Crete bound - orientation on Monday 28th~

Discussion in 'Crete' started by 2BucTruck, Jul 18, 2014.

  1. 2BucTruck

    2BucTruck Medium Load Member

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    Well, I knew I'd have options after graduating from trucking school, just didn't know how hard it would be to make a decision! I considered 5 truckload companies for OTR jobs, and 1 LTL company for a linehaul gig. After passing up a rare opportunity to sign on as a student driver w/ a LTL company, I've made my choice to go w/ Crete. I have my reasons. The LTL company offered more money, a linehaul job right away, and $20.65 an hour for the first 4 weeks of training.

    The biggest factor in NOT taking the job? The 12-14 hours, all night driving. What's the use of being at home more frequently if it isn't what I considered quality home time? Just to sleep in my own bed? I would have to stay on my night schedule, and that means basically just having an opportunity to see my family in passing, and sleeping in my own bed during the day while they're out and about. Not much of a quality home life in my view. I'm taking the lesser-paid OTR position w/ Crete in order to have not necessarily more frequent home time, but more quality home time. It was a VERY tough decision, but I'm at peace with it. I already have my tank, hazmat, and doubles/triples endorsements, so hopefully Crete can put to use my hazmat endorsement and I can make a few extra bucks.

    I don't have a problem driving nights, just not running so hard EVERY night, exclusively nights, up against my 14 for 5 days a week. The L/H gig started w/ me going out 5 days a week, 2 days home. EVentually I could've bid on a different schedule once I gained seniority - but until then? Here's how I did the math, and how I viewed the home time for the L/H gig actually being worse.

    L/H job - 5 days out (bag run) two days off per week at home:
    last day of 5 day work week start at 8pm, finish around 8-10am. Be home around 11am for first day at home. Go to bed around 2pm, up at 9pm. See my family that day for about 6-8 hours split in the morning and evening. Then being up all night at my house. So, being generous, that's 8 hours w/ my family for 1 day. 2 days a week, that's 16 hours. Two weeks, that's 32 hours.

    OTR Regional - 12 days out, 48 hours home:
    Come home and have 48 hours, give or take. Up 16 hours a day, two days, equals 32 hours! What do you know? The same amount of time w/ my family! And I'm venturing to guess I won't be as exhausted.

    Granted on the L/H job I'll have all that time at home in the middle of the night during my two days off, but I'm more concerned w/ comparing quality home time w/ my family. I decided to break it down just in case anybody else is comparing going OTR vs a local or LTL gig. For me, the money and 'frequency' of home time w/ the linehaul gig doesn't cut it. Maybe I'll be singing a different tune a few years down the road, but for now, this is how I came to my decision. Hope it helps somebody else.
     
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  3. 48Packard

    48Packard Ol' Two-stop Shag!

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    It's the reason I'm still OTR....for me, at this point in time, longer stints at home just work better for me. All our kids and grandkids live from 90 minutes to 4 hours from us. So for me, taking a 34 each weekend at home or having an LTL schedule such as you describe just doesn't work well.

    Good luck to you!
     
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  4. Knucklehead619

    Knucklehead619 Medium Load Member

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    Don't expect much in the way of HM with Crete. I've been here around 18 months and pulled exactly 2 placarded loads. As far as nights you'll see some here, more common are early mornings. Lots of 4-6am pickups and deliveries here for some reason. But my guess is you'll like it here. I'm guessing you'll be running northeast regional and there is a TON of freight in the northeast. I just got done complaining to a fellow driver about running PA-OH a lot but I run 45 days out OTR and live in CA so I tend to avoid getting stuck in that loop. Good luck and keep it shiny side up.
     
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  5. mike71089

    mike71089 Bobtail Member

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    I hear you on the tough choice. I just finished school myself and had several companies contact me. In the end went with a little lesser paying one to be home every weekend vs every other weekend. To me though it's not just for the money. Yeah it's great to make it but your never home to enjoy it.
     
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  6. GA_Rookie

    GA_Rookie Medium Load Member

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    Crete does not require hazmat and does not pay any extra for hazmat loads. Hazmat loads are rare with Crete.
     
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  7. 2BucTruck

    2BucTruck Medium Load Member

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    Thanks for all the feedback everybody.
     
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  8. Brandson

    Brandson Medium Load Member

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    Crete's hometime policy is 1 day for every 6 days out, so you might wanna consider staying out 18 days for 3 days home. I find 2 days at home flys by quickly... Their payrate is awesome when you hit the one year mark as well, and they will pay you at a higher cpm to stay out 21 days. You made a good choice bud.
     
  9. 2BucTruck

    2BucTruck Medium Load Member

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    I don't want to turn down any loads, but I'm hoping to get out west a bit, even mid-west. Wouldn't mind going south either. Still not sure if I'll roll w/ the 12 day OTR or 21 day fleet. NE is a bit crowded, but I'll go where the freight goes. Does Crete still offer a choice w/ load assignments? I heard they used to do that, i.e. a semi-forced dispatch system.
     
    hal380 Thanks this.
  10. 2BucTruck

    2BucTruck Medium Load Member

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    Thanks for the encouraging words! Yep, I'm thinking I'd like to do the National 21 day fleet for the reason you mentioned, plus if that means I can get out mid-west more, I'll take that. Not sure how far west I'll get w/ 12 day fleet.
     
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  11. Brandson

    Brandson Medium Load Member

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    They'll explain how much "choice" you have in orientation. Don in New Kingstown is a pretty cool guy. Basically, if they give you a crap load, send them a message back asking if you can't get something more, "productive". Sometimes they'll shoot you back a much better load. Obviously sometimes options are limited and they'll shove that first load right back atcha.
     
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