. sounds like HR stuff and england orientation. I havn't heard from him yet today and his cell phone is off. so hopefully i will hear from him tonight.I don't know i have an escape plan for him if he gives up but last i talked to him he had high hopes. so we will see. Would love to hear your comments

Comments for Starting trucking at CR ENGLAND

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Mar 08, 2018
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An Honest CR England Review NEW
by: Anonymous

If you need your CDL and have no way to pay for it, CR England is a decent alternative. Just realize you will be married to them for one year, and the first 6 months worth of pay is starvation wages, the next 6 months are not much better. You will start out on a trainers truck, and in the four years I worked there AS a trainer, I noticed a definite degeneration in the quality of the trainers. This is because at a mere 6 months with the company, ANYONE can become a trainer. So, for instance, if you come aboard in the spring, and decide to become a trainer at 6 months, your very first winter driving experiences is training new drivers in winter conditions, up and over mountains, that you yourself have zero experience doing. This, in my judgement, is lunacy. But it's the only way to make any money right out of the gate.

This is a mega carrier. Huge. As such, you can get lost in the shuffle very easily. The driver managers are decent, but anyone above them, good luck. They have built a system where, the system itself, is very effective at micro managing EVERY. SINGLE. ASPECT. of your job. The freedom of trucking in not having a boss sitting on your shoulders micro managing you all day. Well, not at CR England. You go a couple miles over the governed speed limit of 62, they WILL be calling you, and are not very nice to deal with. They say it's for safety. Don't let them fool you.
Going 62 on a highway that has an 80mph speed limit is unsafe. It's all about the money in fuel. They will call you if you idle your truck to long, (which is a trick in itself, considering the truck automatically shuts itself off after a couple of minutes), so if you're parked, want to use electricity to watch some tv or play a video game...good luck with that. After 5 minutes your auxiliary plug ins shut down so that you don't drain the battery.

You WILL run teams. Very few get to be solo, and not for very long. They will starve you into it.

The trucks themselves are nice trucks. They keep them very well maintained, in my opinion. There is a little bit longer wait while your truck is getting worked on than I'd like, but not to terribly bad.

If you need a trailer, finding one is a HUGE hassle. I've spent over a whole day on many, many occasions on a scavenger hunt driving to multiple shippers and receivers just to find one. And, no, they do not pay you for that. They have a "trailer hotline." No, it does not work.

There are many other nuances that I could go on about. But this review is a bit long in the tooth already. So, in closing, come to CR England if you need an out of pocket CDL, and run just as fast as you can as soon as your obligation is up. If you leave beforehand, they will hound you, threaten you, and turn you over to a collection agency. A lot of companies that have hired drivers in the past from CRE who left early won't touch you because CRE had made their lives difficult. Because, oh yeah, in the fine print of the contract they make you sign on day one is a none compete agreement. Drive for CRE and only CRE until you reach your year obligation, or pay them back the $6000+ and "free" your CDL.

May 06, 2016
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CR England Is Not For Black People!! NEW
by: Anonymous

This guy is 100% right, I haven't smoked weed in over a year and after a week in school, I had just made it back from the DMV they called me to the office staying they sent my test to the lab and I had THC in my system. That's not possible! I'm black, one of the 3 in my class and every black person that passed the DMV tests and had made it to the truck training part of the course CRE trainers had failed them for one reason or another. Ceder Hills TX CRE school is not for black people, they will get you out of there by any means. (If You Are Black I Wouldn't Recommend This Company!!) After telling them that's not right, they told me to get om stuff out of their room and they were shock because I drive from Fort Worth were I have a house. If you are from another state with no funds other then your $70 or $100 for your CDL's you are F*cked because CRE Trainer Will Stop You!! I only seen old white men get the job, no one young of color male or female.

May 06, 2016
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Mar 16, 2016
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very afraid NEW
by: Anonymous

my husband is set to leave ut for his bus ride on the 18th and ive never been more afraid i have read so many reviews some are good but almost all are bad we have 3 children and the smallest being 8 it will not be easy at all, i am still trying to find him some sort of job that does not require otr but it seems that s all there is left. i see most all of the reviews say there is little to no home time and i really do not like that part at all. he is suppose to be doing a driver trainer position and the recruiter is saying all this good stuff but im now second guessing it all. i dont want him to have a job that has no for sure home time, because when he was in the oil field he has missed so much of our girls lives we also have or middle child in which struggles with epilepsy and my fear is something will happen while he is gone and he wont be here and he will never forgive him self. another fear is he will have another heart attack, he is 31 and had his first at 28 oh my gosh im so afraid that he will be gone and stress will over come him and something will happen, some one please help me what do i do......

Feb 11, 2016
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HELP!!!!!!! NEW
by: Anonymous

I already have my cdl class A I'm heading to burns harbour in. Saturday I dam near readed all the reviews and haven't really seen anything positive about cr England should I take this risk or stay home someone please answer me IM AFRAID👂👂👂👂👂👂

Apr 03, 2015
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Total Nightmare NEW
by: Anonymous

My husband has been with CR England since the Middle of January and has only been allowed to come home once to stay for only 2 days. He went through a very similar scenario as your husband did. He has now been stranded in a different state 2k miles away from home for the last 2 weeks. He doesn't know what the hold up is for. He has completed phase one and passed the tests already. We likewise were hopeful that all the horror stories we had read online were a tad bit of an exaggeration but have sadly realized that it's all unfortunately true. I don't know how it's even possible for a company to get away with everything that they have their drivers go through. Out of the whole time he has been gone, now a full 3 months, he has only made 4 checks, 2 at $450 and 2 at $250. CR England has not given him any loads as a driver for them nor partner him with anyone since completing phase one. I hate this company and wish I knew how to get him out of the situation we have desperately put ourselves into.

Apr 03, 2015
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Jul 30, 2014
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CRE bound soon NEW
by: Anonymous

I am currently attending 160 Driving Academy and will be getting my cdl A Friday! Can someone be completely honest and tell me what exactly happens when you get to Burns Harbor and what hotel you stay in?

Thankyou

Jul 09, 2014
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I'm not sure about CR England NEW
by: Anonymous

Your story sound so much like mine. My boyfriend left Saturday & he was on the phone with me most of the way there on greyhound but when he said he will call me on sunday night after he gets some rest because he was in Chicago and was on the shuttle to the hotel. I didn't talk to him for the rest of the night I was worried and didn't know what to think until he called me Monday night around 10 I was excited to hear his voice but wasn't so happy that his original arrangements wasn't put to plan. They put him in a different hotel that was sloppy and he didn't get any sleep. He had to go because he was on someone else phone because his is off.but he seems to be excited about the program, they told him that he will be getting his permit today and will be on the road Thursday. But I haven't heard from him and I wish he calls. I believe there program is a scam but if he likes it I'm being supportive

Jul 09, 2014
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Jul 05, 2014
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f#ck cr England NEW
by: Anonymous

I've been working here 1 year 6 mo. I've seen iit all .I make 27 cent mile get a about 1500 to 2000 miles I work 70 hrs a week I make about $3.00 a hr less minimum wage one more thing all leasing is a scam health insurance is a scam $46. A week vision and dental owner cr England but your never use it because they will let you of on week days. PA cr has 5 school's 60 students every week 250 students a week you are made to training your replacement diver are a dime a dozen but if you been in the military you can get a good job paying

Jul 05, 2014
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Apr 19, 2014
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Not that bad NEW
by: Anonymous

I just received my cdl through cr England and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Yeah the hotel was rough but I've been I've been in worse places. The strip club is not in the hotel it's next door. Here's an easy solution just don't go. Everyone had their opinion and they are entitled to it. But step back and look at the whole thing instead of judging bad by a few bad things.

Mar 22, 2014
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looking for answers NEW
by: Anonymous

what type of test do they do in fontana? is it urine?

Jan 03, 2014
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question NEW
by: Anonymous

What kind of drug test do they do I have used weed recently this job just kind of snuck up on me don't plan to use anymore just hoping they don't do a hair test anyone know

Feb 27, 2013
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CR England School NEW
by: Anonymous

I'm heading to Salt Lake on the 1st of April and I'm not worried about what anyone has to say about a company because everyone has a different take hows things should be in the world, the only thing I am worried about is passing the drug test because my doctor put me on medical marijuana for about 2 weeks and by the time I get to Salt Lake it will only 4 weeks since I used the THC oil stuff my doctor has me get.

Feb 02, 2013
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going NEW
by: Anonymous

Hello to all I'm heading out in the morning, wondering what other shity info I can hear, is this shit all true? What the fuck did I get myself into.

Nov 22, 2012
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WoW NEW
by: Crystal Trenton

Hi, you guys my name is crystal trenton my husband left for school on the 22nd of september and he is now entering phase 2 thank goodness i miss him so much like really bad even tho i go down there and see him every 2 weeks but yo for realz this is the first time we have been apart we are newly weds so i totally understand what u guys mean aboutthe grey hound ride it totallly suked for my husband but im thankful for crengland they have a great staff and well some of them seem to care about there employess his recruiter Crystal was outstanding i just wish they had something for the wifeys like freem room once every 2 weeks just so u can see your hisband this last time i went almost a month without seeing my baby i thinking strongly about starting up a group truckers wifes lol to support the husband cause i know my papi is the best man in the world :) and i am glad he doing this for us trust me chicas i see how it affects my husband being away from me were not the only ones going through the missing u changes lol keep strong remember the reasons u made this choice keep encourageing him and when you do get a chance to talk to him and he seems pissed of brush it off with a simple baby i love you and u can do this

Nov 22, 2012
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Jun 01, 2012
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Getting ready to do it again NEW
by: Sonoma

Back in 1997 i went to C.R. England driver training course, they just had completed building the the driver rooms,restaurant,the class rooms,movie rooms the whole works, it was nice hell some of us had to stay in moble trailers before the builing was done,a few of us started to hang togeter, we started to give nick name to each other, i was Sonoma cause i was from Sonoma CA,another dude was Montana HE WAS FROM Montana,ther was Cali short for California, and Reno he was from Navada,and can forget "Serial" short for "Serial Killer" he just looked mean like a Serial Killer but he was the coolest dude, i remember just about the whole class went into town to some country bar/club and got drunk it was a good time the next day we had to take driving tests a couple people got kicked out, hell you could have smell the alcohol on there breathe what a dumb ass all of our freinds was ok we didnt get busted, well all graduated and went our separat ways i hope those guys are doing well as for me a got married became a owner operator did very well and my wife screwed me big lost everything and know here i am doing it all over again, peace out from Sonoma.

Jul 26, 2011
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England
by: Chris

CRE owns the strip club, the motel, everything....its the biggest scam i have ever seen, the other motel where the sc's go is even worse, hookers walking the halls trying to make money..drugs being sold in the back hallway...so bad police officers have a 11pm to 5am detail everynight

Cre is only looking for the people who will follow their 47 rules, and if u break one they send u home...i would compare them to walmart...

They are hiring people who havent even drove a car and burgerflippers to drive an 18 wheeler and kill your family. no wonder their safety record includes 42 rollovers in the year 2011....thats public record by the way

Only good point i had from my burns harbor indiana experience was my admin was pretty to look at and the instructors and trainers were great, as long as u paid attention and could drive...

Aug 22, 2010
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CR England
by: RCG

I leave for CRE training in a week. Salt lake city.. I keep hearing all of the rumors about them. I hope I dont have to write the same. Wish me luck..!

May 27, 2010
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Bad Experience
by: a truckers wife

this all sounds so familiar, except mine was central refrigerated. they treat you like shit.the bus ride with greyhound,it all is the same story.My husband just needed refresher course being he has his cdl, he just thought he needed the extra knowledge. He gets down there, we live in montana, and goes through all the things you do. Passes drug, background, and driving background, passed it all. They get you in a room with the interviewer which i know that they have to do this, but he treated him like total crap! We by any means are not hillbillies or anything like that, just regular people who owned a business and, at 45 years old didnt think he would ever have to go on the road again. The guy started asking him all about himself, about his business etc and for some unknow reason he folded his papers and said we are done here, escorted him out of the building and that was that! When he called me i just could not beleive it i still cant. Why? what did he do or say?From the forms he brought home they have some pretty strict rules especially if you are husband and wife team.Long story short he has gone to work for jones bros. and they are wonderful!!!

Nov 21, 2009
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well thats how it is
by: Anonymous

1st let me tell you if you have a cdlA and you donr use it for more then 3months then you have to take a class and its for insurance thats what that is now you pay 500. then you get it back now he can do that or stay at home why didnt they sent him to salt lake city of mira loma CA always ask questions 1st then talk >>>>..

Nov 19, 2009
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Jessica's hubby having fun.
by: Jimmy

Hi Jessica, yeah your hubby is doing the orientation thing. Sounds familiar. There could be as many as 50 in his class. Wonder why he went to In. instead of Ut. He'll laugh about this in future years. And you and him will truly wonder sometimes why in the world he thought trucking was a good idea. In fact, he may decide it's not for him and quit. If he does, just welcome him home and move on with your lives. Good luck...Jimmy

Nov 18, 2009
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Sounds pretty typical
by: Robin

My husband went to Swift - he had 3 days of orientation at the terminal closest to us, including physical and road test- even though he already had his CDL. After that he had 45 days with a mentor and NO time at home (that's over 6 weeks). Werner is very comparable as well. That's the deal - take it or leave it, I guess! In order for these guys to get hired they have to jump through hoops. I found out there are very few companies that will take drivers with less than 6 months experience - some need as much as 2 years! You have to remember, these companies are taking HUGE risks with their equipment and freight - they have to be SURE they are hiring people that will stick with it and do a good job. Truck driving has a reputation for attracting people that may not necessarily do a great job, not realizing how hard it is. I hope this helps!

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