CR ENGLAND DON'T LEASE UNTIL YOU READ THIS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WILL REALLY HAPPEN! Salt Lake City Utah
Dear Driver,
By now you probably are thinking about the opportunity to make lots of money driving a truck. No doubt you have been to truck driving school and heard all the rah rah about leasing your truck through various companies. Sounds really good huh?
Well I was one of those drivers that did just that. I decided to take my career and go through CR England. I started with CR England on 12/20/07 and went out for 3 weeks with a trainer and 3 weeks with a leasee. The leasee is the one that is supposed to make sure you are comfortable with your decision to lease and not be a company driver. I mean, why would you if you can make over $100,000 per year, right? Probably what they told you. The truth is that if you don't have any business or financial sense (which sorry, most do not), this is not the position for you. Less than 1% of the drivers that lease actually make it. Want to see the math? Keep reading and I will show you why you don't want to do this. Did I do well doing it, yes I did. Why am I on here? Well the truth is because after everything I did for CR England, they pretty much screwed up my career like other drivers (which I didn't listen to) warned me they would.
I drove dedicated from Allentown, PA to Wilmington, OH within 2 months of working for the company. I happened to be at the right place at the right time and doing a DHL run seemed like a dream. I was getting plenty of miles, but the problem started when the trainees (CATs) started givning me issues. I actually had one threaten my life (yes, it's on a police report in OH as well as a company report). By the way, that driver still got a job with CR England.
Anyways, when it came time for the demise of DHL, I found out that my wife had cancer. It was inoperatable and she was slowly dying. Since after 10 months of running non stop for the dedicated run, I asked if I could take some time off and take care of her. I received permission from my Driver Manager not only by phone but by Qual Comm (wanted to cover my a*s). Well to make a long story short, she passed away a few weeks later and CR England decided to come and pick up my truck and charge me with an abandoned truck. To add to it, they even said I was under a load... NOT!!!!
Well obviously my DM doesn't work for the company anymore and the Qual Comm message suddenly vanished so I don't have proof anymorer about what happened. To add insult to injury, they even placed it on my DAQ report and now I cant even get another position. They even took the last of my maintenance fee of $8,000 to cover expenses that were bogus! So if you work for CR England, you will leave broke and not a chance to really go elsewhere. Oh by the way, both my trainers that worked for CR England, well they screwed them over too! I can provide the names and information if you don't believe me.
So here is the TRUTH of leasing a truck:
1800 miles solo at 90cpm= $1620 (don't let them lie, this is average)
Truck payment= -$450 per week
Insurance= -$140 per week
Fuel=-$750 (I figured low at 6 miles per gallon and $2.50 per gallon)
Fuel rebate=+$270 (this is at 15cpm which they are not generous at all)
Maintenance=-$126 (they take out 7cpm which you will NEVER get back)
Fuel Tax=-$18 (1cpm)
Truck fee=-$270 (15cpm additional to your truck payment on all miles dispatched!!!!!!
TOTAL= $136.00... YES, THIS IS CORRECT!
Now they will try to sell you this great program called (CAT). Basically, you drive with someone with 3 weeks of experience and train them to lease. You will get more miles IF you are accepted to the program and they actually have someone for you (very seldom do). Is your life really worth an extra $400 a week???? DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT!!!! LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN "DON'T DO IT"!!! If you do, you will regret your future in the business. If I can at least keep 1 driver from making the same mistake I made, well I did my job. Thank you for reading, and good luck on the road.
Eric
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on CR England
12 Updates & Rebuttals
CBFF
Gunnison,Colorado,
off time?
#13UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, November 30, 2013
Here is where your problem lies. Your business related background. You put all these figures up to discourage people. You tout your education. In your number figures, you put down all your expenses, and what you were taking home weekly. But with you business smarts that you recieved through your higher education, you requested SIX WEEKS OFF! Using your math you posted, did you not become concerned with the fact that you were still accumulating debt for insurance and truck payments? Parking that truck, you are going in the hole, over 600 dollars a week. And CR England is on the hook for making lease payments to Freightliner each week. I think with your great business training and smart, you would have developed a good working relationship with your DM, and with Horizon leasing. What you should have done, is written a letter to DM, Horizon, and CR England upper management. Your main concern should have been with Horizon Leasing, and actually getting managment to give you a leave of absence, and have Horizon take back your truck, and upon your return, lease you a different truck. I see nothing but bad managment decisions on your part. I was at CR England the same time you were. I experienced the feast or famine. When you are making truck payments, 6 weeks off is the WORST business decision that you could possibly have ever made, without turning that truck back in.
Eric
Las Vegas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Question the writer?
#13Author of original report
Tue, February 23, 2010
Why the hell would I lie about anything? I don't care if you do it or not, was telling people my own personal experience. I didn't say you can't make money, but it takes all the time on the road with little to no home time. I spent 10 months straight on the road, and knew I was going to live in my truck, so took the dedicated run. It was more money per run as well as I knew what my milage was going to be. Secondly, I have a Bachelors in Business Development, so I was one of the very few that make a little money. There were alot of risks, and this is only for about 1% of those that understand business and finance. Thirdly, when I left, they screwed up my DAQ report on some bogus claim that I abondoned my truck in PA. I had permission from my DM, his supervisor thru my qualcomm to take 6 weeks for a personal matter. When I came back, none of them worked there anymore and now I have fought a losing battle. So good luck to those that are hard headed and see the dollar signs.
maingame123
New Jersey,USA
DO THE MATH (including your bills at home)
#13UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, February 23, 2010
I am an ex driver with CR England. I went through their whole program and I can tell you first hand THEY WANT YOU TO LEASE A TRUCK... As a driver you have to realize that no matter the company all these programs are setup to make the company maximum profit.
Regardless of the figures or what % the fuel surcharge is or the amount of escrow and all these other so called fixed expenses they will "RUN" through for you, you are not going to make it home with more than a few hundred dollars. What you have done is took all the liability off their shoulders (you pay for the truck, fuel, insurance - health and truck, taxes - fuel, road & mileage, maintenance etc) On top of that they are going to over charge you for the truck payment, ie. 450/wk = 1800/month versus saving your money and going to get your own truck putting 6000 down and 1100/month even with bad credit...
After all these WORK expenses and realizing you have no paid vacation or sick days lol now stop and think about your bills at home (isn't that why your driving in the first place ??? ) IN SHORT, if you have a home and a family to support and you cant do it on $700/wk I wouldn't advise leasing a truck from a company
There are 3 types of drivers: Company, Lease and Owner-Op. Dont confuse a LEASE driver with an Owner Op.. If things don't work out you have no truck to walk away with.. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND DO THE MATH !!!
440Music
Chicago,Illinois,
United States of America
I Question The Writer Honesty
#13General Comment
Sun, February 14, 2010
Does anyone else find the errors with Eric's report?
I'm looking into leasing a truck because I figure after driving for 2 years for someone else it's going to be impossible for me to continue on as a driver if I keep driving company trucks. That's why I'm commenting on this report.
Frist Eric said he started his driving career with CREngland, ok cool, big company should be able to get you the miles. The problem is that he was a trainee for 3 weeks then went out with a lessor for 3 weeks and only lasted 10 months. Well how did he qualify to be a trainer? I thought you had to have a minimum of 1 year before you could be a trainer? Second, he's in Vegas but he's running a dedicate route from Allentown, PA to Wilmington, OH. Now I'm not challenging his route but why would you choose a run that is half the country away from home? Great planning if you want to get home once in a while. (NOT) Thrid when did the DAC report change it's name to DAQ? Is it just me or did you find errors in this report.
I spent the last 2 years talking with O/O and L/O about what it takes to own a truck and the advice I got was from one extreme to the next. But the one common thing they all said was get 18 to 24 months of driving before you try to buy or lease a truck.
TBones
CB Handle = Music
Happy
Victorville,California,
U.S.A.
i am so sorry u leased
#13Consumer Comment
Wed, July 29, 2009
i am so sorry u leased. dont every lease with any company why do u think the companys try to sell it so much cause they make money. be a company driver no matter what when u go thru phase 2 with england it is with a ic for any one that doesnt know ic stands for (independent contractor) that means leasing. when going to school for them thats all they do is try to make u lease thats why 2nd phase it is only with ics. the ics make money if u lease a happy little bonus for them and when u have no money coming in u will try to help your your family any way u can so with cr england DONT LEASE u will be happy
Paknightdriver
Abbottstown,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Why?
#13Consumer Comment
Wed, July 08, 2009
Why in the world would someone want to "RENT" a truck, pay all the expenses, have all the headaches, for a whopping $30,000 a year net?
Are you serious?
As a company driver, I make $50-$55,000 per year. Am home every weekend, have full benefits including 401K.
Why do you people find this Lease Purchase so inviting?
Gary
Toledo,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Cr England Driver
#13UPDATE Employee
Mon, June 08, 2009
England is a conpamy that is set-up as a team conpamy and only team. you can't make it as a solo. the lease program is a ok one. the helped me start my onw business and i've been very sucessful. i am a phase 2 trainer (CAT) and if i have a problem with a student he or she gets droped off at a hotel and england deals with it tomorrow.
Anonymous
Harrison Township,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Lease
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
The truck lease option typically benefits the company not the driver especially when the fuel prices are high. Unless a driver has 5-10 years experience as a company driver, understands the business, has a laptop with a good accounting software program, a reliable vehicle, etc., it might not be a good idea. And, an actual owner operator would experience the same issues contained in this report and more if the driver makes an unlucky decision buying a used truck.
I met only one owner operator who had 20 years experience owning several restaurants before buying a truck, who made any money in the trucking business. Part of his success was the old COE he was driving was previously well-maintained and the initial investment was low. And, the company he ran for used a 70/30 split after tax on each run and the customer base was reliable with continuos freight movement.
Heed the advice in this report.
Anonymous
Harrison Township,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Lease
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
The truck lease option typically benefits the company not the driver especially when the fuel prices are high. Unless a driver has 5-10 years experience as a company driver, understands the business, has a laptop with a good accounting software program, a reliable vehicle, etc., it might not be a good idea. And, an actual owner operator would experience the same issues contained in this report and more if the driver makes an unlucky decision buying a used truck.
I met only one owner operator who had 20 years experience owning several restaurants before buying a truck, who made any money in the trucking business. Part of his success was the old COE he was driving was previously well-maintained and the initial investment was low. And, the company he ran for used a 70/30 split after tax on each run and the customer base was reliable with continuos freight movement.
Heed the advice in this report.
Anonymous
Harrison Township,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Lease
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
The truck lease option typically benefits the company not the driver especially when the fuel prices are high. Unless a driver has 5-10 years experience as a company driver, understands the business, has a laptop with a good accounting software program, a reliable vehicle, etc., it might not be a good idea. And, an actual owner operator would experience the same issues contained in this report and more if the driver makes an unlucky decision buying a used truck.
I met only one owner operator who had 20 years experience owning several restaurants before buying a truck, who made any money in the trucking business. Part of his success was the old COE he was driving was previously well-maintained and the initial investment was low. And, the company he ran for used a 70/30 split after tax on each run and the customer base was reliable with continuos freight movement.
Heed the advice in this report.
Anonymous
Harrison Township,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Lease
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
The truck lease option typically benefits the company not the driver especially when the fuel prices are high. Unless a driver has 5-10 years experience as a company driver, understands the business, has a laptop with a good accounting software program, a reliable vehicle, etc., it might not be a good idea. And, an actual owner operator would experience the same issues contained in this report and more if the driver makes an unlucky decision buying a used truck.
I met only one owner operator who had 20 years experience owning several restaurants before buying a truck, who made any money in the trucking business. Part of his success was the old COE he was driving was previously well-maintained and the initial investment was low. And, the company he ran for used a 70/30 split after tax on each run and the customer base was reliable with continuos freight movement.
Heed the advice in this report.
Kane
Myrtle Beach,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Current Lease Plan
#13UPDATE Employee
Mon, May 11, 2009
I definitely agree that I won't put an inexperienced driver on my truck as long as I'm liable for the damages they could cause (grinding gears, hitting objects, etc.). Let them go on company trucks. I think you might have been gone from the company before I came in, so I don't know what the lease plan was then. But you definitely could have done better under the current plan.
First, if you choose to run dedicated, then you're choosing the miles that comes with it. So if 1,800 miles won't cut it for you, don't choose the route, and stay in Over the Road. It's your business, your choice. I average about 2,500 miles a week. Last week I pulled 3,000. But let's stick with 2,500.
Secondly, there's a fuel cap program for you as long as you can maintain 5.0mpg and 75% fuel stop compliance (fueling on network). Unless you idle excessively, speed, run in a lower gear (not top gear), forget your cruise control or never maintain your truck, there's no excuse to qualify for this program on most routes. It's a rolling 30-day average. If you're not getting 5.0mpg over the month, there's something wrong with your driving or your truck. The program caps your fuel price at $1.25/gallon. I average about 6.5mpg in a Century. Can be higher in other models like the ProStar (8mpg)
Additionally, there was an increase in insurance premiums for 2009, so let's look at the numbers again. You can also reduce your VMR rate with safety award points.
Miles Driven: 2,500 (conservative average)
Revenue $0.90 per paid mile: $2,250
Fuel 6.5mpg @ $1.25/g: $480.77
VMR (admin costs) $0.14/mile: $350
My awards rebate $0.01/mile: $25
Truck Fund rebate $0.01/mile: $25
Adjusted VMR: $300
Maintenance Reserve $.07/mile: $175 (earns interest)
Fuel Tax $.015/mile: $37.50
Truck Payment: $459.00
Truck Insurance: $204.16
Net Check: $593.57 (26% profit from your business)
Projected Gross Annual: $117,000
Projected Gross Net Profit: $30,865