Thinking About Going With CR England But Have Some Questions

Hello everyone, I am currently considering starting in the business. CR England seems to be a good way to go. I am curious as to after the schooling, do you pair with a trainer and for how long? As well as after the said trainer will I be paired with another driver or run solo? Also do they have decent home time I don't mind a 2 weeks or so at a time but I do have a wife and kids that want to see me as well. Thank you for your time and help

DJB, welcome to the forum!

Congratulations on the job offer, but I just want you to know that there are other trucking companies out there who will train you also. Not saying you shouldn't go with C.R. England, but since you are new to all this just thought I would give you a link so you could research other Company-Sponsored Training programs. Also you can gain a lot of insight into the industry by reading the Truck Driver's Career Guide.

I am curious as to after the schooling, do you pair with a trainer and for how long?

Yes, that is the standard way of learning this career. It gets a little tough actually living in a very tight space with a total stranger for four to six weeks, but that's the way it's done. Prepare yourself, mentally, before hand if you can, because this is the part of training where many people give up and quit. It's one of those things where you just have to buck up and make it through - it only gets better after that initial and brutal introduction into trucking. You will be away from your family for quite a while at the beginning, or during that training period, so be prepared to be separated for at least a couple of months.

As well as after the said trainer will I be paired with another driver or run solo?

This will depend on what you want. If you want to be a solo driver then you communicate that with them. They will have opportunities for both solo and team operations. You can make basically the same amount of money either way, but personally I like running solo. Please, do not let them talk you into leasing a truck. This is the most devastating thing you can do to yourself as a rookie driver. It will crush you and ruin you financially. There are some people who manage to make this work for them, but as a rookie driver you have so many things to learn during that first year that you will loose your shirt, and all hope of supporting your family. Stand your ground on this one matter - they will push hard for you to give it a try - but only a fool would head down that path at this point in your career.

Also do they have decent home time I dont mind a 2 weeks or so at a time but I do have a wife and kids that want to see me as well.

If you follow that first link I gave you above you can probably find their policy on home time. Most companies are one day home for every seven days out. Home time is one of those things that every one has different needs on, you will have to just figure out what works best for you and your family and try to work around that. Most trucking companies want you out for three to four weeks at a time. You will understand why the extended times are preferred by your employer once you get a little experience under your belt. You will be able to tell by your paychecks that staying out longer will produce a higher and steadier income for you because they are able to work you into a steadier flow of freight that way. This makes you a more profitable employee for them and you will benefit also that way.

If you need to be home more often there are some other options available to you. Some of the flat-bed companies offer to get you home every weekend, but you may need to get your training done else where, and get a little experience first, because I'm not sure any of them offer company sponsored training. Roehl, is a great company that has a training program, and might be worth looking into - they have some of the best home time options available out there. What ever you do, it is important to make a commitment to sticking it out for that first year. For one thing, that's how you pay the company back for the training. If you quit they will begin attempts to collect from you. That will go on your credit record and they can even get your CDL removed from you. The more critical reason you want to stay with it is because you will be developing your skills as a truck driver, and learning all the nuances of the trade during that first year. So if you want to make a great start in a new career with good solid pay and recession proof steady work, be tough and stick it out for one year, and then you will have even more opportunities available to you in the field.

Been away for awhile I very much appreciated the advice. I am currently waiting on the background check to be completed with Swift. So fingers crossed I will get the go ahead and be a step closer to a goal I have put off for far to long.