In Jan 2006, Alvin Wilkerson, a Crete Carrier driver, hit a car killing and incinerating seven children in the same family. Here's the story if you haven't read it: [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

Drivers get blamed for much but this time it was well-placed. The driver killed not only the children in the car but their grandfather also had a fatal heart attack the next day.

Mr. Wilkerson was fatigued having been awake for 34 hours prior [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and he had his pet dog in the truck as many driver's are now doing because hometime is seldom and we all want comfort when we're on the road alone.

In the 24 months before the accident Crete drivers were involved in 482 accidents and 20 of those were fatalities. [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

Mr. Ostergaard has a duty to make his company operate safely; he must try. [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

Were I Mr. Ostergaard, I would also have immediately taken steps to reduce the length of every driver's load. And if they didn't like it I would say good luck and good bye.

Shortening loads may not eliminate fatigue but if may still help save lives and it will be worth the effort. Mr. Ostergaard has to follow his conscience.

I pray Mr. Wilkerson and Mr. Ostergaard find peace. It's likely both men are deeply affected by the deaths, as any person would be. They are forever changed by one tragic moment in January 2006.

--cj.

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!Geaux Tigers!

The only thing wrong with driving regional and running 2000-2400 miles a week is if you still don't get home and that they always want to PAY LESS for regional and dedicated. When you run less miles you should be paid more per mile!

My view is, drive for somebody else if your not happy, you have alot to choose from out there... I always stay out of the terminals unless my truck is getting serviced and have noticed that the whiners are always gathered in the break room (not just Crete but other companies also). Like another post said, the only time I ever talk to any office personell is when I'm putting my hometime in, or there is a problem with a load. As far as miles go, I live in Oregon so I always get a west coast straight to the east coast then do 500-700 miles over there then get another 2000-2500 back home. Crete has been great for me. Surround yourself with positive people not the problem drivers who refuse everything because there having a bad day. DRIVE SAFE

Rest and safety is the responsibility of the driver. It's so easy to put blame somewhere else, but a good driver knows when there tired there dangerous, and if theres something wrong w/ the truck, only the driver knows if it's safe to operate.
Safety is an attitude that needs to be checked constantly. A bad attitude can turn into a ugly monster real quick. In the trucking industry that ugly monster could turn real dangerous. A little advise" Let it go and smile a little, tomarrow is a new day.

This is very depressing to hear. I had worked for Crete in the past, have been overseas for a few years, and wanted to return to them. When I worked for Crete before, one of the best aspects was high miles/trip. That is my most important criteria and why I had to quit JB Hunt. JB was getting to the point where I was pretty much running a new load every day. The shorter trips take more time and are exhausting. Now I don't know if I even want to return.

faulty logic, it doesn't matter if you do four 600 mile loads in 4 days or one 2400 mile in 4 days, it's still the same amount of time per mile. It's not the length of haul that matters but the proper scheduling to allow a driver the time to deliver the load on time while still getting the proper rest.

I would even argue that a properly scheduled long load is less fatiguing then multiple loads equaling the same length. Why? Because the longer load would involve less non-driving work and allow the driver to have a more predictable work/rest rhythm.

All loads/Trips are declining.... Everyone is going regional (it seems) so there is more hometime... One problem with doing four 600 mile loads compared to one 2400 mile load is, logging it legal. Every drop and hook, or unload/ live load taps into your log book. All drivers will choose the longer load. The benefits outweigh the other. DRIVE SAFE

After quitting Crete a year ago when they tried to force me to take a lower paying dedicated route for Walmart, I gave them another chance this month.
Miles were low (but that was expected) but the 800 mile trips were the killers requiring long days and multiple 12 hour days that disrupted the ability to keep an 8 hour day average to maintain a comfortable 2400 mile week.
Then they refused to get me home.
This was my giving Crete a second chance after 10 years with them. I quit today after 3 weeks. A different manager, the same driver unfriendly result. Good riddance, I hope the Wilkerson jury nails them. Me, I'm getting my money out of this self insured company's 401k immediately.
The pisser was hearing the manager lecture a driver who got 30 gallons more than what was approved. It cost the company an extra $7. The manager argued that put that against 5000 drivers and you have a problem. Number one, are all 500 drivers doing this? If not, your argument is worthless. Number two, the Crete solution requires a driver to fuel twice using an extra 15 minutes of his/her log. That would be 15 miles of driving or about $6 of pay for the driver.
Bottom line, Crete wants you to save THEM $7 and is willing to take $6 from YOUR pocket to do it.
Crete is no longer a driver friendly company, spoken from one who gave them a second chance.

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"I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep" Robt. Frost

I can't say it enough, never in my 3yrs driving (1 otr) have I let a company in anyway shape or form, get me to drive illegal whether its was lack of hrs, being tired, unsafe equipment, fatigue etc... This will never happen, because as a driver I value my life, the life of others, and my CDL...

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There are only three women in this world that mean anything to me and they are Karen, Krystal, Amanda..

I currently drive for Crete. I was on the MidSouth regional fleet before moving into a slot driving locally around Dallas. I have never turned down a load for any reason, even if I knew ahead of time I didn't have enough time to make the delivery, I would inform dispatch and let them make the decision. I've not had any issues other than some payroll problems that were cleared up with little trouble. All you need to do is communicate. Attitude is also an important factor. I am still surprised that with over 5700 trucks in the fleet now I can still call my dispatcher to shoot the breeze on occasion.
So do they still have the small company feel? for me yes. I have heard others who will say otherwise, but thats their situation.
I have also heard from other drivers about the low miles and such, I am over 2k this week, and haven't been outside a 150mi radius of Dallas.
I work my tail off, but I also get compensated for it. With the short haul pay I more than make up for the short miles.