Ok, I'm getting ahead of my updates with this post, but I wanted to post it while it was still relevant.

Here is a summary of my first nine months of 2008 with Crete.

This is a spreadsheet of miles run to date. Each trip is posted on the date that the load was delivered. This can result in a slight distortion of the monthly totals when the majority of the load was driven during the last day or two of a month and delivered on the first day of the next month (specifically June, where all but 200 miles of my last load of 1113 miles were completed in June, but were included in July's totals). There were also a couple of instances where I delivered two loads in one day. On these trips I listed the miles for the second trip on the next day to avoid distorting the length of haul numbers.

Also in regards to hub miles I just added the miles run in my new truck to the mileage on my old truck as opposed to figuring out a formula on the Spreadsheet. I wasn’t motivated enough to do that today.






And here is a quick breakdown of the numbers above.


It would appear that my Drop/Hook % calculation is out of whack for the 3rd quarter, I'll have it corrected for the year end numbers.

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Supersnack wrote:

Surprisingly enough, you and I have very different luck when it comes to this, (like with many other aspects of Crete). In the last two years I've had 2 maybe 3 messed up appointments that were quickly resolved. I have had a handful of Wal-Mart loads and Dollar Store loads that didn't have a Drop # at the time I received the load info, but I just sent in a request and always had one before showing up at the receiver.


Supersnack wrote:

Hey, I just had one of those Cambell's loads this week. Sat at a Kmart DC for 4hr waiting for them to unload me while they did the breakdown on it. I think there were 50+ different products on the truck. What a pain.


Supersnack wrote:

I just can't have anything nice with you bouncing around the country and messing it up.

I hate to rub it in, but still putting in solid miles here. Although last week was looking real bad. Almost got stuck with a 2700mi week, but managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat and ended with 3506mi. That makes 10,766 miles in the last 21days. I'm working on a reset in Breinigsville, PA now. I don't know if I'll be able to pull off another good week. I can't seem to get my butt out of PA. I've spent more time up here in the NE in the last 2 1/2 weeks than I did in the previous year.



Supersnack wrote:

Your going to love this one. I talked to a new Crete hire (been with the company for 2 months) and he was put in one of blue trucks with an APU on it.

Redbeard wrote:

That General Mills accout kicks butt, doesn't it!


Supersnack wrote:

That's the understatement of the year! I hope you are on one of the upswings this week.

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Thanks EVER, it was your spreadsheet last year that made up my mind to finally choose Crete.... Its October already and I still read your (and compare) monthly loads you post!!! DRIVE SAFE

Oh, I to have been doing a lot of NE as of late, I always remind myself when ever I get a load going up there, they have to get me a load OUT OF THERE!

Geez, I wish I would get stuck with a measly 2700 mi week more often. Although I have to say (quietly, every time I say it too loud it puts a bulls eye on me so the bad luck can find me) I have had 2 decent weeks in a row. This follows a 9200 mi Aug, and a 9500 mi Sept. But this week hasn't started out great. The miles weren't bad to start a week off, but the receiver had an attitude about me showing up 45 min early (to a place I hadn't been, in an area that 'google earth' hadn't updated lately, so it didn't show anything. And neither google earth, mapquest nor my '06 streets and trips could find the street, let alone the address. So I chose to come in early to give me a little 'screw up' time) Needless to say, my recent outlook on life didn't help matters. There's something about telling someone from Georgia they sound like a damn yankee that they find very insulting....(yes I sound like a damn yankee, I am one, transplanted to FL, but I don't get insulted when people bring it up) I thought about getting the extra bottle of Midol out for him, but I think that would have push matters too far(yea I know, it sounds like I need some of my own medicine from time to time, well, maybe more often than that but...).......Anyway, I think we still have the contract to haul Kawasaki's to them. But now after sitting for 4 hrs in the Savannah area, I got a load...that was preloaded 2 hrs before they got around to offering it, and I was only the 4th driver in line... heading to Opelousas Walmart. Once again, no drop number listed. I have msg'd them, but once again, again....without any response. Will try again in the morning. It was within an hour of quitting time in Lincoln, I think they were watching the clock more than the msg's. I am hopefully heading home out of LA. I promised my wife a little weekend getaway months ago, but every time I head for home, they delay me enough to put the weekend in the middle of the week. And with her hobby business turned full time job, we both need a little time to unwind, and her schedule doesn't give us much time during the week if we want to keep her customers happy.

I've talked to a bunch of the GM dedicated drivers. They all seem to carry above average miles, but the -per mile- pay cut doesn't make the miles that much more beneficial. Although if things keep up like they have been, I may swap. I seem to be much less p/o'd when I am turning miles. Maybe my age is starting to show, but I get too tired to gripe. (Believe it or not)

The 2 loads I hauled the other day. (Harrisburg then Robesonia) were both Campbells. The last one in Robesonia (Associated wholesale) had an unloading contract with Campbells. I didn't have to get any Comchecks, receipts... Nothing but back in and chill out. That's the way loads have been for me here lately, I get groups of loads from one customer for a while, then switch customers. Which is kinda nice...especially when you are dropping and hooking at the same place, load to load. Helps the ole' log book a little. I just wish the miles were there too.

I get at least 1 screwed up drop/del number or appointment time every month. It has been that way since I started. I don't know why I get so uptight about it, if they haven't figured it out by now, yelling at them won't do any good. Sorta like that brain dead dog that keeps pooping on the rug, no matter what you do, it still does it, usually more if you yell. Just need to learn to clean up the mess you're left and go on.

I hope you keep up the posts more than just the 'year' in the 'year in review'. Would be interested to see if your path heads the same direction as many others of us have taken, or if you have broken the curse.

And for once I have some better luck than you?!?!?!?!? I hardly ever get to the N/E. Maybe it's because 'One load Corry' and I have had serious issues that had to be resolved through his supervisor. But it seems as though any time I get sent up there, I am pplaned on a load back out, before I get to my current consignee.... Kinda' spooky..... Oh great, I said something, guess where I'll be spending most of next month....When will I ever learn to keep my big mouth shut.

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Evertrucker keep up the good post. I look forward to seeing them and they keep getting better and better.

Hunter

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Every time I read this thread, I wish I hadn't gotten out of trucking altogether. Should have hung up the flat bedding tools and applied at Crete. Looks like you guys are getting decent miles. Even at .39/mi I would have done better than % at Arrow and the other company. Course, with only about 9 months of experience, I doubt they would have taken me.

LOVE your posts Everr and SuperSnack! Keep it up, I'm trying to live vicariously through you. I cant seem to get the diesel out of my veins.

Once you get that diesel going through your veins, its time to hang up a bag of DIESEL. Everybody has an addiction!!!!

Yup!!

Ok... I'll go with what Super said... you're becoming my hero too. I have spent hours backtracking and reading your posts... and it is your posts that actually got me to look at Crete. If a job I applied for running steel on flatbed for a small company does not come through, then I am decided to go with Crete myself. I would be starting out with them here in the SW running 48, but will be moving immediately to the SE and running from NC or SC. Thanks again, to you and others here for the info and insight.

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