I already know that I'm screwed...but...

[solid_smoke]

Hello...

Thanks to this board, I already know I'm screwed...but because of my location (FL), 2 misdemeanors and an ancient DUI - I had to sign up up with a dog company (CR England). I never knew the industry was so picky...

I have no intention of trying to be a lease operator, so I figure they'll starve me out as a company driver. So long as I can hang in for 3 months and then leave, I don't care too much...but I do worry about DAC comments.

SWIFT was an option, but their training is about $2K more and there's a year long contract...plus 4 guys to a room...my goal is just to get the CDL and hopefully (when as opposed to if necessary) leave after 3 months and then go to one of the companies that will take me on (I'm not good enough for their school, but I'm good enough after I have a cdl)...

I would have loved to asked this question earlier, but I won't get into all that...but does this seem a probable exit strategy from CR England?

I know their training isn't so awesome, but aside from this most people seem to have a beef with their Lease - which I won't touch...

[LostProphet]

Hello...

Thanks to this board, I already know I'm screwed...but because of my location (FL), 2 misdemeanors and an ancient DUI - I had to sign up up with a dog company (CR England). I never knew the industry was so picky...

I have no intention of trying to be a lease operator, so I figure they'll starve me out as a company driver. So long as I can hang in for 3 months and then leave, I don't care too much...but I do worry about DAC comments.

SWIFT was an option, but their training is about $2K more and there's a year long contract...plus 4 guys to a room...my goal is just to get the CDL and hopefully (when as opposed to if necessary) leave after 3 months and then go to one of the companies that will take me on (I'm not good enough for their school, but I'm good enough after I have a cdl)...

I would have loved to asked this question earlier, but I won't get into all that...but does this seem a probable exit strategy from CR England?

I know their training isn't so awesome, but aside from this most people seem to have a beef with their Lease - which I won't touch...

Well first off let me say welcome to CAD.I started off my career with CR England and got my CDL thru them a couple years ago.And I also created a thread detailing my experiences with them which you should look at.I DID NOT agree with CR Englands business practices,the way they treated me,the way my dispatcher would try to pressure me into running illegal then when I didnt he tried to have me sit for a few days.Nor how when I tried to leave them after a few months they refused to verify my employment.My advice to you sir if this is truly what you want,youre going to have to stay there at least 6 months to a year to have another company pick you up.Having 3 months experience doesnt really mean too much.When running with cr england,expect to start out at 26cpm,get low miles (especially this time of year),and on top of all that have your tuition payment of $75 come out of your weekly pay.If I were in your shoes,I would EXHAUST all the resources I had including searching ALL schools,government sponsored programs,and/or my local community college for cdl training.But it seems like youre already in the process of CR england,so I would keep my nose clean,NEVER run illegal (believe me they will try to get you to),and never become too friendly with your dispatcher.Get in AT LEAST 6 MO'S exp,then look at companies like interstate distributer co and possibly crete. best of luck.

[nsxman2001]

Hello...

Thanks to this board, I already know I'm screwed...but because of my location (FL), 2 misdemeanors and an ancient DUI - I had to sign up up with a dog company (CR England). I never knew the industry was so picky...

I have no intention of trying to be a lease operator, so I figure they'll starve me out as a company driver. So long as I can hang in for 3 months and then leave, I don't care too much...but I do worry about DAC comments.

SWIFT was an option, but their training is about $2K more and there's a year long contract...plus 4 guys to a room...my goal is just to get the CDL and hopefully (when as opposed to if necessary) leave after 3 months and then go to one of the companies that will take me on (I'm not good enough for their school, but I'm good enough after I have a cdl)...

I would have loved to asked this question earlier, but I won't get into all that...but does this seem a probable exit strategy from CR England?

I know their training isn't so awesome, but aside from this most people seem to have a beef with their Lease - which I won't touch...

Solid smoke I;m sure if u read more on this website your going to find out that the 2 misdemeanors and DUI is going farther limit you.. Good luck!

[larryh31]

Solid_Smoke, If CR England is your only option at this time, you really should try to grit your teath and stick it out with them for 6 months at a mininum. If you can survive for a full year, you will have more job options available to you. Think long term and get a year under your belt.

Be extra safety minded once you get on the road. If you have any accidents or tickets you could be stuck at CR England for a long time.

[solid_smoke]

The response-time i mean, not the fact that I'm screwed. My DUI was over 7 years ago, but who cares...don't want to give too much detail - never know who's watching the boards, but I do know that I'm in for a less than pleasant ... time.

And I do know that the longer I can hang the better off I am, but ain't there any options? Its amazing that a misdemeanor or 2 can jam you...but I DO hear ya on keeping the nose clean and driving SAFE. When I do go, I'm going to try to bring the best attitude I can...but I also want to CMA.

Thanks for the advice so far, and by all means keep it coming...its not that I ignored what I'd read, its just that my options fizzled-out, and I MUST have an income some way some how. I'd have loved to go with a better company, they just didn't want me. If I could go into detail on the 2 misdemeanors, you'd know I wasn't a criminal - but that's the way it goes. Its been a bitter pill to be a total outsider to the trucking industry and be told "You ain't good enough for us"...but this is a bullet I apparently have to bite.

I had said 3 months because some of the companies aren't ok w/ my record for the CDL training, but have said they'd be open to hiring me as a co. driver if I had 3 months OTR and was willing to re-train with them. I know that'd look a bit messy, and 6 months w/ 1 company would look better than 6 months OTR w/ 2 companies, but CRE seems like a known quantity...I mean, a **** by any other name is still a ****.

So, in short, go SAFE, go by the book, and while I can provide my own lunch, expect plenty of **** sammiches.

I hate **** sammiches.

[solid_smoke]

They do use qualcom - right?

[GMAN]

I would plan on staying with a company for at least a year. It shows much more stability. If I were you, I would try to arrange for my own schooling. There are many community colleges and state vocational schools that offer CDL training. It is usually a little longer, but the costs are normally much less. When you complete your training, you won't have the big obligation and they usually assist you in finding suitable employment.

[inmate1577]

Until the MD's and the DUI are off your record, it doesnt matter how long you stay with CR, they'll still be there when you apply to another company. Your experience wont mean anything to an insurance company, so you might as well stay with CR England.

[Ridge Runner]

Until the MD's and the DUI are off your record, it doesnt matter how long you stay with CR, they'll still be there when you apply to another company. Your experience wont mean anything to an insurance company, so you might as well stay with CR England.

:shock: You might want to re-pharse that. :P

[mccfry]

Your DUI shouldnt even be an issue, I have one to back in 98 and all the companies I spoke with blew it off as being so old not to be an issue.

Hello...

Thanks to this board, I already know I'm screwed...but because of my location (FL), 2 misdemeanors and an ancient DUI - I had to sign up up with a dog company (CR England). I never knew the industry was so picky...

I have no intention of trying to be a lease operator, so I figure they'll starve me out as a company driver. So long as I can hang in for 3 months and then leave, I don't care too much...but I do worry about DAC comments.

SWIFT was an option, but their training is about $2K more and there's a year long contract...plus 4 guys to a room...my goal is just to get the CDL and hopefully (when as opposed to if necessary) leave after 3 months and then go to one of the companies that will take me on (I'm not good enough for their school, but I'm good enough after I have a cdl)...

I would have loved to asked this question earlier, but I won't get into all that...but does this seem a probable exit strategy from CR England?

I know their training isn't so awesome, but aside from this most people seem to have a beef with their Lease - which I won't touch...

[bigpapa7272]

did you ever think about pam or drivers solutions, i know they suck but they are better than CRE

[merrick4]

Go into one of those Workforce offices and they will pay for your CDL.

[inmate1577]

Until the MD's and the DUI are off your record, it doesnt matter how long you stay with CR, they'll still be there when you apply to another company. Your experience wont mean anything to an insurance company, so you might as well stay with CR England.

:shock: You might want to re-pharse that. :P

No, because most insurance companies and trucking companies are looking at criminal and accident records first and foremost. Nothing to rephrase.

[coastie]

Most people have a beef with the lease trucks of England and they try to push it hard. I started off with CR and made money as a company driver. My beef was no poor training, but upkeep of the trucks, and home time. Had a Water Leak going to the heater for the sleeper, and from the anti freeze made me sick and their response was keep on driving. Then I put in for home time 5 weeks in advance, still did not want to send me, so when I did get home I empty the truck and took it to their school.

[Fredog]

Most people have a beef with the lease trucks of England and they try to push it hard. I started off with CR and made money as a company driver. My beef was no poor training, but upkeep of the trucks, and home time. Had a Water Leak going to the heater for the sleeper, and from the anti freeze made me sick and their response was keep on driving. Then I put in for home time 5 weeks in advance, still did not want to send me, so when I did get home I empty the truck and took it to their school.

check your dac and make sure they didnt accuse you of abandoning the truck

[pothole]

Most people have a beef with the lease trucks of England and they try to push it hard. I started off with CR and made money as a company driver. My beef was no poor training, but upkeep of the trucks, and home time. Had a Water Leak going to the heater for the sleeper, and from the anti freeze made me sick and their response was keep on driving. Then I put in for home time 5 weeks in advance, still did not want to send me, so when I did get home I empty the truck and took it to their school.

check your dac and make sure they didnt accuse you of abandoning the truck

without a doubt they did.

[solid_smoke]

Well, I'm here at the school. I will say this though, if your credit is decent, and / or you have a clean history, you'd be a fool to come here. You don't have to be psychic or even very smart to pickup on the fact that something is way, way wrong...

I do wonder if this was a larger mistake than I figured...I'll let you know.

[headborg]

Well, some people here won't like some of the advise I'll give. But here goes.

The DUI is the "kiss of death" for you- but, good news -10 year Federal statute of limitations will apply..just stay clean for 3 more years and YOU won't have to mention it ever again.
Those "misdemeanors"--if they're just state/local "misdemeanors" aren't even a problem----unless you're Dumb enough to "report" them when you apply. Now, if they are Felony Misdemeanors....that's a different story.
Check the application for the key words.....Felony?

Living in FL will be a problem with ever finding a high cent per mile Driving Job.

As for driving legal.....in your case.....at .26cpm you better just drive SAFE...say "Yes Sir" to your dispatcher and MAKE THE COMIC BOOK LOOK GOOD.....and what-ever you do- Don't get CAUGHT running illegal--CR England will look the other way UP TO the point where YOU get them in trouble. This means several things...you need to learn HOW to work a Log Book. And you better hope that starting next year- DOT don't get the
OK to plug in to the Truck OBRD.

Also, as JB proved long ago...it's not how much you make---it's how much you SAVE.
As soon as possible, you need to invest in a Electric Cooler, if you drink coffee- a coffee maker in the truck....even some Truckstops have stopped giving free coffee. Buy your soda- at Wal-mart, your coffee by the pound.
You got to get your living expenses out here on the road...down.

Only go into the YARD when you HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.....it's the biggest TIME waster working for any company. You Can't make money- with the shop taking all day to do a 30min oil change. Or if you get "roped" into running down and doing a "random drug screen" or setting through a boring Safety meeting. Or, setting around "bitching/crying' with
other CR England drivers about everything.

[kc0iv]

Well, some people here won't like some of the advise I'll give. But here goes.

The DUI is the "kiss of death" for you- but, good news -10 year Federal statute of limitations will apply..just stay clean for 3 more years and YOU won't have to mention it ever again.
Those "misdemeanors"--if they're just state/local "misdemeanors" aren't even a problem----unless you're Dumb enough to "report" them when you apply. Now, if they are Felony Misdemeanors....that's a different story.
Check the application for the key words.....Felony?

Living in FL will be a problem with ever finding a high cent per mile Driving Job.

As for driving legal.....in your case.....at .26cpm you better just drive SAFE...say "Yes Sir" to your dispatcher and MAKE THE COMIC BOOK LOOK GOOD.....and what-ever you do- Don't get CAUGHT running illegal--CR England will look the other way UP TO the point where YOU get them in trouble. This means several things...you need to learn HOW to work a Log Book. And you better hope that starting next year- DOT don't get the
OK to plug in to the Truck OBRD.

Also, as JB proved long ago...it's not how much you make---it's how much you SAVE.
As soon as possible, you need to invest in a Electric Cooler, if you drink coffee- a coffee maker in the truck....even some Truckstops have stopped giving free coffee. Buy your soda- at Wal-mart, your coffee by the pound.
You got to get your living expenses out here on the road...down.

Only go into the YARD when you HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.....it's the biggest TIME waster working for any company. You Can't make money- with the shop taking all day to do a 30min oil change. Or if you get "roped" into running down and doing a "random drug screen" or setting through a boring Safety meeting. Or, setting around "bitching/crying' with
other CR England drivers about everything.

headborg said:

Those "misdemeanors"--if they're just state/local "misdemeanors" aren't even a problem----unless you're Dumb enough to "report" them when you apply. Now, if they are Felony Misdemeanors....that's a different story.
Check the application for the key words.....Felony?

From the website: http://www.lawinfo.com/index.cfm/fus...categoryid/137

Misdemeanor: Misdemeanors are more serious than petty offenses, but much less serious than felonies.

Felony: Felonies are considered the most serious types of crimes, and each state has different punishments for these offenses. A standard definition of a felony is any crime punishable by more than one year in prison or by death for capital offenses like first-degree murder.

Most background checks will pick up Misdemeanor: and Felony: convictions. So hiding them could get you a rejection.

kc0iv