C.R. England Jobs: Driver Pay, Requirements, and Reviews

With over 100 years in the haulage industry, C.R. England is one of America’s longest-standing trucking firms and one of the country’s largest temperature-controlled trucking firms. Founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1920, the family-owned business proudly states its commitments to public safety, social responsibility, and financial stability.

Today the firm is still owned and managed by the England family, with several different divisions and revenues of over $500 million. It’s won multiple awards, including being chosen as a 2021 U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal.

If you’re considering a career as a truck driver with C.R. England, read on to learn about the types of roles available, C.R. England driver pay, benefits, training, and more.

Types of C.R. England Truck Driving Jobs

C.R. England offers several different truck driving roles. Drivers may work on a solo basis, as part of a team (with up to three people per truck), or as a trainer.

Dedicated

The largest division at C.R. England is the dedicated division, in which drivers move loads for just one customer. The company has longstanding contracts with several leading brands, including Walmart, Anheuser Busch, and Dollar Tree. Dedicated routes are ideal for drivers who want regular routes, predictable miles, and home time.

Over the Road (OTR)

C.R. England’s OTR driving jobs involve hauling loads across the country using refrigerated trailers. The routes and schedules vary, and drivers are usually away from home for days or even weeks at a time.

Intermodal

This role is a little more unique and involves moving freight between different modes of transportation. C.R. England’s intermodal drivers pick up and move refrigerated containers between the rail yards on America’s West, East, and Gulf coasts, to and from manufacturers, and to outgoing shipping depots. Drivers typically return home every night—the most home time in any of C.R. England’s divisions.

Local

As the name may suggest, local drivers stick to a smaller regional area, typically moving freight from distribution centers to local outlets. Local C.R. England jobs involve flexible hours and routes and daily home time.

Is C.R. England No-Touch Freight?

Many of C.R England’s truck driver roles involve working with no-touch freight, which means that the driver never has to deal with the loading and unloading of their haul. This not only takes some of the hard physical work out of the job but frees up the driver’s time for other tasks, such as making phone calls, on-the-job admin, or just for taking a well-earned break before setting off for the next big journey.

What Does C.R. England Pay?

The amount C.R. England drivers earn depends on several factors, such as whether they are working a dedicated route, the area they’re based in, the miles they drive, and their previous work experience. Drivers get paid per mile and also receive a variety of other bonuses and perks.

The company has implemented several driver pay raises since 2018, with OTR paychecks reportedly increasing by an average of around 50% in that time. In April 2021, the company introduced the largest overall percentage increase for driver pay in its history and reduced its top-level mileage pay bands so that drivers at the higher levels could earn a better rate.

C.R. England also participates in a veteran apprenticeship program called Service to Semis. This allows GI Bill®-eligible veterans to receive a tax-free monthly stipend in addition to their regular pay for the first year of employment. The company also offers veterans ongoing assistance through its Veteran Support Network.

C.R. England Driver Pay by City

C.R. England truck driving jobs vary by type of position more than city, with most cities offering up to $73,000 per year for solo driving jobs.

C.R. England provides several bonus plans for its drivers, including mileage, safety, and fuel-saving bonuses, and awards for safe driving. Employees also receive health and life insurance, a family rider plan, vacation pay, a 401(k) with company participation, and stock ownership plans.

C.R. England Driver Perks and Benefits

In addition to its regular benefits, the company is currently offering drivers in some areas a $10,000 sign-on bonus and an additional $2,500 retention bonus.

C.R. England Truck Driver Requirements

In order to drive trucks for C.R. England, all drivers must meet the following requirements:

Be at least 21 years old
Hold a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL A) or a learner’s permit with the intention of completing CDL school
If under 23 years old: have a completely clean driving record
If over 23 years old: have a good driving record with no more than one preventable accident in the past year (three in the past five years); no more than three moving violations in the past three years; no DUIs in the last seven years (two in your lifetime); and no reckless driving charges or license suspensions
Pass physical, drug, alcohol, and vision tests
Meet criminal record policy requirements
Pass a C.R. England road test

If you already have your CDL but don’t yet have truck driving experience, C.R. England has hundreds of “no experience required” positions that can help you advance your truck driving career.

Attend CDL School With C.R. England

To earn your CDL, you can attend one of C.R. England’s Premier Truck Driving Schools in Colton, CA; Laredo, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; and Valparaiso, Indiana. If a trainee doesn’t live near any of these locations, the company will pay for travel and hotel accommodation while studying, which takes around 17 days.

Once trainees have completed CDL school, they enter the company’s two-phase training program. In Phase One, trainees drive with a professional mentor for 150 driving hours or about one month. They then move to Phase Two of the program, where they partner with another trainee and drive as a team. Phase Two takes 150 days, or around five months, to complete. Once fully trained, drivers can apply for their desired C.R. England role.

Tuition costs $5,995, though there is no initial upfront cost, and in many cases, most of the fee is paid by C.R. England through their reimbursement program. Per this agreement, new employees start to make weekly payments toward their tuition after being hired, paying a total of $1,860 ($1,395 for veterans) over 12 months. C.R. England pays the remaining balance, and drivers are cleared of any further financial obligation. However, if drivers leave the company before the end of their initial 12-month contract period, they are responsible for the remainder of the loan, plus interest.

Does C.R. England Pay You During Training?

Once trainee drivers have completed C.R. England’s CDL training school, they become eligible for the company’s paid, two-phase training program. Throughout the process, trainees receive an availability pay guarantee if they can work each day of the week.

C.R. England Driver Application Instructions

If you’re interested in working as a truck driver for C.R. England, you’ll first need to fill out an application form. You’ll need to provide various information, including your Social Security number, home address history, driver’s license history, employment history, details of any recent traffic accidents or violations, and military history (if applicable). If successful, a recruiter moves you to the next stage of the process.

“This is a crazy intense program,” says Patricia, a C.R. England CDL trainee, in her detailed training diary. “If you are not 100% focused and committed to getting what you can from this school you will fail. I am happy with my choice to come here.”

Is C.R. England a Good Company to Work For?

Former and current employees give C.R. England mixed reviews, though they are generally favorable overall. Drivers praise the family-run feel of the business and say that they get plenty of miles, though they can experience long stretches without a home visit. Some also feel that the training facilities and salaries have room for improvement.

C.R. England Reviews of Truck Driving Jobs

On Facebook, current driver Carl Dedrick says, “Been working for CR England going on 2 years, and it’s a great school where the staff wants you to succeed at learning a decent trade!! I currently drive dedicated, and have a great DM [driver mentor]. I’m always treated like family here!!”

“As far as C.R England goes, they get you the miles,” explains Trucker Al on YouTube. “It all depends on who your DM is, I’ve had students tell me that their DMs run them non-stop, they’re getting 4,000-4,500 miles per week. I’ve had other students say that their DMs suck and they’re only getting 2,200 miles per week. But if you prove yourself to your DM he’s going to get you better loads, he’s going to get you more miles.”

“Good place to start out if you’re focused,” says a current driver in Los Angeles. “Pros? Consistent work, newer equipment, and it’s a good company to get experience, pay is ok. Cons? Pay could be better, sometimes it’s hard to reach people, being away from home a lot gets old fast. My advice to management? Be even more people oriented, and pay attention to detail.“