Cover Story

Henry Rodriguez
C.R. England, Inc.

Living the dream he had as a young boy, Henry Rodriguez represents the very best among today’s dedicated run lease operators. Part of C.R. England’s “Drive Life” fleet of dedicated drivers, Rodriguez is the proud owner of a customized Peterbilt provided through the company’s Premier Lease program.
     “I love the freedom that my job offers, and I've never come up short on the miles I've needed to make a great living,” says Henry.
     His interest in trucking began in the early 1980s growing up in Guatemala. Fond of the idea of piloting a big rig and exploring the open road, he immigrated to the United States 17 years ago and has been exploring his dream-turned-reality for the past several years.
     Henry first operated local delivery trucks and later responded to a C.R. England ad that offered him both a chance to get formalized training and later join the ranks of a 3,000-plus fleet of operators. After finishing up his on-the-job training at C.R. England’s Mira Loma, CA school in September 2003, he started working as a company driver for six months, honing his over-the-road skills and making sure he was ready for the next step.
     “I felt comfortable with what I was doing and then took advantage of a six-month demo lease, followed by an 18-month lease to qualify as a Premier Lease Operator with England,” says Henry.
     Today, he drives a dedicated run between Indiana and Salt Lake City and resides in San Mateo, CA. Henry’s route offers him the advantage of being home every weekend, and as a member of the Certified Network Recruiter program, he makes extra money recruiting drivers for the company.
     “My goal is to become a fleet owner, and England offers you the training to be successful in this area,” says Henry. With over 600,000 safely driven miles without a single breakdown, Henry says that utilization of the company’s trip planning program and regular maintenance to his rig have been keys to his success.
     “It’s important to stay up on the latest news and advice, and I find that reading trucking publications and listening to the Midnight Trucking Radio Network are important tools for the job,” says Henry, who turns to his father, also an over-the-road driver, for advice.
     His recommendation to new drivers: “Keep turning miles, and stay on top of maintenance.”
     The staff of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines would like to wish Henry continued success with C.R. England. To learn more about dedicated runs with C.R. England or to receive more information about people like Henry Rodriguez, call C.R. England at (800) 338-3621 or see their ad on the inside front cover of this issue.