Some companies prefer you obtain a CDL permit at home before attending, but CR England prefers to handle that after you arrive. Even though a US Passport is not required, we highly recommend you get one in case any future opportunities require it.
We also recommend you obtain all CDL endorsements including HazMat, Tanker, and Double/Triple certifications. Usually after studying the rest of the CDL manual, these exams can be passed and will only help you in the future.
Administrative Fee: All students entering the C.R. England truck driver training program are required to pay a non-refundable administrative fee of $50. Accepted forms of payment are cash, credit card and money order. There are no cosigners or credit requirements for financing programs.
Company Driver Training Program: Tuition is $2,995 with available financing. Lodging is included in the cost of tuition.
Financing: Those who require financing will sign a note with Eagle Atlantic Financial Services. Your $2,995 tuition will be paid at 18% interest. Through this option, $55 per week will be deducted from your paycheck, beginning four weeks from the loan date for a period of 18 weeks. At that point, a payment of $75 per week will be collected until the full note plus interest has been collected. A $1,000 reimbursement is given to company drivers who have completed three years of driving service.
C.R. England will pay half the program tuition of students who qualify for and enroll in the Independent Contractor Program. When you sign your truck lease contract, C.R. England will pay half of your $55 per week loan payment for up to half of your tuition as long as you remain in the Independent Contract Program or until the loan is paid off. For those who choose this option and have paid their tuition in full, C.R. England will reimburse your tuition at $27.50 per week until one half of the tuition cost has been returned, providing that you remain in the Independent Contractor Program.
While the Independent Contractor program may sound like a better deal, we strongly recommend you choose the company driver option and remain a company driver for a minimum of one year.
Total Up Front Costs: $130 to $180 depending on location.
In addition, students will need funds for basic living expenses while at school.
No, students must supply their own meals.
Yes, the cost of lodging is part of the tuition fee.
Yes, when you pay your tuition in full with cash, check or credit card at the beginning of the course, you will receive a $1,000 discount. That comes out to a full tuition of $1,995. A $1,000 reimbursement is given to company drivers who have completed three years of driving service.
For company drivers, $55 per week will be deducted from your paycheck, beginning four weeks from the loan date for a period of 18 weeks. At that point, a payment of $75 per week will be collected until the full note plus interest has been collected. A $1,000 reimbursement is given to company drivers who have completed three years of driving service. For lease operators, C.R. England will pay half of your $55 per week loan payment for up to half of your tuition as long as you remain in the Independent Contract Program or until the loan is paid off.
While we generally try to remain unbiased, we feel compelled to make special note about the CR England financing option. This is the only company we’ve seen that charges interest for their CDL program financing and the finance rate is extremely high at 18%. Even at that, the program will never be paid off entirely. Drivers will only receive a $1,000 reimbursement after 3 full years of service.
We also found it interesting that CR England tries to persuade brand new drivers to lease a truck by lowering their tuition costs. As is mentioned throughout the site, we absolutely never recommend anyone lease a truck, but this is especially true for brand new drivers. Do not become persuaded to lease simply because it lowers the cost of your CDL schooling. We very highly recommend that you join their company driver division instead. In the end, you’ll likely be in a much better financial position as a company driver.
Schooling lasts from 15 to 20 days depending on which location you attend. During this time, you’ll study and pass the CDL written exam at which point training will become a mixture of classroom and on-truck training.
Generally during the first week, you will meet your instructor and learn about safety procedures, mechanical operations, and log requirements to truck driving. There may be homework every day throughout the duration of the course.
CDL training is approximately 15 to 20 days. This is followed by a 30 day company paid training program and 60 days spent in an independent contractor observation program (to be discussed in further detail).
Students will spend 10 to 15 days actually driving the trucks which includes backing practice.
