How To Return The Truck

Whether or not you owe CR England for the schooling could be yet another issue. This is getting messier.

Listen, I'm gonna tell ya from experience that you should move very cautiously. Don't force it. Don't abandon the truck, don't go rushing back to the terminal against their instructions, don't make snap judgments because you want to squeeze in under some deadline, just don't. If it happens quickly for you then great. If not, then don't make a move at all. But if you try to force this to happen when it just wasn't in the cards you're going to cost yourself a lot more money than you're hoping to make with this move.

I really think this is a terrible move to try to make right now. You have very little experience, you're leaving your first company in a new career right off the bat, it's the Holidays when things are slowing down for everyone anyhow, you were doing great where you're at up until the dispatcher change, and if you owe CR England for the schooling anyhow that's going to be rather expensive to pay off.

One of the big reasons the turnover rate in this industry is so high is because trucking companies are masters of "grass is greener over here" marketing and feedback from other drivers only fuels that feeling. It always seems like there are so many better companies to work for. But then you get there and realize all you've done is exchange one set of problems for a different set of problems which often times aren't any better or worse than the previous set.

This industry is full of such stories like this one from our forum a couple of months ago:

The Grass Is Not Always Greener On The Other Side.

The last paragraph he says:

For those of you just beginning your careers as a driver, take to heart what all of the veterans here say about staying with the first driving job at least a year. That would have probably been the better option for me originally. In fact, I think I'll go back to Schneider! I'll keep you posted on what happens. Thanks to everyone for the support, encouragement, and insight into this truly difficult industry for beginners.

I realize you're hoping to make a lot more money with Werner but you'll never get anywhere in this industry if you jump ship every time your miles slow a little bit or your dispatcher gives you a lousy run or your truck breaks down. You'll get to Werner and I promise you within a month or two you'll be facing a different set of problems that will make you wish you had stayed where you were or have you looking elsewhere once again. And there are guys that do this for years. They'll switch jobs every 6 months and never get anywhere with it.

Also, remember something - when you get to Werner, guess who's going to be at the very, very bottom of the totem pole? I mean, the part that's stuck deep in the mud supporting the rest of the pole high in the air. That's right - you. And you know who's above you? The guys who learned how to work through the issues they're having with the company they're with and stuck it out for a long time. Now they're sitting on top loving life and you're hoping to once again dig your way out of the mud.

I would seriously consider riding it out where you're at, especially if you owe them money for schooling.

However, you've only been with England 3 months. Im sure they have drivers making money somewhere or they would have no drivers and they're a big company. The 12 cpm.. did you go to their school? If so, I would honor my commitment with them. I can't imagine them running a team like a solo driver. Are you positive there isn't more to the story?

Best of luck, but don't feel pressed to make a decision that will literally ruin both your careers.

Thanks Sue.

Couple things about England and this situation.

1. No I did not go to one of their schools. We both went to private schools.

2. I know that England hired a new group of driver managers, while nobody will confirm it, I'm fairly sure that we have one of the new DMs.

3. England has all the new drivers (some exceptions based on England needs) go through a 5 month team driving period with another rookie driver at very low mileage rates.

4. Once you've reached 6 months with the company there is a lot of pressure to become a trainer. Trainers are making a really good mileage rate, plus bonuses. My trainer told me that he's well into 6 figures. I made twice as much in training that I do now, because my trainer'so truck never stopped.

5. Even when the required team period is over, rates for non trainers are well under what I'm seeing being offered out there.

I left my house to start working at England at the beginning of October and have not been home. I understand no home time during training, then after training I couldn't get home time approved because other drivers were going home for thanksgiving. After that period I was told I needed to wait and request it from my new DM. By that time it was denied because other drivers on the new fleet had home time scheduled.

The whole experience with England seems to be unique to England. I've talked to others from my class and former england drivers out on the road that just walk up and give me their sympathies for who I work for.

After reading everyone's comments, I'm not gonna rush down to Laredo, I'll wait here and see what happens when I talk to the shipper tomorrow.

I appreciate all.of the advice, you guys stopped me from headed to Laredo today. Lol

I didn't realize any companies still paid that poorly. What a shame.

From my understanding, Werner can look at yout DAC , at any time. So, let's say you choose option 2, or 3. and you miss that deadline. CRE can put an abandonment on there, and Wernber will see it, call you back in from your training, and show you the door, your career basically ruined. Even if you make the deadline, you abandoned your trailer, or truck, and Werner will see it pop up, and your very short career is over. Werner is a good company, but you can bet they will talk to CRE, and how you leave there will determine if you even have a job waiting.

Talk to Werner explain the situation, and they might even waive the new policy for you, because you are already going there. If not, suck it up and go through the training, you can never have enough learning. Because if you are contemplating abandonment, you damn sure kbnow nothing at all.

Sorry, I was going to erase the last part, and hit submit instead of preview. But remember one thing. Abandoning your truck, or trailer will kill your career. You may have returned the truck, but CRE can and will still nail you to a wall, because you didn't leave correctly. I hope it works out for you.

I left my house to start working at England at the beginning of October and have not been home. I understand no home time during training, then after training I couldn't get home time approved because other drivers were going home for thanksgiving. After that period I was told I needed to wait and request it from my new DM. By that time it was denied because other drivers on the new fleet had home time scheduled.

See, that's what I'm talking about with the "bottom of the totem pole" thing. That stuff doesn't happen to established veterans at a company. They get home for Christmas and Thanksgiving. When freight is slow the veterans keep moving while the newer guys will sit. And when you need a special favor like getting switched to a different dispatcher they'll listen to the veterans but ignore the new guys most of the time.

There's no questioning that CR England has terribly low pay. They did even before I got into the industry in '93. And the fact that you're not under contract and you don't owe them money makes changing companies much easier. You're still going to be bottom of the totem pole and it's still a bad idea to change companies so early in your career. I mean, you guys presumably did your homework, thought you were with the right company, and now you're jumping ship. What makes you think you're making the right decision this time about Werner? How do you know you won't get there and find a whole new set of problems?

Whatever you do, take it slow. You have the rest of your life to make all the money you want to make as long as you don't step on your own toes and screw up that opportunity. I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone for jumping companies for that type of pay increase. I totally get that. But you have to keep the big picture in mind. Be careful with your career. Follow the right procedures for turning in trucks and don't burn any bridges.

Landion, I agree with the others that this should not be rushed into. Brett is so dead on about the truth that you are still going to be the "new guys" - and this could very well be part of the problem where you are now. Most of us when we are new to this industry come in here rearing to go and just expect all the miles we think we can handle to just be given over to us because we are so eager to keep moving and making that money. The reality of it all is that we still have got to prove ourselves, and part of that is the very real fact that the proven experienced drivers in the fleet are going to be treated preferentially over us. When freight is slow the effect is compounded on the new drivers because of that. We all want to start making some real money right off the bat, but it just takes some time to get established. Each time you bail for greener pastures just extends that time, and to be honest with you even when an experienced driver jumps ship he still has a little bit of a testing period that he will go through until the new employer is confident in his abilities. Werner, isn't going anywhere, they will be here tomorrow, next month, and even next year. Do what you've got to do, but do it thoughtfully and with care taken so that you don't give them the opportunity to put something detrimental on your DAC report.

Brett referred to something I've said before about this subject, and that is that part of the "home school" education I provided my three children is to never let the "tyranny of the urgent" run your life. Decisions made in a rush due to seemingly important outside forces have often turned out badly for me, and that is how I developed this practice of being methodical and thoughtful about important decisions in life and career.

Here is a link to the conversation Brett is thinking of. It is a slightly different situation than yours, but you may find something helpful in the back and forth of the conversation, and just an idea of what Brett is referring to about being careful in the decision making process concerning your trucking career.

never let the "tyranny of the urgent" run your life

That's it! That's exactly the expression I was referring to and I couldn't remember it to save my life!

I'm also very methodical in my decision making. I'll ponder things for quite some time before making a move, often times months or even years. When I'm certain it's the right move to make I do it with 100% confidence knowing I have the best information I can get and I've thought it through to the best of my abilities.

There really are very few time-sensitive opportunities in life. There are a lot that may seem that way or you may become anxious about making a move but how often did you really need to jump on something before the opportunity was gone? Not very often. You'll regret making decisions too quickly on a 20 to 1 ratio to the decisions you'll regret because you waited too long to make them.

Oh, I would also try to push the shipper , saying you have a medical emergency back home and need to get going asap. Light a fire under their a$$. Maybe even pay a few bucks to the guys loading so they get you outta there fast on the 26th.

some think to think about , It may be hard to finish your tur but do it .if you leave it an in time to come you tell this story over a cup of coffe who ever you tell will never trust you again,, an if you tel your new boss why you maybe late thay should understand an it will show them you are of a man of your word. I wish you luck an hope you do what is best all round

Thank you all for the comments and feedback. After reading everything that y'all said I decided to heed your advice and make sure this last load is done the right way. I've been in contact with the recruiter with werner and explained that we're stuck at a shipper AND are expecting a blizzard this evening. So if we can't get out of here before the storm hits they will bump us to Wednesday's orientation.

Not ideal, I'm not real happy about it, but considering all I gave up and life changes made to do this; I would be an idiot to not do this the right way. And would only have myself to blame for killing my new career.

Thanks again for the info and taking me of the ledge.