Truck Driving School

Trucking Schools Continue to See Increase

As the economic downturn continues (though many believe we are now in the recovery stage), trucking schools are still experiencing a high boost in enrollment as many people seek out new careers, including one as a long-haul trucker.  Trucking will remain an important component of the economy since nearly everything consumed in this country – from toys and cars to lumber and fabric – is transported by commercial truck at one point or another.  Subsequently, the high enrollment at trucking schools across the United States is expected to remain unusually high throughout the remainder of the summer and into the fall.

Love to drive and want to see the country?  If you are one of the many interested in learning what it takes to begin a new trucking career and how you can get started, check out C.R. England’s four trucking schools located throughout the country.

The C.R. England Student Blog

I realize I’ve posted about the C.R. England truck driving schools before but I thought I’d share a valuable resource that could be beneficial for those who are considering attending one.  The C.R. England student blog is an assortment of accounts and testimonials straight from the horse’s mouth: the students themselves.  Read a few for yourself and you may just see why C.R. England has one of the best training programs in the country.

C.R. England Tuition Overview

In conjunction with the previous post addressing how to pay for truck driving school, I thought it was only fitting to give a brief overview of the financial alternatives CR England provides students.

Tuition at any one of CR England’s four trucking schools is $2,995 (which includes temporary lodging during training if you need it).  All students are required to pay an additional, non-refundable $50 administrative fee when applying.

Pay In Full – Students who pay in full upfront (cash, credit card, or check) can receive a $1,000 discount on their tuition bringing the total cost to just $1,995.

Financing – For students who need to finance their training, CR England offers financing through Eagle Atlantic Financial Services, which pays the $2,995 tuition at 18% interest.  If you’re worried about your credit (or lack thereof), financing with CR England doesn’t require any cosigners or credit requirements.  Starting four weeks from the date the loan is issued, students who choose to finance will have $55 deducted from their paycheck for 18 weeks.  After that, $75 will be deducted from each paycheck until the loan (plus interested) is paid off.

Independent Contractor Program – CR England will pay the full tuition for students who qualify for and enroll in the Independent Contractor Program.  Once a driver signs their truck lease, CR England will pay the $55 a week loan payment for as long as they remain in the program or until the loan is paid off.

And to make the deal even sweeter, CR England offers a $1,000 reimbursement for any company drivers who complete three years of driving for the company.

To learn more about CR England’s truck driving schools, click here.

Need Dough for Driving School?

It’s no secret that truck driving school is expensive; the average cost of training is nearly $4,000. If you’re interested in attending trucking school but don’t have access to that kind of dispensable money (who does?), take heart! I’ll show you just a few of the many ways to finance your new and exciting career behind-the-wheel.

Federal Student Loan Programs – Students at truck driving schools are eligible for federal student loan programs just as students attending traditional colleges and universities. You can submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online to receive federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance. Federal loans are borrowed money that must be repaid (with interest) upon completion of your education.

Federal Grants – Sometimes referred to as Gift Aid, certain people qualify for grants which do not have to be repaid. Grants are often given to individuals with low income, people who have served in the military, and much more. You can fill out a FAFSA to see what grants you are eligible for or visit Grants.gov. The amount of a grant given depends on the individual’s needs.

Workforce Investment Act – Passed in 1998, the WIA allots federal funds that are used to help train disadvantaged and dislocated adult workers and youth.

Veterans Employment and Training – If you are a veteran, you can take advantage of the VETS program which provides funds to train veterans, reservists, and National Guard members.

Vocational Rehabilitation – If you are a veteran with service-related disabilities, you may qualify for The Department of Veterans Affair’s Veterans Benefits Administration’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E). The program provides disabled vets with vocational rehabilitation which enables vets to retrain for a job in the workforce.

Employer-Based Financing – Most truck driving companies offer employer-based financing in which they will pay your tuition with a predetermined interest rate. The terms of the financing will vary with each company, so ask about them before signing with a trucking company.

Tuition Reimbursement – There are many truck driving companies that will actually pay for your training if you agree to work for them after graduation. There’s typically a minimum amount of time you must work for them in order to not have to pay the tuition back (generally two to three years).

When checking out a truck driving school, speak to a financial assistance counselor to find out what all your options are. They can help determine which would be best for you and your financial situation.

CR England Trucking Schools: Still Going Strong

It’s no secret that times are tough and subsequently, virtually every industry in the country has been impacted by the economic crisis – some more significantly than others.  Even the trucking industry has started to feel the crunch, despite a steady increase in applicants looking for work.  In fact, many truck driving companies (including a handful of well-known, national ones) have completely stopped trucking school operations and even instituted hiring freezes.  But there’s one trucking corporation you won’t see taking such measures…wanna take a guess?

The four schools owned by CR England (see here) are still in operation and there are no plans of slowing down or downsizing, especially since the number of individuals interested in truck driving has significantly increased since the recession began.  The company is still hiring and encourages anyone interested in beginning a long-haul truck driving career (or drivers wanting to switch carriers) to find out more about the company’s training (click here for further information on CR England’s truck driving schools  including training requirements, training timelines, and tuition).

CR England offers safety-driven training programs that utilize top-of-the-line equipment.  Since the company places the utmost importance on safety and comprehensive training,  any drivers who would like to work for CR England are required to complete company training based on their level of experience; even experienced truck drivers must attend a three and a half day company orientation prior to being hired.