CRETE - A Year in Review

I may be trying to get with CRETE in the spring. Ya think I'm "seasoned" enough"??? OOPs! I see I hid my age awhile back. Just past 6 decades though.

 

Posted here a week ago about Crete turning me down because of my DAC... so I ordered and received a copy from USIS... and I don't get it. Nothing. I told Crete about a speeding <10 over tic I got 15 months ago on a motorcycle and they said no problem...and that's all that is on the DAC. Had another tic over 2 years ago, same thing, and fought it and the court set it aside... it's supposed to be off my record even and isn't but still... set aside means they judge and state agreed with my arguement but still had to pay a fine to cover court costs. For this, I don't get hired. I'll call Crete and see what they will tell me.

On the good side, I just was offered a dedicated run for a very small left coast company between CA, CO and TX from here (PHX) for about $900/wk out 4 days a week running reefers... grocery run. Thank god I got a job... since I haven't driven in 4 years... I was really, really worried. This will be great. Found it on Craigslist... actually, there are quite a few on Craigslist, for those looking... just pick a city and look... type in CDL. None more here unless you have 3+ years experience (or will work for Swift), but back east... there were quite a few, especially northeast... for those looking.

That Divorce Barbie... is modeled after my ex... if you guys are single and lookin... go to hotornot website and search under Philippines... I'm taking a trip there next year to meet one I met on that site... she's 41, a drop dead beautiful nurse, and the real deal. Life is good. With a job anyway...lol

 

Ask for mark..he's a great trainer, Its fun making him sit in the passanger seat going nutz from boardum...lol ..tells me to pull over he cant take it no more.they had me down for 6wks training for some unknown reason but i only did 3,he said he cant get me out sooner cuz u hafta put half the time in atleast,But i was fine with it i was a 1st seat team driver with the last company i was at and havin someone to talk to is nice plus running super solo is even better (19 hour day teams).

 

yeah they told me they couldnt hire me because of something on my dac only thing on there is a ticket from 2002

 

Hi, I am curious if you had any home time during the 8 weeks with a trainer? Were you put on hold by Crete until they could schedule a trainer, etc? I was told 4 to 6 weeks to wait for a trainer. Considering the economy, it makes me wonder if this will ever materialize. Any input is appreciated. I don't know much about the company, other than thus far, they are extremely thorough with the application process. Thanks for your information. B

 

Pappy is that age and still with them after 26 years. He no plans within the next 10 years of retiring.

 

Pappy is that age and still with them after 26 years. He no plans within the next 10 years of retiring.

 

Im sure there will be many different responses, but I will tell you my experience. I was a grad from a school and went the 8 weeks with a trainer. My first trainer had some vacation time scheduled for one month after I got on the truck. I was with him for one month, and he dropped me off at the house and I waited for another trainer to finish out the 8 weeks. This was right around x-mas, so I see why my first trainer wanted vacation time. My second trainer took me for the next month and after finishing the 8 weeks, I went to Lincoln and went through the 2 day orientation. Then, I got my truck and was sent on a home bound load for some R&R. The rest is history...up until July 7th but we wont talk about that.

BTW, Id reccomend Ed Ludan out of Florida. He was my first trainer and was very patient and I was glad to be his mentor-ee. Hes a good man.

 

*Sigh* - Well I got the word from the "recruiter" today that my application was denied because "I did not disclose" 2 speeding tickets I received and that parking lot incident from 2003-2005, none of which were showing on my MVR. I realize now that I should have gone back to the DMV and gotten a 5-year MVR. (What I had was a normal 39 month MVR, which the recruiter from the "W" company told me to get). I learned you can get a 5-year MVR from the DMV but you have to specifically request a 5-year MVR.

The only criticism that I have for Crete, is that the recruiter should have made it clear to me when I first applied that I needed to get a 5-year MVR. I've worked in the insurance business for 23 years, and represented MetLife property and casualty for 21 of those years, and I did not even know that there was such a thing as a 5-year MVR until I started looking at getting my CDL. I certianly had no intention of putting any false info on my application.

Furthermore, when I was contacted regarding the missing information, the recruiter assured me that my application "looked fine" and that the missing info should not be a problem. One would think that the "recruiters" would have a little better understanding of company policy than to tell an applicant something like that. It doesn't say much for the "We say what we mean and mean what we say" claim that I read on the companies website.

Lastly, the website says "If you complete your application correctly and have an acceptable driving record, you can be approved within 48 hours". When I submitted my application, they told me that they were backed up and it would take about a week. Well, Friday it will be three weeks since I first submitted my applcation, and I just got the decision today.

In closing, Crete's recruiting department could have helped me avoid or correct the mistake on my application, (they are supposed to be experienced and trained professionals too, right?). Furthermore, I wish the recrutiers had been a more knowledgable and/or honest about Crete's hiring practices.

I feel like I am being called a "liar" by the safety department, becuase they are denying my application, not because of the 2 tickets - but because "I failed to disclose them".

I still think Crete would be a good company to work for, but they clearly have problems with their recuriting methods. I am very dissapointed in the way my applicaion was handled, the length of time it took to process, and the false assurances I was given by recruiting. I was counting on getting hired by Crete - and now I graduate this week from school and have to start looking for another company.

Another lesson for me from the school of hard knocks.

Tell anyone applying to Crete they need be sure that thier MVR is for 5 years and not 39 months, and to ask their insurance agent for a clue report since even a minor parking lot incident from 4 years and 11 months ago, can come back to haunt you.

 

Well, if you read my reply to CPTNHOOK2, you'll see my "sob story" about my Crete application.

Any suggestions? If you were not working for Crete, where would you be working?