CR England Or Swift For A New Driver?
Topic 32057 | Page 1
Honestly I would apply everywhere and see who offers. CRE is a great company for people who need second chances but the pay is much lower than you could get elsewhere.
Honestly I would apply everywhere and see who offers. CRE is a great company for people who need second chances but the pay is much lower than you could get elsewhere.
Thank you! That's actually what I was thinking. I will take the offer with the company who will sign the contract with me first.
Honestly I would apply everywhere and see who offers. CRE is a great company for people who need second chances but the pay is much lower than you could get elsewhere.
Thank you! That's actually what I was thinking. I will take the offer with the company who will sign the contract with me first.
Hey Kangshi!
Welcome to TT !! Wish you would've come here 'first' for advice, but ... it's all good. We can jump in & help, as Kearsey has! Check out her Y/T channel, of the same name, too.
Have you applied here? >Apply For Paid CDL Training!
Also, some great reads: Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
Brett's FREE book will let you know what's to come! Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving
It would help if you could add your state, (Indiana I'm guessing?) to your profile; some of the vets of this site may have additional information, regarding your hiring area.
One more suggestion; a 'diamond' of a 2nd chance company (that you may be in hiring area for:) DutchMaid Logistics.
Lastly, read some of Banks' stuff. He's back with FXF, but took a hiatus, to haul pop (soda.) Think it was Pepsi. You could easily get in with one of those brand delivery gigs; though it's not suggested, for new drivers.
Hope this helps a bit;
~ Anne & Tom ~
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
.... I will take the offer with the company who will sign the contract with me first.
That's a mistake. I'd definitely weigh your options and see which program best fits your needs.
Night and day.
CRE is almost exclusively team driving reefer loads. Team driving has its own challenges. First, you're trusting that driver with your LIFE!!! I started out teaming and my first co-driver wrecked the truck while I was asleep in the sleeper berth. He hit a parked truck on the side of the road and drug it 40'. Totaled our trailer. Got fired. Second, you're trusting that driver with your income. If the other driver wants home time, gets sick, quits or gets fired you're not earning. It can take weeks to get a new co-driver and get back on the road again. Even if everything is going smoothly you'll be sleeping almost every night in a moving truck right next to the trailer's LOUD reefer unit. In addition to the usual truck and trailer maintenance issues (fixing dead lights, replacing tires, etc.) you now get to worry about keeping the reefer unit running. One more thing to break. If there's a problem you generally have to take it to the nearest repair facility and wait (unpaid) until it's fixed. Reefer is almost always live load/unload. Just because you roll into a warehouse doesn't mean they drop everything to unload you. I tell folks looking at reefer to get a big screen and satellite TV for their truck. You will often have to wait for HOURS to get loaded or unloaded, wait some more for the lumper bill. Once you pay the lumpers you get to wait some more for signed bills of lading.
Swift is generally solo driving dry vans. Knight/Swift is the largest freight company in the US so they have many opportunities besides OTR. When you're done driving for the day you find a place to park and call it a night. You are in charge of managing your hours, not dependent on someone else's work ethic so you can make a buck. Dry van is usually drop and hook - you drop the trailer and hitch to an empty trailer when you arrive at the receiver. Live loads/unloads are rare. I can guarantee you'll earn more at Swift.
Now, CRE will give a second chance to drivers who need it. Just like 1099 employment they are a solution for some drivers with limited options. It doesn't sound like you're in that category if Swift is willing to give you a shot.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I had a really good nine year run with Swift. Zero regrets with my experience there. Enjoyed it.
That said, I completely agree with Kersey. Cast your net and see what you catch.
I had a really good nine year run with Swift. Zero regrets with my experience there. Enjoyed it.
That said, I completely agree with Kersey. Cast your net and see what you catch.
TOTALLY agree, G' ~ didn't realized Swift was in the running to give him a chance; he didn't make that clear. If that's the case, then HECK yeah!
DML is reefer , as well. CRE's training method IS scary.
If SWIFT will take on the o/p, absolutely agree.
~ Anne ~
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Anne wrote:
TOTALLY agree, G' ~ didn't realized Swift was in the running to give him a chance; he didn't make that clear. If that's the case, then HECK yeah!
I think you might have this thread confused with one of the others…
Anne wrote:
TOTALLY agree, G' ~ didn't realize Swift was in the running to give him a chance; he didn't make that clear. If that's the case, then HECK yeah!
I think you might have this thread confused with one of the others…
Partially, yes . . . in my mind... but overall, WHY was this even a question?? Is there no common .. cents ?!?!
His title was CRE or Swift ... each had a recruiter at his school. The 'expired/suspended' license in 2018 for as long as it was, might be an issue. FTA for a seatbelt suspension, isn't looked upon highly. He should've come here first!! Agree ?!?!? ;)
I'm enamored that Swift would take him on; yet I know the other thread we speak of. I sure DID do some 'cross thinking' .. mea culpa; it showed!!!!
Sorry for the confusion. I meant what I knew, and I knew what I meant. . ~ ~ .. they ARE similar, though! I may have 'intertwined' my thought processes, but 6 weeks with a suspended license for something so simple. . . limits choices, perhaps. It would, if I were hiring someone.
So many people think that it's a 'driver's' market, and it SURE is, for the experienced, committed, and aspiring with acuity!
Always grateful for ya having my SIX, G' !
Got ya, too.
~ Anne ~
ps: Wanna know a secret? Yep. . . with all the 'new' stuff; I'll NEVER qualify for Prime. Not the Amazon Prime but the other Prime that was the first Prime that is the Incorporated Prime, that doesn't depend on a lame logo that can be taken wrong by someone with TD (not me..) but the Prime that Rainy and SO many represent here, with the 'cubism' logo, which imho is BETTER than the suggestive logo by the Amazon Prime, which is NOT an incorporated Prime. I'm liking Swift. I will FLIP those bash videos upside down. I have my reasons, and Tom is behind me. Prime (Inc.) not Amazon Prime not Prime wouldn't have me!!!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
One thing to consider with C.R. England is that you will be running teams. You might really enjoy it, but what if you don't? I sure didn't and many other folks on this site didn't either and after whatever time period you are on a truck with a trainer you may be longing to never have anyone on you're truck again. Swift is a huge company with ALOT of options, if you find out you hate OTR chances are Swift has something else for you, and contrary to what you may hear about Swift they invest in their drivers and work hard at driver retention
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Hi, I need help and advice. I just got my cdl class A permit in Indiana. Passed 3 tests and physical exam. I applied to couple trucking companies and currently talking to CRE recruiters and will get an interview with their client for a dedicated driver position. But there was a recruiter from Swift constantly reaching out to me through text messages and emails. So which one is better? CRE or Swift? And here are some of factors might be considered as strength or weakness for me becoming a truck driver.
1. I'm 33 years old.
2. My DOT medical card expire in 6 months, on 01/01/2023. My high blood pressure was high when I visited the doctor last time. But I don't have major health problem. I just didn't know what the dot physical exam was about, and thought my employer sent me to do a drug test. But I definitely can pass the next one no problem.
3. Single with no kids. I'm willing to be away from home for weeks and months.
4. Have loading and unloading truck by hands experiences. I'm willing to help loading and unloading truck if it's necessary.
5. License was suspended for one and hale month in 2018 due the failure to appear in court for a seat belt ticket. That's the reason my employer denied my application for the truck driver position. I have nothing else on driving records in five years. No misdemeanor, felony, accident nor DUI. No any tickets in 3 years.
I would appreciate any input.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence