CR England Girl

Remember the financial burden of purchasing fuel just one year ago?  We may be in the midst of economic turmoil but at least you aren’t also paying $5 for a gallon of diesel!  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the current average price of diesel is $2.22 a gallon.  The lowest prices of fuel can be found around the Gulf Coast (approximately $2.44 a gallon) while the most expensive area to purchase fuel is in (no surprise) California, as $2.70.

Want to know who has the lowest price of fuel in your area?  Check out GasPriceWatch.com – simply enter your address or zipcode, select diesel, and it will show you the cost of a gallon of diesel at various stops wherever you are!

And reducing fuel consumption means cutting costs…good news for any trucker!

• Slow Down – Speeding just isn’t dangerous, it also wastes fuel.  Slowing down just 10 miles per hour from 75 to 65 can increase the mpg of a big rig by more than one mile per gallon.  So ease up, lead foot!
• Lose the Weight – …from your cab that is!  Lighten your truck’s load by just 100 pounds and you will significantly reduce the amount of fuel needed to haul it.
• Get a Tune-Up – Keeping your truck in tip-top shape will ensure you’re getting the best possible fuel mileage.  Schedule regular tune-ups for your big rig and it will perform better on the road, reduce overall maintenance costs, and improve fuel efficiency.
• Quit Idling – Not only is idling illegal in many parts of the country, it’s also detrimental to your gas mileage!  In fact, excessive idling can add nearly 50% to fuel costs.  Find alternative, cheaper ways to heat or cool your cab such as an auxiliary power unit.
• Increase Inflation – Keeping your tires properly inflated is another simple yet highly effective way to improve gas mileage.  It’s estimated that doing so will not only increase brake performance and the life of your tires, but can save as much as two weeks worth of fuel every year.

That’s the title of a great new article put out by the New York Times this past Monday.  The article addresses the efforts to reduce carbon emissions along with anti-idling regulations and how the trucking industry is responding with new solutions.  Here’s a little tidbit I learned from the article: did you know that $378 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the big stimulus package passed by President Obama) is budgeted for the Department of Energy to use to reduce transport emissions to clean up the environment?  That’s a lot of money!  Of that amount, anywhere between $10 million and $75 million will go directly towards anti-idling solutions and technologies.  In addition, the EPA has allocated another $300 million towards a campaign to cut emissions from diesel engines.

From electrified truck stops (see here) to auxiliary power units, learn how to provide your cab with all the creature comforts you need while reducing your emissions and helping the environment by reading the article here.

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.

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.