Danny Herman Vs. Crete. Suggestions? Honest feedback needed.

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by WilliamReynolds1997, Feb 1, 2021.

  1. WilliamReynolds1997

    WilliamReynolds1997 Bobtail Member

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    Hello, all. I’ve been local for the last year or so, and am wanting to return to over the road driving. Driving local just isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. (For me.)

    I’m entering my fourth year of driving, and I’d really like to try running dry vans opposed to reefers. I started with Prime Inc. and ran for them my first two years and a good work/sleep schedule was almost non-existent pulling that reefer.

    So I guess my first question regarding OTR dry van would be this- Are the work/sleep schedules a little more manageable? I’ll be honest and say that I prefer to shut down at night and run during the day. Something that used to be hard to do hauling frozen goods. Is this a realistic expectation? Or am I coming off too naive? Don’t be afraid to give me honest feedback. I’m searching for a place that I can call home and need all of the help that I can get in seeking out additional information.

    I’ve looked into several companies, but have narrowed it down to two that have really jumped out at me so far. I’ll list them below and hope to contact someone who knows more about them. Or even better, someone who either currently works there or has so in the past.

    And before anyone asks, I’d rather not seek out any information from recruiters and risk being sold any false hope. Which is why I’m reaching out here first before I pick up the phone. I just want to make the right decision first.

    1) Danny Herman- I’ve heard that the length of haul is 1,500+. Is that true? However, I’ve also heard through the grapevine that the pay is pretty lackluster but have been unable to find much regarding that subject. How much night driving do they do over there? Forced dispatch?

    2) Crete Carrier- I see that they advertise between 55 and 60 CPM which is great. However, no APUs on the trucks. How is that manageable during the summer months? Length of haul? Also heard that they aren’t forced dispatch. Does anyone have any truth to that? Night driving?

    Appreciate the feedback in advance, everybody. I’m also open to other company suggestions if somebody wants to toss some other names my way.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    @Dockbumper currently drives for Danny Herman Trucking.
    ~
    Which state do you live in?
     
  4. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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  5. BM 58

    BM 58 Heavy Load Member

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    My advice would be stay away from the mega turd companies. They are about the same. Find a good private fleet and on the weekends when you are enjoying your time off drive by a truck stop and check out all the goobers that are stuck there all weekend a thousand miles from home. Some cats love that lifestyle. I would rather be home enjoying family and friends. 60cpm looks good on paper if you can average 2500-3000k a week. You’ll never do that at a mega. That’s my 2 cents anyway.
     
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  6. supersnackbar

    supersnackbar Road Train Member

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    I work for Crete's reefer fleet (Shaffer), and we use the same trucks as Crete. All our Freightliners have opti-idle for cooling in the summer, and bunk heaters in the winter(although my bunk heater won't function without me setting the opti-idle, on battery mode). We have 1200 watt inverters, and built in fridges. But...we also have all the nanny crash avoidance crap that nags you when it even thinks you're doing something wrong. I called the last truck my ex-wife Christine (ex-wife because it nags endlessly, Christine because it was like the car in the movie, I swore it was trying to kill me). The length of haul at Crete is lower than Shaffer, and so is the per mile rate, but still is a decent rate. Not the highest, but by far not the lowest. I know @iraqralph43 works for the Crete side and said he grossed in the $80's last year. I am not sure what Herman's insurance is like, but over here at Creaffer I am paying less for BCBS with a lower deductible than what I was paying when I worked for Wylie (and they were part of the Daseke flatbed family of companies that were all insured under the same group policy). Overall I am content working for Crete/Shaffer, my only real complaint is I am on my 4th truck in the last 3ish months, and it has issues, and the company shops are way overloaded with work because they are under staffed, so getting those issues resolved might take a while. A visit to most of the shops requires a 24-48 hr wait.
     
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  7. Professor No-Name

    Professor No-Name Road Train Member

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  8. Bro_Dave

    Bro_Dave Medium Load Member

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    The advice about a private fleet is good. I would check out H & M Trucking out of Omaha. I work there and they are a good company. I drive vans and I am pretty much spoiled by the hours. I say that because I am able to have a good sleep schedule with almost no night driving. If you talk to recruiting they will shoot straight with you. Basically they tell you like it is and if you don't like it they say ok well it's not for you then.
    The equipment is top notch. 70 mph trucks. Equipment is maintained very well. They get you home on time and pay well. The people there are great. The safety department is actually nice to the drivers. You won't find that at Crete.
     
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  9. Dale thompson

    Dale thompson Road Train Member

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    It’s sad that you say you have done research and you ended up with these choices. I think you’re going to be disappointed with either one. Just flip a coin and while you begin your decent into misery start to think of different kinds of trucking that don’t involve van trailers and mega carriers.
     
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  10. BM 58

    BM 58 Heavy Load Member

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    That was my point. If he truthfully has 4 years exp he can certainly do better than a mega if his record is clean.
     
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  11. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    Ain't nothing wrong with a mega. You know you'll always have good equipment and pretty steady freight. Ain't nothing wrong with a private fleet. You know you'll be treated like family and can make decent money there too. I've done both. The money is the same to me. Anyway, OP, I don't think you could go wrong with either. Crete and Shaffer have lots of drop and hook it seems. If it were me, I'd probably go with Danny Herman, I like the way their running lanes look. When I ran solely dry vans, it was more day driving and very little night driving.
     
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