C.R. England review: Interview

My unbelievable and negative CR England interview experience.

I had my interview with Stephen Foxall (10/31/2023) in Casa Grande, AZ. It was a short and interesting interview. Stephen had sent me a text the day prior with the address. I arrived about 15 minutes before our scheduled meeting time. When I arrived, I went to the front security desk to check in. After receiving a temporary badge, I called Mr. Foxall and informed him I was upfront at the security desk and that they would be sending me back to meet with him as soon as another driver arrives, so they could have the driver walk me back to his location. Mr. Foxall informed me that he mentioned in his text to me that I needed to enter through the truck gate entrance when I arrived. I apologized for the confusion and explained that I was in a rush and did not take the time to read the whole text. I then informed him I would drive around to the other entrance.

When I arrived at the building where Mr. Foxall office was located, I got out of my car and began walking up to the building. I saw three people standing outside smoking cigarettes, and one of them said to me, "I bet you are looking for me". I asked, “Are you Stephen,” he stated "yes". Then he informed me that he preferred to conduct his interviews outside. Then we walked to a picnic table located under an awning near the building where his office is located. We then sat down across from each other.

He then asked me about my combination experience. I only told him about my actual combination/tractor trailer experience. He then made a vague comment about the farm part of my experience not being good enough. He then told me about a cement truck driver that was going to be coming in for an interview. He told me that the cement driver believes he is going to be a driver at the site for CR England, but that he was not going to hire the driver because he did not believe that the driver had enough recent tractor trailer experience. He stated that C.R. England requires at least 3 months’ experience within the past three years. I then told Mr. Foxall that I actually drove cement trucks before my most recent Job driving a tractor trailer. I told him I understood what he was saying. Mr. Foxall then asked me about what type of trailer I was pulling at my current job. I informed him it is a trinity belt trailer. He seemed to be confused as to what that was. He then asked is that what you drove on the farm. I said yes, but it is also what I drive now with the current company I am with. I explained it is an open top grain type of trailer with a moving belt on the floor of it that pushes material toward the back of the trailer. I explained to him, my current job requires me to drive the tractor trailer all over the state to different jobsites where we install woodchips in playgrounds, for city parks, schools, HOA communities. I then stated that some people tend to make the concept of driving a commercial vehicle more difficult than it actually is. I explained that personally find it easy to transition from driving straight truck to combination or vice versa. While it is extremely important to understand the differences between the operations and mechanics of the vehicles, it is more important to be able transition one’s mental focus/perspective easily when switching from one type of vehicle to the other. I stated that I personally find it easy to physically and mentally transition between the different types of vehicles in regard to their operation.

Mr. Foxall seemed to get irritated by what I said. Then Mr. Foxall stated there is a big difference, driving a tractor trailer is a lot more difficult. I agreed with him, then I explained that I was speaking more about the psychological transition needed in order for one to physically transition/operate each of the different types of vehicles. Then Mr. Foxall stated he was talking about safety. I replied, I understand all about safety. I previously worked for public transit. I was also a safety and driver trainer for public transit when I worked in the special transit division. I explained that I am thankful for my experience with public transit. They drove the rules and protocols of safe driving into my head. This is why my driving record is clean and why I have had no tickets or accidents in the past 20 plus years. I stated, I am a safe driver. But then Mr. Foxall rolled his eyes. I then stated, I know drivers say they know how to drive safely when they actually don’t. But I am actually a safe driver. He then replied that his top and safest driver recently got into a serious accident. I then respectfully replied, that if he got into a serious accident then he likely was not driving safely. This seemed to really irritate Mr. Foxall. He then stated that the driver was driving safely, and that the driver sneezed and that the next thing the driver knew he had got into the accident. That it was fatality accident. I replied, I understand, but even if he sneezed multiple times in a row, if the driver was actually driving safely then the accident should not have occurred or should have been minor. Mr. Foxall face got red, and he said the interview is over while waving his hands in front of him, and then started to walk away. I followed him and asked what’s wrong. He stated that he does not believe I am a safe driver and that I am not respectful. He then reiterated the interview is over, you are not working here. I replied fine, to be honest it does not matter to me. I then got in my vehicle and left.

I treated Mr. Foxall with respect, a calm voice, with diplomacy, I did not in any way, shape or form spoke rudely or disrespectfully to him during our interactions together. All I did was express my professional opinion as a driver who has been extensively trained in driver safety. It seemed that my minor disagreement with him on whether the driver in the fatal accident was driving safely or not, triggered a sore point for him for some reason. Mr. Foxall is a much older individual, and he seems to be too temperamental for someone in his type of position. During our whole conversation it seemed he was not really listening to me during the interview. Maybe he was having a bad day, maybe he wants to hire people who will not ever disagree with him on anything, or perhaps he is getting more temperamental due to his age, or maybe he just did not like me for some unknown reason. Whatever his reasoning was for his unprofessional behavior, all I know is that I can now understand why the company is short of drivers at this location.

All I know is because of this individual’s behavior that I will never work for CR England. This experience only perpetuates the negative things I have heard about major carriers. It was bad enough that CR England pay scale is much lower than what I am used to receiving, but the mere fact that the company allows managers to act in an unacceptable and unprofessional manner as Mr. Stephen Foxall did, tells me that CR England has some serious internal issues it needs to resolve.

Side note; I have over 7 years experience as a commercial Driver. 1.5 yrs city/hwy tractor trailer, 2.5 years public transit, 1yr concrete mixer, 1yr farm tractor trailer, 2yrs as chauffer driving vans and buses, 4 years dispatcher and route planner, plus 8 yr in other minor driving/delivery positions. Plus 15 years in oversight management. Clean MVR for 20 years, no tickets, accidents, violations, or incidents. I was even a safety and driver trainer for public transit for 1.5 yrs.

I will never apply with a mega carrier with negative reviews and revolving doors again. It is bad enough the pay is on the low end. I was only applying for the position since my current company has vehicles down for repair thereby limited work available, and because the CR England jobsite was close to my home. I was willing to take a $6 an hour pay cut for this job. I'm headed back to concrete. It's dirty, but at least I can get between $28-35 an hour, plus overtime, with none of this B.S. mileage rate pay that the mega carriers do to short change the drivers.