With a truck driving job it is imperative that you sat awake and alert while behind the wheel. Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially when you are on a long expanse of highway with nothing around you but golden fields and blue skies with the warm sunlight gently shining through your windows…  But of you aren’t careful, SLAM! You will be woken up in a very unpleasant way.

As previously stated, it is imperative to be alert while driving behind the wheel. However, it’s a simple fact of life that we all have days that we are just tired and everything seems to drag, but what if those days come one right after another? Have you ever considered that your constant drowsiness might be a medical condition?  If you are tired day after day you might have the condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes pauses in breathing during sleep, and takes away the good, quality sleep needed to be fully alert during the rest of the day.

Sleep apnea often goes unrecognized and untreated and is more prevalent than you may think, even in the truck driving industry. Sleep apnea in truck drivers is serious and dangerous. It can cause drivers to fall asleep at the wheel and also increase the risk of a heart attack.

Some signs of sleep apnea are snoring, gasping or choking while sleeping, concentration and memory problems, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Truck drivers who have these or other symptoms should notify their doctor immediately. If you do have sleep apnea, there are things you can do to improve your sleep and reduce or eliminate your symptoms.

One of the things you can do is take a look at your lifestyle. Is there anything you think of that might inhibit your ability to sleep? If you are overweight, try exercising and eating a healthier diet to lose some weight, even moderate weight loss can improve sleep apnea. You may also want to try sleeping on your side or stomach or quitting smoking.

If a lifestyle change is not for you, or you believe it is not the cause of your loss of sleep, there are medical treatments available. One option is called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP involved wearing a mask over your nose while sleeping to ensure you are getting the pressure you need to breathe correctly during the night. There are also oral appliances to help position the jaw correctly.

The methods mentioned above are only a few ways to help you with your sleep apnea issues, but there are more. This is a very common condition and is prevalent in the trucking. In fact, according to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study, almost one-third of commercial drivers have some degree of sleep apnea.

It is important to know the signs of this condition and if you believe you may have sleep apnea take the proper steps to treat it before it is too late. A truck driving job can be risky enough with so many variables on the road, don’t make it worse by driving drowsy.

In the trucking industry, there are plenty of truck driving options and with each option come different benefits. CR England has trucking choices such as Dedicated, Regional and Intermodal, each of which provide drivers with consistency and sometimes even increased home time. So, with all these other options some may ask, what is it that makes Over the Road trucking so great?

OTR actually has many benefits and is often times what people think of first when thinking of a truck driving job. With OTR, or national trucking, you are driving across the nation. You aren’t assigned to one small area like some other divisions of trucking. With OTR you can be in Massachusetts one week then Texas the next. Driving OTR with CR England means you can have a series of routes that cross through 48 states.

With routes like this, Over the Road trucking provides drivers with the opportunity to see more of the nation. The United States is a wondrous country in that so many states are different. Each state has its own unique landscape and culture and with an OTR truck driving job, you can see them all.

Another great aspect of OTR is the variety of the job. Routes for OTR drivers often change depending on demand. Along with route changes, national truck drivers also have changes in their cargo. It’s true that some truckers see this as a hassle, but there are plenty of others who really appreciate the opportunity to have a break from the same old thing.

National truck driving often allows drivers to be on the road for longer periods of time. This is because there are so many different national routes, the demand for drivers is high. And as every trucker knows; the more the wheels turn, the more money you make.

Over the Road truck driving is just one of many truck driving options available at CR England. To learn about England’s OTR trucking jobs or their dedicated division, visit the CR England website and get started on your truck driving career today.

There are many aspects to a truck driving job. These aspects vary depending on experience, location, time and other variances. To help you decide which trucking job is the best for you, consider the following questions.

First, what type of driving do you want to do? Did you know that there are truck driving options other than over the road? If the thought of driving coast to coast doesn’t appeal to you then you might want to check into Regional or Intermodal driving.

Most trucking companies, CR England included, have many different truck driving opportunities in their Dedicated Division where you can find the truck driving job that would be perfect for you. If, however you want to travel the nation and see the states, an OTR truck driving job might be just what you are looking for. With England’s National division you can drive cost to cost and border to border.

Another thing to think about is home time. Do you have a family that you need to be home regularly for or are you free to be gone for longer periods of time? Most OTR truck driving jobs have drivers away frequently which works great for some people, but not for others. If you do need to be home more often, take a look at the Dedicated division where you might be able to find some trucking jobs with increased home time.

One of the last questions to consider is training. Do you have training? Training is an important aspect in any job, and trucking is no different. There are some trucking companies that require various periods of training and experience before they even look at you. If you’ve been driving for a while that’s great, but what if you are just getting into the industry? If this is your case then you would want to look at trucking companies that hire students. CR England has a program where student drivers can receive their training and even their CDL at one of England’s five Premier Truck Driving Schools.

If you’re not quite sure what you want out of your truck driving job yet, visit the CR England webpage and learn more about the various trucking jobs and trucking options they have available. There is plenty of opportunity out there, all you need to do now is go get it.

If you can receive your training while you are on the job, you are one step closer to living your dream of becoming a truck driver. Certainly, if you do things this way it’s easier. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone. You can get the training you need to be a trucker, and you can have a job.

When you receive your training while on the job, you also get the opportunity to learn about your new company. You can see the way they do things and you can find out if they have any requirements specific to that company. One of the difficult aspects of getting your training before you get your career truck driving job is that you risk the possibility of being trained differently than your company would like. For example, you may back up and do your inspections one way, but the company you just got hired for does them another way. Now you have to essentially re-learn these things.

Truck driving jobs with training are great for providing you the knowledge you need to survive in the trucking industry. They provide you with information such as how to be a company driver, a lease driver, or any other type of driver. On the job training is important in any job, and trucking is no different. When you have that much needed training, you are provided with a leg up in the trucking industry and you can get started on your career even faster.

Start your truck driving career in the best way possible, look for truck driving jobs with training. They are out there, and they do help.

Well, the game is ending. With the Super Bowl only a few days away, the football season is coming to an end and with it your excuse of waiting until after the game. However, there are other reasons why you might not be able to find proper employment, one being the cost of employment training. Well, CR England has that taken care of!

As a special campaign for the close of the football season, C.R. England is running a Super Bowl promotion. This promotion is heading straight for the touchdown with ZERO TUITION.

That’s right, zero tuition. Nothing, nada, zip! You will not have to pay for your truck driving school if you start your classes on February 6, 2012.

Tuition for England’s truck driving school is generally $2,995, but if you sign up for classes for this next Monday with cost will be waived completely. Sound too good to be true? It’s not.

All you need to do is sign a 6 month employment commitment, guaranteeing you will work for C.R. England for 6 months, and you will receive free training. Upon arrival to the school there is a $50 administration fee.

How many times have you thought about getting your class A CLD, but not done it because you couldn’t afford it? Well, now you don’t have to worry about it, CR England has you covered!

After this Sunday, “I’ll do it after the game” is no longer a valid excuse. The game is ending, it is time to get up and take control. It is time to start your truck driving career today.

To apply now and take advantage of CR England’s ZERO TUITION promotion, visit www.crengland.com

Since 1992, Morrill Worcester had been placing wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia. The act began as a simple way for Worcester to show his appreciation to those fallen veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country’s freedom. However, as news of Worcester’s tradition circulated, more and more people wanted to participate and more and more people wanted to provide wreathes to military cemeteries in their areas.
As each year passed, Worcester’s ceremony grew and grew. He began enlisting the help of volunteering trucking companies to carry the wreaths, and in 2006 The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the trucks. Today the effort is spurred by hundreds of thousands of volunteers who lay more than 220,000 at about 545 locations in the United States and at other places across the world.
The ceremony is held every year on the second Saturday of December. This year, CR England is happy to announce its participation in the ceremony through one of our Owner Operators, Vince. Vince donated his precious time to use his truck and drive wreaths all the way from Maine to the Wreaths across America event at Fort Rosecrans, CA.
As a truck driver, the more miles you drive, the more money you make. When you are not driving a load, you are not making money. Vince was not getting paid for his long drive from Maine, but he was paying back the veterans of Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery through his service.
The sacrifice of the men and women who have fallen to protect this country is the ultimate sacrifice. It is easy at times to get caught up in the rush of the holiday season and forget the things that really matter. Were it not for our veterans, we might not have the ability to simply go to the store and purchase gifts for our family and friends.
During this holiday season, and at every other time during the year, it is important to never forget our veterans. From the time the Wreaths across America program began, their mission has always been to Remember, Honor and Teach. This program will continue, and every year will remember the fallen veterans, will honor their memory and will teach others to do so as well.
CR England would like to say thank you to all who have fought to protect the freedom of the United States. As a show of our appreciation, CR England offers veterans free tuition to our truck driving school with a 6 month employment agreement. For more information about free truck driving school for veterans and how you can begin your career as a truck driver, visit https://employerpartnership.org/jobs/1/3052.

This is a great achievement and C.R. England is proud to have drivers like Charles on the road. Charles drives team with his wife, who has 3 million safe miles, and still loves his career. During his most recent run, Charles was interviewed by C.R. England regarding his achievement and his career. The following is a script of the interview.

Charles: My name is Charles William McFall. I’m originally from Brookeville, Kansas and I’ve been working for C.R. England for 31 years.

C.R. England: Tell us about your current driving position.

Charles: Well, I’ve been teaming with my wife for 23 years. She has 3 million safe miles and I have 4.

C.R. England: What to do you like about driving team?

Charles: Driving as a team right now is an extreme advantage. I like teaming and especially teaming with my wife. We never run out of hours. With teaming with my wife we have an investment together, and it works great.

C.R. England: How do you get to 4 million safe miles?

Charles: I enjoy driving and I keep focused on every mile. I drive slower than the traffic around me to make sure I always have safe stopping distance. When I get tired, I’ll take a break and walk around, exercise a little then get back in my truck and drive. That way fatigue doesn’t bother me.

C.R. England: Tell us about the company you work for?

Charles: People here are easy to work with. If you have a problem, you can notify whoever you need to work with and they’ll work as hard as they can to help you.  England has got probably the best equipment on the road today. C.R. England has always got people ready to come out and fix you on the road. To me, that weighs big. C.R. England is really a great company to work for.

C. R. England would like to congratulate Charles McFallon 4 million safe miles. You are a great example in the trucking industry and we appreciate all your hard work.

A prosperous career in trucking is possible, Charles is proof of that. All it takes is hard work and dedication and you are on your way!

To learn more about C.R. England and to start your own career in the trucking industry, visit www.crengland.com.

When researching the difference between lease and company drivers, there seems to be a lot of information out there about leasing, but not as much about company positions. In this article you will find some information about company driving and how you can benefit from a company position.

One thing to consider when thinking about company driving is the money. Not just how much you are making per mile, but truck maintenance and gas as well. When you lease your own truck, you have to pay for that truck and for any of the repairs it might need. Depending on the type of truck and the repairs needed, this can become expensive and you can end up driving in the negative.When going company, it is the responsibility of the business to take care of your rig. Also, as a company driver, you don’t have to stress as much about the rising prices of fuel,your main focus can be the road.

Company driving is also a great way to build your experience. Too often drivers right out of trucking school try to jump into their own truck and end up regretting it. A few months into their job they realize that a truck driver’s lifestyle is not for them, but they are stuck with a lease agreement and can’t afford to let it drop. Starting as a company driver will allow you to get a good feel of the lifestyle and provide you with the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade before getting out on your own.

Most trucking companies, such as C.R. England, have company truck positions available alongside their lease program. There are plenty of drivers on the road who have made their living as company drivers and who have no intention of switching.

At times you may feel pressured into getting set up as a lease driver, but remember to never do something you are uncomfortable with. If you want to try your legs as a truck driver before starting your own business, go right ahead and do it. Have the job you want to have, become a company driver.

To learn more about company driving positions, visit C.R. England at www.crengland.com

The car was too close and Lewis was going too fast to be able to stop in time.  He knew the massive weight of his truck would crush the little car, and most likely the man inside. Using some quick thinking, Lewis jerked his steering wheel to the right and drove straight into a ditch. Fortunately, neither Lewis nor his truck were damaged, and the car drove away not knowing how close it had been to danger.

Highways across the nation are dotted with stories just like this one. The trucking industry is a place where drivers get the chance every day to show that there are still people out there care.Nicholas Lewis risked his life to save a driver who didn’t seem to pay him a single thought, and for that he has been named the Truckload Carriers Association’s newest Highway Angel.

The Highway Angel program is one where truck drivers like Lewis receive well-deserved recognition for their good deeds on the road. These deeds don’t always involve saving life,some of them are simple acts of kindness such as helping a stranded driver change a tire. However, each of these deeds did make a difference and each one of them deserve recognition.

Truck drivers often seem to get a bad reputation. Society sometimes looks down on them, not realizing the risks and sacrifices they make every day. The Highway Angel program is one which will show the public who truck drivers really are.

Any truck driver can be nominated for the program. Those nominated will receive a lapel pin, clothing patch and personalized certificate of appreciation as a Highway Angel.

If you notice a truck driver who displays an act of kindness that you feel goes above and beyond, you can nominate that driver by filling out the Highway Angel nomination form at https://www.truckload.org/index.asp?bid=34.

To read more about Nicholas Lewis and other Highway Angels, visit http://www.truckload.org/index.asp?sid=8.

To help truck divers improve their driving safety and accident avoidance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has an “Accident Countermeasures Manual” on their website. In this manual both drivers and employers can find sections on accident prevent-ability, defensive driving, and important maintenance and inspection procedures.The main point covered in the manual is avoiding and distinguishing preventable accidents. The FMCSA broadly defines a preventable accident as one which occurs because the driver fails to act in a reasonably expected manner to prevent it. Each section of the manual will educate truckers on different areas of preventing an accident.

The first section, Accident Preventability Evaluations, includes information on educating yourself on preventable accidents. The definition of a preventable accident can, at times, vary from company to company as each employer has different safe driving standards. If you are a company driver, make sure you are well informed of your company’s safe driving standard. Also, familiarize yourself with your company procedure for evaluating accidents and determining whether they were preventable or not.

The second section is called Defensive Driving, and includes driving tips and questions for managers to improve their company driving practices. For drivers, some of the tips include recognizing hazardous situations, continually scanning the road around you, and always assuming other drivers will make errors. Doing this won’t guarantee you’ll never get in an accident, but it can help you do your part to avoid it.

The last section in the manual covers Preventive Maintenance and Inspection Procedures. Before heading out on the road, it is always important to inspect your truck. Also, when you are driving make sure your brakes work before getting in the freeway. By doing these small inspections along with others found in the manual, and keeping up on regular maintenance you can more readily avoid accidents.

Safe driving in one thing that is never overrated. The FMCSA has provided helpful guidelines to improve the driving standard of the trucking industry. To read the manual in full, visit http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/publications/accidenthm/accidentman.htm. CR England truck driving jobs