There is something fetid about the way in which Crete Carrier portrays itself. A company with an eye towards rapid expansion since its inception, and now with a fleet of over 5,000 drivers, Crete has done everything possible to construct a facade of wholesomeness and family values to attract drivers into their fold. A plain, yet simple, paint job for their equipment, occasional messages from CEO Tonn Ostergard regarding the untimely deaths of long-term employees, and a set of 7 core principles said to underlie their operations all add to the image Crete Carrier Corporation chooses to burnish. But there is an ulterior motive in their approach that most incoming drivers won't recognize. In order for their business to be run with the stinginess of a Depression-era soup kitchen, Crete needs to make it appear as though the sacrifices in wages many drivers will encounter when on breakdown, for example, are all for "the common good." In the end, it may help boost Ostergard's bottom line, but it won't do much for you, the American truck driver, in search of a better life. Let's take a look at a few of those 7 principles. "We say what we mean and mean what we say." Redundancy aside, I have to snicker when I see this. You actually won't find much of it in the driver manual, but Crete only pays $15 per hour for breakdown. That's a compensatory amount, as we all know, but Crete will literally do EVERYTHING possible to short you on this pay. Even if the mechanical issue is merely a result of the truck being old and with high miles, it won't matter when putting in for breakdown pay. I learned this lesson the hard way. It is standard policy to not even pay a driver for the 1st day of breakdown, if per chance your truck remains in the shop for two to three days. "We stress safety first and foremost." Crete's safety record is far from exemplary. Remember that they are, in fact, a big trucking company. Within the past two years, Crete/Shaffer drivers were involved in accidents resulting in 16 fatalities and 150 injuries. And if a driver has reduced incentive to get something fixed on his truck, how "safe" of a policy can that be? Furthermore, the entire operation surrounding the monitoring of truck cameras is all for show. Crete is more apt to install an inward facing camera into the truck of a veteran driver than they are beginner. It's not truly about safety--it's about making sure that their recruitment of beginner drivers is not interrupted. Why pay more for veteran drivers when you can get satisfactory ones on the cheap? "We are ethical--we always do what is right." Uh, okay, then why is the 401K plan offered by Crete so incredibly putrid? Straight from the literature: "Crete Carrier Corporation will make matching contributions equal to 10% of your elective deferrals, up to 5% compensation." I understand that the 401K is to be supplemented by the profit sharing plan, but this is a slap in the face to anyone chasing the American Dream. Along the same lines, drivers will eventually realize that the principle of "We exercise mutual respect" has about as much credibility as "Pull my finger." Maybe they should add that to the list and make it an even 8 principles.