C.R. England

My husband wants to start truck driving, he’s already talked to C.R. England about training but I’ve read so many bad reviews online. The program starts the 16th of this month, they said they would pay for tuition, travel, a hotel all while paying him a weekly income. He’s never been in a accident, doesn’t have any tickets or a criminal record. I think he should look around more but we can’t go how many ever weeks for training without the income. I’m 7 months pregnant and I am not working. I was wondering if C.R. England is as bad as they say. And if they work with you on home time or how long he’d be gone at a time. Or if there were any other programs that pay you during training?

Hello Cheyenne - welcome to our forum!

Here's the deal with starting a trucking career - it takes a lot of Commitment. Right now you guys have several things working against your potential success at trucking. For your husband to make the commitment to trucking while you're 7 months pregnant sounds crazy to me! Maybe you guys can do it, but that just sounds like a bad combination of two high level commitments.

Here's why you find so many bad reviews on C. R. England: people try and start their careers there while completely underestimating the commitment required. They fail, go home, and then get online and blame the company. The truth is that they were in no way prepared for the lifestyle changes required. It's not easy starting a trucking career, and something like having a new baby at home just multiplies the frustrations and difficulties.

I'm not saying it can't be done. You two may be able to handle it, but it sounds tough to me. You have other options, and I know that Roehl pays during their training. They also will be more flexible on home time.

Here's a list of Paid CDL Training Programs that you can go through. Spend a little time researching them and spend a lot of time talking with each other about the commitment you both will be making.

We've had a few members come through here that have found success at C.R. England. As Old School pointed out most reviews are written by people who failed by their own doing. C.R. England isn't in the business to train new drivers. They train drivers with the hope that they will become productive drivers that can help them turn a profit. Is CRE mainly teams? Many people find that it's hard to sleep in a moving truck, and that it's too cramped sharing a space the size of a walk in closet with a stranger, or even a close friend.

Trucking is very difficult on families and something that needs to be considered especially when children are involved. Even as a local driver on the days I work I'm often only off work for 10 to 11 hours before needing to be back. Fit my commute, shower, eat, sleep and I'm often cutting into my sleep time so I can spend time with my family. Many days I get 4 to 5 hours of sleep. I often feel guilt that in a sense my wife is raising our 3 young children alone. Has your husband considered flatbed? There are companies such as TMC and McElroy (among others) that can get them home nearly every weekend while still earning an excellent paycheck. TMC also pays you $500 a week during CDL school and training. You can't go wrong with C.R. England but just be sure you understand how his time off will work. Most companies you earn 1 day home per week out. It's also not an exact science, they will try to get him home on time but sometimes things happen and it will be delayed a couple days, or he may even get home early. With all that being said I love trucking, it provides my family with many opportunities due to the pay as well as the benefits. Just know there are sacrifices that will be made by him as well as your family.

Based on my own experience when me and my wife had our daughter there wouldn't of been a chance in hell I could of been over the road. For a various reasons. But mainly the postpartum that she had forever it seemed, the lack of sleep, and anxiety of stuff like sudden infant death syndrome it just wouldn't of worked out. And it wouldn't of been fair to her in my opinion to be away. That's what your husband is trying to do. Be over the road. Out for weeks out a time.

So I believe its a valid question unless you have a huge family support system, and you may very well have one, is it something YOU will be able handle? Not so much him.

I agree with all the points above, espically how hard it will be on both of you. CDL school is not a time to be distracted. A company program is fast paced and will require his full attention. That is hard under the best conditions.

This is the first time I have heard CR England is paying a wage during school. I knew Roehl started it sometime ago. I’m happy to hear other companies are starting it.

With a clean background he sounds like a good canidate for about any program. He can apply off this site and it will be sent out to many companies, that should give more choice.

I wish you both all the best in this process

I would highly recommend Roehl Transport as a company to get your CDL. They have great training and multiple home time options. But before you do anything please please please You and your husband research and understand what he is getting himself into. Trucking is a lifestyle and the fact that you are having a child in 2 months is going to make a challenging career even harder. A lot of people get into this business as a way to make “quick and easy” money and they underestimate what it takes to be successful. I am one of these people! Thankfully after a lot of hard work and discipline I plowed through and have found success, but it was not easy. Best of luck to you and your husband! Trucking is a rewarding and finically stable career but it is also a lifestyle.

I suggest prime inc. You get 1 day of home time for every week your on the road they want to stay out 3 to 4 weeks at a time tho. But in training there is 200 dollar advance until he get to the TNT phase we’re he will get 700 guaranteed if he’s available for dispatch for the first 40000 miles with trainer and 800 for the last 10k. To me Prime has the best training program and it’s not just a starter company it’s somewhere you can be for a long time look into CRST too.

This is the first time I have heard CR England is paying a wage during school.

I agree with this. Cheyenne, I think you need to make sure you understand the details on this. I'm not certain you are understanding it correctly.

A big takeaway I'm getting from this that I'll mention is the time away from home in the very beginning of getting a CDL.

Between school and going out with a trainer to learn just the basics of this profession, in the first three or four months, he's going to be lucky to come home for two weeks total. If he is home longer, he's not making a paycheck.

If he started school today, graduated in six weeks, then goes out with his trainer, he could be on the opposite side of the country on your due date. What then?

This may be a terrible time to think about starting a driving career.

Another point to consider. Say he goes off to do this, then in 2 weeks or 3 has to go home and quit school to be with you , You could be on the hook for the tuition, which ever company he starts training with. Don't need that extra burden as well on you