CRETE - A Year in Review

I agree with you. My job is much different than yours. I run dedicated freight 90% of the time. From what I can tell Crete is better than a lot of large carriers. My point was that the new drivers would stand a better chance of sucess with a mentor of some-kind. I have had mentors help me in the past. You would be a good one. I see you have over 20 years experence. We need to give good information on this forum but, a little support will go a long way in helping a new driver.

 

Not one of your examples shows me that Crete is changing. You site extreme examples that only apply to you. I want examples that apply to all of us.

BTW detention isn't available until two hours are past. Following up is a waste of time when they constantly come up with bulls**t excuses as to why they won't pay.

ETA You seem so proud of the thanks you get for helping out dispatch but I ask you, what does it get you? And don't tell me its the satisfaction of a job well done. Unless it translates into immediate, beneficial and TANGIBLE results for me I am not interested in doing any favors. Too many promises have been broken.

 

ET, make an update,
I spent this beautiful day in Milroy, PA. A mere 20 minute walk from this lovely truckstop was one of the best watering holes I've ever been to. (Plus we could smoke inside) I watched the NASCAR race, with a great crowd, that had to be the best race I ever saw. Milroy is a beautiful town with great people, if I ever moved, I hope it would be here. My one day here I felt so much at home. Freight is real slow for me, but I'm trying to relax more and see the country and meet the people.

 

Forgive me for not interrogating other drivers that have positive experiences and making a note of their names and truck number for proof that I was there. As for detention time, it starts after the first hour(the reason the computer sends you a reminder msg over the Q/C after 1 hour about requesting a PO# for the detention form), but they don't pay in quarter or half hours, so if you're there 2 hours you get paid for 1, and every hour after that. If you're terminal isn't helping you track down the detention time pay you're missing, then go to corporate on their sorry butt. They are there for a reason, if they're not doing their job, then go over their head. Deland knows full well that I won't hesitate 1 second to go up the ladder. But I haven't had to go over their heads because they get things done without the need.

And as far as doing favors. What favors, read you're employee handbook. It says that you are required to do yard checks if asked, you are required to shag short runs...it's called doing your job. The tangible proof you seek for efforts or as you call favors - my last 5 weeks: 3376, 2482, 2497, 2830, 2552. Not the greatest miles I've ever seen, but much better than just a month or two ago. Last year, even in the shape the economy is in now, I turned what the company calls 'acceptable' miles(I turned enough miles to have gotten a raise had I not been at the top of the scale already). This included 2 weeks vacation, and 13 days off on medical. So basically I turned 'raise eligible' miles in a little over 11 months. ET even turned, if I remember right, 150k+ miles last year. The proof is in the numbers. We do our part, we work with the system(he works it much better me, I must say), we get our miles, we get results when issues arise.... What more proof do you need? I have never been promised anything here except: You get to keep your job if you do your job.

BTW - If you're so unhappy here, move on. The last time I checked we aren't under contract. Return you truck and move on to better/greener pastures. No one but you is making you stay at such a worthless place. I was ready to leave not long back, but things improved, attitudes improved - at least for me(and quite a few others I've spoken to) but if they didn't improve for you, the next time you are sitting behind the wheel of your truck, turn your head 90 degrees to the left...See the exit?

As far as my weekend went, the APU's A/C system throws a code and shuts down the whole system every time I tried to use it Sunday, so breakdown sent me to a motel.(I was planning on going to one anyway, but with a mechanical issue, they'll pay for it instead of me) Because the highs were going to be in the low 90's up here Sunday, and high 80's Monday, plus no TK dealers are open, and breakdown isn't allowed to call in an emergency service for APU issues. So it looks I get a long weekend, I would rather lose a day now and get it fixed than fight it all week. When things like this happen, Carma usually sends me to the areas where I need the equipment that has broken down.(Carma has now been employed by Crete Carrier Corporation in the planning department)

 

i dont know about the rest of you,but as like super my miles picked up. obly thing i can complain about is my drop and hooks at the shippers hasnt been ready a few times and i gotta run long and hard

 

Great advice Tallman, thanks for reminding us to keep things in perspective.

"And, regarding some previous posts about driving schools: If a person can't learn truck driving in eight weeks, they won't catch on in another four. Some people have natural abilities and can grasp concepts and procedures quickly while others cannot."

Very true! I wonder if this may be part of what brought on the hours of service rules. Many people can't drive long hours rest for a few hours and repeat the routine, yet they still pursue trucking jobs. Allowing a persons with the natural ability to do anything, the opportunity to do so, use to be common place, but not anymore. Now at least here in the USA everyone is suppose to be afforded the opportunity to do anything they desire by attaining some kind of certification through an overnight wonder school or an advance degree from a university. Consequently we have millions of people in fields where they will never perform well. Along come rules and regulations to make everyone in that particular field safer. In doing so the naturals are no longer able to excel, the not so naturals look better on charts and graphs because their productivity is now more in line with others and everyone gets paid less. This is not the way this country became the greatest economic force on this planet. It is however a big part of what is sending it down the toilet.

 

I can't help but notice that you have taken the place of the Old Super, but with an attitude problem towards others who post. Specifically, you sniped at me the first time I posted and continue to poop on others

For the past two years, this thread for the most part has been positive. It does fall under "Your Favorite Comapny" catagory does it not? You, my man, should change your handle to Eyeore, for the whole world seems to want to pick on you. Please move on to another thread, or at least, try not to pick apart everything anyone else has to share.

Happy Trails cowboy

 

Considering that logbooks have been around a bit longer than truck schools I think it's a bit of a tough sell to get this one by.

Wikipedia on History of Trucking:

In 1935, congress passed the Motor Carrier Act, which authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate the trucking industry.[6] Based on recommendations given by the now-abolished ICC, Congress enacted the first hours of service regulations in 1938, limiting the driving hours of truck and bus drivers.

Lack of a natural ability does not by any means equate with a lack of competency. If only 'naturals' drove trucks, this country would go under in a matter of days. I would take a driver with good judgment and common sense over a driver with stamina or a natural ability to endure excessive driving hours.

 

In some respects I agree with your natural ability comment. Natural ability may not be needed to do this job, but it makes one better and more successful at it. Or at least more tolerant of the down side of this job. If you took me out and stuck me behind a desk in an office or on a sales floor, I could do the job, but wouldn't be happy, thus my performance wouldn't be as good as someone who naturally gravitated towards a job like that. The same is true in trucking. I see drivers weekly that got into this because they were lured in by the prospect of easy money. An easy job that pays good. No one prepared them for the hours/days of isolation and self reliance, the wide varying hours that one has to adjust to, time away from family and friends, the weather battles, the traffic battles, shippers/receivers, etc. And thus, they are unhappy and not doing as good as others that did get into this job out of the desire to truck. Whereas, I have in the past have leaned towards the unhappy side many times, it takes what I went through last fall to snap me back to reality and realize, I wouldn't be any better off anywhere else but trucking and have been the happiest doing this job over all the others I've had in my life. I've wanted to do this since I was a kid and, for the most part, love what I do and couldn't see myself doing any other job...will I be here at Crete the rest of my career? Who knows, next week I may be back on the Gripe-wagon...but for now, I'm content. Will I be doing this the rest of my life...if it were up to me, absolutely. I've tried to teach my wife how to back our little 10' trailer time after time, but she just doesn't adapt to steering a trailer with a vehicle instead of just steering the vehicle. She does ok, but many times it's trial and error. Many times she has had to take a break to calm herself because of frustration. For me it just came naturally. I was helping my dad back and maneuver trailers around the well/pump yard by the time I could reach the pedals and see over the dashboard.(not in big trucks)

They sent me to the Thermoking in Jessup, MD for repairs. Which caused me to lose an overnight 700 mile run to IN (P/U Monday, deliver anytime D/H). I wasn't certain about the length of time it was going to take to fix my truck, so I opted out of accepting the load. It turns out I could have taken it. The repair was simple. It seems as though the original APU installer didn't hook up the ground wires properly on my APU's control unit, and all the bouncing I've been doing around PA jiggled them lose from wherever they were stuck. The repair guy said he couldn't find any holes where they would have been 'properly' screwed into the floor, so they must've been just wedged somewhere and making contact by luck. Now this thing is putting out so much cold air, it would make a penguin shiver. I ended up heading to the lovely T/A - Jessup after it was all done. Around 1400 sent a load offer that p/u Tuesday at 11, del's in extreme north central MO Thurs a.m. 1140 miles for this trip, just under 1400 mi and a shag bonus for the week. Considering I started my week out in a freight dead zone, and my truck was in the shop...still not horrible miles.

Big Rig T.... I was thinking the same thing about my past messages. Looking back, this time last year, I was at the height of my gripe-fest... The one thing I tried to do though, is let my sense of humor keep me from going to far down. Maybe things will pan out for ole' 'bow' within a few months. I have found out the old saying "it's always darkest before the dawn" is true more often than not. - in my case it's the story of my life, or at least a motto. (so now I know "what's the motto with me")

 

Super... Please continue your great posts. You give all of us the pros and cons of the industry. I, for one, appreciate your humor. At least you have a sense of humor as opposed to many on here who do not. Don't change. Thanks!