My CR England Experience and Advice for New Truck Drivers
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- Опубликовано: 7 июн 2024
- I made a video on another channerl about 2 and a half years ago talking about my time at CR England and what it has lead to. This is my 5 year update.
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Nothing more cozy than driving through the night listening to Coast to Coast on AM radio.
Best show ever!
Thank You Big Mike
I’m actually looking at a lot of videos
Your video is the first one and it did help
See you on the road
Hey Mike! Just wanted to let you know you really helped me decide that I wanted to get my truck license.Thanks for the honestly man, keep it up
Thanks for this help me a lot 🥰 please continue safe travels
Your closing remarks are gold for all beginners.
This is not just a job, but rather a lifestyle- slim chance of getting rich & famous.
With a mindset like that yes, through CR England you will never be rich. You will be broke, and never get to go home.
Great video man. Very informative. Enjoyed your personal touch. Stay safe.
Thanks. I hope it helped you.
Thanks for the honesty man.
Absolutely.
wow nice job, nice video bud, keep making great videos
Thanks brother !!!! Very informative
Glad it helped. Stay safe.
Congratulations on being over 1000 subs bro ! Awesome!
Thanks for the information. Very helpful.
Glad I could help.
Thanks! I've been thinking about CR England. I think I might just go there!
Oh good most old time truckers will tell u to float I did when I did test drives too at the Colton yard and could still tell if it had a bad clutch good luck in driving sir
Big help I’m gonna start training Monday for England much appreciated !
Dont do it, you've been warned
So happy never went to CRE even though considering and communicating with them. Got my CDL class A with all possible endorsements but ended up driving a bus for SRTD in Sacramento , CA , and it was gorgeous...already retired ( after only 13 years in service and enjoying my freedom and money....😊
TYSVM I am researching driving big truck APPRECIATE your info
thanks boss i start dec 17th very helpful and honest god bless. truck hard and be safe catfish da blackneck ill stay in touchuch
No problem brother. Good luck with your classes and listen to what the teachers say. They really are giving you the info you need.
Get your license, get experience for 1,2,3 years. If you keep a clean record you can do anything! Go anywhere.
So, what do you want?!
Big Mike keep the videos coming I start orientation in the next 2 months for my CDL
Thanks man. Glad you're enjoying them. Hope you find the info useful.
It’ll be interesting to see how you feel after 4 million miles and 35 years or so.
Be safe out there.
I can say when I worked at England, I got next to zero miles, couldn’t afford to eat, argued about home time so often I almost missed my kids birthday, and they wanted my teammate to drive without her hard copy license, they walk people through the course and my teammate never learnt how to back.
Trained in Salt Lake City at the headquarters.
Honestly I would never recommend them as a company.
So I love driving, I drive my 1996 F250 7.3l around and can’t get enough. My IT job hardly pays and I’m not that invested in it, and I just want some semi quick cash. (Save for a home and new vehicles, possibly fund some future endeavors, maybe have my own heavy equipment etc). Would getting into trucking be a good choice? I saw you mention making like $8k in a week before and I’m sitting here never seeing more than $1,200 in 2 weeks when I’m really pushing it. The way you put it even like a few months of it or aiming for 1k a week would blow me away money wise.
Also on that note, how bad is winter driving and mountains? I live in northern Utah but if I took the local tech schools CDL program there seem to be some good local trucking jobs that might also be worth looking at, can avoid the whole icy mountain roads in January.
My husband is thinking about going to CR England for training. Thank you for the info!
Love the dog!
Thank you.
The thing I like about CR England is that they're cool with me getting my CDL permit in my home state. My reason for wanting to home state my CDL is so I can knock out all the written endorsement tests I want on my own time before I begin my actual training. Everybody else was being whack about it (wanting me to do the hotel thing, etc - and if I fail, I have to pay them $6000 or whatever)
I stayed at home while I did it too. If it works better for you that way then do it and don't let them tell you no.
What a good patience dog..hi buddy i see you
😆
You're buddy just wants to be included in the conversation!
Ikr I couldn’t keep my 👀 of him so cutee
First of all
Sooo impressed in the down home way your approach is to relate to.
Question: if England truck breaks down
Does company still pay you for accomidations and hourly wage while truck repair is completed.??,
Hey how about those Lot Lizards? Does that count as 10 hours rest break?
Thinking about doing this...
14:29 go sit down! Thank you. Great experience by the way.
Thank u ...Big Mike
No problem man. I just want to try to help people as much as possible and I know there is bad info out there. But it wasn't bad for everyone and I think the good needs to be said as well. Hopefully it's helping.
An office with an ever-changing view. Truck stops however...damn, they will get old! But you take the good with the bad.
Nice sidekick you got there
Thanks. She’s a pretty good dog, but she has her days as they all do.
I see CR England up here in the great white North sometimes. I hope they are sending drivers who have their wits about them. It's a dangerous highway. ON-17
If you are able to respond after 4 years, did you feel that the company's backing training as well as the HOS training was
sufficient for your overall confidence as a new truck driver? and are you using Garmin? Many thanks, and enjoyed the video!
I take it to heart. Speak your truce. Real name
Ive worked for England for almost 10yrs now and theyve been great to me.
good video
My training in 97 was 2 weeks, really 8 days. Monday-Friday, then Monday-wednesday. Thursday, off to Utah via bus from SC. No license just trained? I declined and got my CDL from a private CDL school in Charlotte NC. Back then, after 10k miles with a trainer, you went 10k miles, as a team with another student. YIKES no......thanks. Might be better now.
My hubby just got hired as a trainer. Just dropped him of in Salt Lake City. I thought they are not allowed to take dogs with. I hope that he is able to take one of our dogs
When I was there pets weren't allowed. Although some ignored that. I recently heard it was still the same.
I just got on with an LTL company. . They pay hourly, per mile, per stop and per diem every day you are away from home
I have my class A with all my endorsements, twic card, hazmat clearence, all that. i've held a class A for 2 years, i want to start a trucking company, but i wanna get some OTR experience on before i just go buy a truck and stick a guy in it to drive for me. i want to get a year of otr under my belt. I do Local hazmat tankers and dry van only right now, and i don't drive full time, like 2-3 days a week, and the rest i do facility maintenance, fleet maintenance and welding. The only problem, is My driving record is kinda fukt tbh. 3 speeding tickets... all 3 are legit like 10mph over speeding tickets and they're all in my personal car... ffs 1 was the most recent was 14 months ago, and then i have one that was 29 months ago, and one that was 25 months ago, i'm wondering if i'm even eligable to be a full time driver for a different company lol... shit. plus i'm kind of growing to resent my current job of 6 years. i gotta get the fuck outta here, the stress is killing me.
Great video Mike. I’m looking to become a driver. I live in my car and take road trips out of Arizona so I’m used to the road lifestyle. I think I might like trucking as I enjoy being alone and taking long trips. I drive Uber and Pizza Hut. Would I be making at least $1000/month for the first 6 months at CR England?
Yes, you more than likely would. Most truck drivers are making between $500 and $1000 a week when they start out. When you get to my level It can be upwards of $2000 to $8000 a week depending on how hard you hustle.
As a side note, look into Swift as an option. I know that they are the laughing stock of the industry, but if you listen to your instructors and take safety very seriously, and always be extra cautious when backing and going through curves and what not, you should be fine. I know plenty of drivers. Some great, some terrible. They come from every company. Swift has a big terminal and training facility in Arizona, I think Phoenix, so that might work well for you. If you’re open to leaving the state then I can also suggest Steven’s out of Mesquite, Texas. They treat their drivers pretty well from what I’ve heard recently.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 Hey Big Mike I've been watching your videos on and off for months and now am a subscriber. You are very good at teaching what you know. Some people know but they're not able to teach what they know. I was p&d for Central Freight Lines from 90-93 in Dallas. But it's been 28 or so yrs since I've driven. Would I have to go to a truck driving school for weeks and drive OTR for a year for them to get my CDL again? If you don't know that's fine. CFL had its own school that lasted about a month but that was just to train us to drive p&d.
If you can help thanks if not that's fine. Mark from Arkansas
I have a question and I don't mean any disrespect in asking by no means but I see you're a bigger guy and so am I. I'm looking into trucking but worry about DOT physical and my BMI being too high and having to have a sleeo test or something. Was that an issue with C.R. England? Thats a company I've applied to.
Great advice, sir.
Thank you. I hope you found it helpful or that it helps someone.
thanks for answering my previous questions in my other comments. another one
in general is truck driving, especially OTR, stressful? I ask because my logic says it ISN'T..its actually relaxing. you drive long distances and you are alone. Is my assumption correct? what can be stressful? deadlines at reaching destinations?
I do not mean things like being away from family...but only the driving part
It can be stressful for sure. You're 70+ feet long, and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The lighter you are, the more the wind pushes you around. The heavier you are, the longer you slide if you lose control. There's proper braking on mountains that you have to worry about so you don't go flying off a cliff. You have to worry about every car that passes you possibly cutting you off to get that last second ahead before the exit the highway. The states all have laws you won't know about unless you're a walking rulebook, and even then it can come down to the officers discretion.
Honestly, the least stressful time for me when driving is usually on 1-10 out in Arizona where it's flat as can be and as straight as the crow flys, and I'm doing about 65 MPH. I'm not worried about going too fast for the tires, or getting a speeding ticket, or much of anything. People zoom around me and I'm just cruising along.
It can be a very exhausting job.
Maybe I'll make a video about it.
someone I know is starting at CRE, from my knowledge this is generally how most of the companies that do training for “free” work right. And the plan is to work to pay off the training then find a better job with a smaller company closer to home?
Yes. Or find a better job with another company. Plenty of companies that run OTR offer better pay. But local can be a good choice.
How did you pasted your driving test with dot not knowing how to up/ down shift, I wonder
I feel in trouble , I am in a school but I feel that I am not learning much . I took the test at the DMV and passed the pre-trip, air brakes, because I was studying a lot but I didn't pass the maneuvers... I don't know what to do, in this school they only want my money, they told me to take another package for the school … any advice!??
i hate double clutching i just float gears much easier. just match road speed you will be all good. for me the clutch is just to start off moving and to stop . and if you know your gears you can even skip gears down shifting to stop but don't miss the gear its hard on the brakes. ps if you got the Jake break on easier to float gears for me
Great video Big Mike. Quick question for you, You stated that you had three different job offers in too much from other companies. My question is how do the other companies get your information to get in touch with you? Thanks Chris
I think it was through word of mouth. Someone knew someone that knew me. That or I had my info out there for people to see.
Great content, I had CRE in mind and Swift offered to send me to school on a relatively good deal. I enjoy your content!
Thanks man. Yeah, I don't think it matters how you get out here as long as you do it. Once you get past your first year, you can get a local job or start going OTR for someone who pays better, or even start specializing in a certain type of driving. Congrats on starting though and good luck. Make sure you listen to your instructors too. They really are trying to help you.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 Thanks for the advice, I have every intention of retaining what I learn.
Double clutch is taught to new drivers so they don't shift too fast and grind them going in. It really serves no other purpose, and, when you learn to float gears, your foot rarely touches the clutch until you stop. As a result, trucks have gone to automatic. It is good to know how to run a manual gear box. I don't blame you on the team.
As a daily manual driver i would hate to drive trucks with a manual transmission
👍
@@briantruck2284 Happy New Year!!! Now more than ever, quit working for mega fleets! I sold my business, the guys who took over are making it extremely lucrative for drivers with little experience to make good $.
How about if you don't pass the pretrip 3 times...do they send you home?
CR pays super low in comparison to the competition Maverick and Prime pay 49-53 cents starting out and they pay 600-700 for training along with passing and graduation bonuses
Those are pretty good deals. Like I said, at the time England's deal was better and the pay was a little better as well. $.26 a mile then compared to I think $.22 for one of the others. I know a lot of the companies have changed tactics and started paying better. It's a good trend for sure. My experience at England though was good and it ultimately got me into trucking.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 I was making .21 a mile at CRE in 1999. I had my CDL already. Theresa Cannon was my trainer.
Guys if you're not getting the miles it doesn't matter how much per mile they're paying your not going to make money regardless.
@@charliewalkercw27 that is true. Cr england unlike other companies has a bunch of work. Most people bitch about home time in cr england
question - do the trucks have wifi inside of them? both CR England Trucks and other company trucks (if you know)
and if not, what are the solution to stay in contact online while not driving and in the truck - a data stick? and does a data stick have connection in really rural places like Nevada or Utah?
I have heard that some trucks have wifi. I don't know if England's do or not, but they didn't when I drove for them in 2013.
As for me, I have an unlimited data plan on my phone and a hotspot. But they can be sketchy in rural areas.
I was wondering something, when you pull in to get a shipment do you load any of it and do the chairs support your back good thanks for the vid good info
No, I don't usually load any of the frieght. And yes the seats are fine on my back.
To answer your question, if you're running any local freight, yes, you will load freight, and unload it too. I ran the Lidl Dedicated route, up in the northeast, and southeast. NY/NJ, NC/SC & GA. I left CR England in the rearview 2 years ago with no regret. I'm making $3800 a week, home 3 days a week, and don't own the truck. Don't be fooled.
Hey Big Guy. You still rollin down the line?
Good video Big Mike, what’s your co drivers name in the back there
That’s Pepper. She’s been with me for about 5 years now.
Beautiful little puppy
I came to CRE as a experienced driver. I know what a good company is. I gave CRE a shot. It was the worst experience in my trucking career. Hope I don’t come off as a troll. But I just want to warn you guys. This was 10 years ago,maybe they have changed. But I just want to give my 2 cents. That’s about what my pay was compared to now.
I don't think you're trolling. You're sharing your experience and that's worthwhile. Thanks for the input and I'm sorry your experience wasn't good.
Yep, worst experience of my 30 years in the industry, hired on as a trainer as I had almost 15 years OTR.
Hi Big Mike, well today a recruiter from C.R England called me and was pretty cool, also Kllm called me too but i missed the call. I want to drive but its hard deciding because its alot of companies. I narrow it down to C.R England or Kllm. Which one should i try? I know C.R England run 48 state, idk about kllm. I need a good ass job. Im ok with being away from them for a while. After my year is up i want to either be a yard dog moving trailer around or go local. Any advice will help?
Btw my dad drive for Saia but he cant talk on the phone and he has 1 camera facing him and one facing the road
So, deciding which trucking company to go with at this point is more about the benefits each one provides. Sit down with a pen and paper, and write down the questions you don't have an answer to yet. Stuff like:
How much will I be paid?
What is the hometime policy(i.e. how often will I get home)?
How much are you charging me to get my CDL?
How do I pay you back for my CDL?
If I sign a contract, how long will I have to work for you before my contract ends and I can move on without a penalty?
And any other questions you can think of, and then ask them all. Be persistent and don't let the recruiters short the conversation so they can go get someone else to sign up. Remember it's their job to answer your questions, and they get a bonus if you work for that company. So their motivated to answer. You just have to keep them talking and get the answers.
BTW, this is a great idea for a video and I think I'll do one right now.
Thanks.
i think if you don't have a choice it's a blessing if CRE hires you for CDL training. But thankfully most folks do have a choice.
CR England will give everyone a chance most fail because of either illegal substance fails or you fail out in the 2 wk training class
Hey Big Mike quick question, what about someone looking into getting into CR England trucking school but has sleep apnea?. Just got my permit and DOT medical exam been 100% compliant.
I don't think you'll have any problem getting in.
Hey Mike with Emglabd what was your pay weekly with them
I already have a class A and have held it for a long time. I am not and never driven OTR. My driving has been limited to just small trucks pulling goosenecks and only do that if the crews were short handed. If I attend CRE to tune up my skills the pay would only be ~.26 cents a mile?
It was .26 cents a mile 6 years ago. I had a chance to talk to a newer CR England driver and he said it was closer to .36 or .40 now. You'd have to do some research on it.
John Gwin Texas same as you... I have a Class A. Just need a couple endorsements but I have no interest in being OTR
When you started with england they pay for your school? And dont you have to stay with them for a year?
once you get your CDL, and at least six months over the road experience, then XPO is the way to GO. A difficult company to get hired on to, but well worth it and it's a keeper.
I agree with you. I've heard good things about XPO, and when they were Conway. I think it's a great idea and would highly recommend to anybody that they move on from any of the "driver mill" companies as soon as they can. My contract ended at 9 months with England and I moved on as soon as I could.
Big Mike xpo sucks as far as ltl companies. U will be a traveling dock worker on linehaul
If you go into the program with your CDL permit will you still learn the pre trip inspection ?
I think they'll go over everything with you from the beginning. But they may start you out at an advanced stage too. I'm not sure honestly.
But here is a good rule for you to use. If it moves and it's not supposed to, that's a fail. And if doesn't move but it's supposed to, that's a fail.
Be nice to your cool dogl. He was just saying hi :-)
I thought the same thing!! Awww
He just saying hi
I’m looking at vids about trucking bc my hubby watches vids of this but i was more focus on the cute dog lol i love dogs wondering how ya do when ur dog has to pee just curious of wat do ya do we have a chihuahua dog wondering wat ya do
I’ve been lucky with Pepper. She can 12 hours without peeing if we have to push hard. But usually I just try to let her out in the morning, stop midday, and let her out at night. She never pees in the truck.
I started out 6 Years ago driving with my trainer at Prime. 800 a week max was my biggest payday. Some weeks I now I bring home almost 4 times that. Drive for a few Years and stay out of Accidents. Thier is better money ahead
Where did you get your dog from ?
Big Mike!!
WHATUP!!
What so ever need to pay for training, even it says it is free, but still need to pay, so just go to any cdl training school for training and ask them to sign job guaranty contract after cdl license guaranty training
When I STARTED in crengland it was manual them they when automatically, I have both EXPERIENCE. My TRAINING was the best as for me money come in SECOND place, I want safety safety first installed in my brain them , knew money come with a clean driver record and years of EXPERIENCES. For me as a new driver safety is my top priority...
Safety is always your top priority as a driver. It's our responsibility to make sure we don't kill anyone. But, money is something that's important as well. There are companies out there that pay better and have good safety ratings as well.
Ana Fleming. When did you go to cr England? I just applied this morning. Hopefully I'll get a call
Proof read
I still wanna know who still work for England. I did my contact with them for one year experience. Pay didn’t change I started 30 cent per miles. Only way u can make more team or trainer make money. Also there school are close I don’t know which one
Advice on cruise control and Jake brake.i wan to be trained on my liking not the trainers liking. What if one day trainer isn't with me I want to be comfortable. I don't want to use cruise control when traffic is coming in and out
Use cruise when your comfortable. You’re the one driving so it’s important for you to feel like your safely driving your truck.
Damn bro u should be a instructor. Very knowledgeable u helped me a ton👍☝️❤🇺🇸
Wow I guess I should go sign-up with CR England it seems like a good company to work for. I do have one question when hired with CR England where you able to take family or friends with you and pets? Thanks for the good information big mike.
If i was you i just left cr.england and it sucks there. I left with out my cld.im in im home state and im paying 300 dollars to got get my cld.
The answer is no, I was not able to take my family and friends with me and they do not have a pet policy. Or they didn't allow pets when I was there. That may have changed.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 where you work at now
A little company out of DFW. I actually am a owner op with them.
Thank you Big Mike .
Glad to do it.
How is the hometime? I've heard horror stories of new people being stuck out on the road for 2-3 months. I would like to work for the company, however I can't be away for 2-3 months at a time. I understand that after 4-5 months you can request a local/regional route, so home time for me won't be an issue then. Thank you
It just depends but yes, in general most big companies are gonna keep you out 2 to 3 months at a time and then let you come home for about 4 days.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 Thank you sir
Your the company's bitch for at least 2 years so if you need to be home every month this job isn't for you sorry gotta pay your dues
This was helpful, thank you for the great content. I'm trying to choose between 3 schools including cr England. I'm not sure yet.
Your welcome. I hope it helped.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 Thanks, I decided on Swift instead
As long as you're getting in the industry, it doesn't matter how you do it. Stay safe.
you should choose the one closer to where you live, because of regulations
I went to England in 2009, they forced you to be a lease operator and wanted a new driver to train students. I wouldn't train students due to being brand new myself. Ended up owing the company every week and not able to pay my bills. It surprises me they allowed you to be a company driver solo. It was the worst experience of my life.
William, when I was there it was an option to be a lease operator. But everybody that was doing it said you couldn't make money unless you trained students, which I wouldn't do. So I stayed solo. I was thinking about the lease purchase program when I left but didn't go for it because they wouldn't give me a copy of the agreement I could take and read in my truck. That sent up red flags for me and I chose instead to go home.
Don't need to use the clutch if you can float
Hey Mike i got a cdl A back in 2012 and looking for a change, who should I start with
Whoever makes you the best deal. Shop around and see what's available.
Hey big mike how tiff was the dot physical when you went to england?
What he said.
Any companies that pay you while you're in school? That's the only thing that stopped me from going to CR England
I'm not sure. You'll have to shop around for that one, but I don't think so. As far as they're concerned they're doing you a favor.
Kool
Hey big Mike what are the trucks like? Do they run newer or late models? Do they use automatics or manuals?
They run new trucks and I think all automatics. Not sure.
I'm studying to get my commercial permit before I go out to CRE. All of their trucks have automatic transmissions.
Just applied to C.R. England. Looking to start in about a month so I can wrap up my current employment. I don't really care what it pays to start. I don't have rent to pay so I can pocket everything except food/shower money. Also, I have done this before so the class should be a refresher.
You cannot start at the top I can make 120 in five to six hours doing Uber or Grubhub Lyft but the big payoff comes after you prove you can handle the miles and show your dependable very understandablE but they only train in automatics that sounds a bit strange but i'm no expert thanks brother!
The dog in the back like “Who tf is he talking to”😂😂😂
Does cr England offer year out at time. Like living in truck and working?
You are basically living in the truck when you work. Also, you can stay out as long as you like.
I trained with cr england. The only thing they taught me was how to duck and dodge handsy male trainers. I left after training, making 18cpm. Retired after 25 yrs.driving.
Hey, big mike any chance you could let someone ride with you for one trip or do you know anyone that will let me ride one trip. I would love the experience
Sorry, I can't. I don't carry rider insurance on my truck. But there are people out there that will let you. Maybe try to find a trucked group on Facebook near you. There's probably someone on there that would be willing to help you out.
Your gonna be working a long time, you have to enjoy what your doing and you’ll be an angry young man, even if it’s a little less money, the last job before I retired I was driving a lowboy RGN I told the manager in the interview I don’t like being micro managed, tell me what you need moved what time it has to be there and it will be there, and if your happy with my work, fine, if not fire me no hard feeling, I stayed there 5 years and they never hassled me and that was more important to me than the money, I started with $18.00 an hour and when I left I was making $23.00 in N.J. That wasn’t much but the main thing was they never hassled me !
That's where it's at, I work for a company where I am the boss. I've done some shit jobs but my employer now, I tell them jump they say how high. I don't abuse them though, they are good to me. They care about me so I care about them and I'm willing to go the extra mile for them. I make good money and they don't make me do shit I don't want to do. It's great and I worked hard to get here.
I started at Central Refrigerated Services as a student in 2005. Upon completion of my training I started at $0.26 per mile. This was way back in 2005 I cannot believe that 26 cents per mile is still a thing. How can that not be adjusted for inflation
When I was there in 2014 it was still $0.26 a mile. But I spoke with a CR England driver a few months ago and it's now .33 or .36.
@@bigmiketrucking4777 nope still terrible the HIGHEST I saw was 29 cent
That's terrible. Hope you found something better.
I use to like driving over night
the best thing about cr England is their facilities at the terminals, its amazing!
They do have some decent facilities.