Crete

Anybody been to orientation with them and can tell me what to expect?

 

Nevermind...Novoids post explained it very well.

 

If you have a position with Crete locked up, I would wait. The pay rate is better, and I've heard more and more negative stories associated with Roehl lately. Although you sometimes have to see for yourself. I worked for Crete over a year ago, and had an overall good experience, aside from one dispatcher and his boss...this seems to be at any carrier.

 

I just drove for them and was with them for over 8 years so I can confirm what Rabbit has said is true. Also when drivers always say they get the miles stated every week as an average they are lying. They are hoping to feel your eyes with stars and get that bonus money.

Crete is actually a good OTR road company as OTR companies go but they are a far cry from years past. Every terminal is a real hassle. You go in for anything and they treat you like scum or dirt to be avoided. Need to get your truck worked on? Try and go in and get it done and they will say two days and you tell dispatch and they will force you to keep running and keep saying they will get you by a terminal but after months and the maintenance department is screaming at you on your quallcomm and you say you want to and have tried then they say NO, you are not trying. It was always the whole 8 years with them a real hassle to get them to get you home ALWAYS. I here drivers here and other boards say that is not so but trust me when you get away from the ones looking for a bonus they will be honest. Crete hates for you to go home and sends you the opposite way almost every time. It is a battle to get home.

Crete pays no detention time and even when I sat up in Washington for 8 days last year I got nothing extra at all but did get the Quallcomm message to call the Manager and she demanded tro know why my Idle was so high. I explained it was real cold up there and needed to run my truck to try to keep warm. She said I needed to sit around inside the truck stop while I was down and I BETTER do so and get that idle down. At that time I asked if I would get any detention pay and she informed me that Crete policy is no detention pay is paid if there is no FREIGHT and you have to sit. Ok then. If there was freight I wouldn't need detention I think but I am only a truck driver so what do I know.

Now it true when Acklie ran the company it was a really good company and now that his son in law is running it it is not the same. It is an OTR company and not made for our comfort but to make money. Many have left it for sure as they have been moving toward becoming a newbie company. It is cheaper to run newbies than to have long time drivers actually. Turnover does cost companies but keeping cheap coming in does save a lot too. The whole attitude of Crete now is moving from being driver driven.

Anyone wants more sccop then let me know. I know this company well.

 

I really liked that per day write off at tax time for sure. Never have had per diem pay so don't know much and since I am about to get back on the road I may have to find out about it.

 

I went with Roehl .... I'm sure I couldn't go wrong with either company ..... so far, I'm ok with my choice ....... I am keeping Crete in ind if for some unforeseen reason I should decide to leave Roehl ..... I don't like switching jobs (only had 3 jobs in the last 15 years) good luck to y'all wish ya the best if you see Roehl truck #7916 come say hi

 

Well got the okay from crete. I will be heading up to Kansas City the 26th to get tests done and get out on the road with a trainer cant wait

 

Caution about Crete/Shaffer, I have 7 yrs exp and went to them, let me tell you a few things to watch out for. I was told I would receive a sign on bonus that never came. I wasn't told about unpaid layover and I averaged 3 days a week unpaid layover (not home time). I was told I would get detention pay but wasn't told it's up to the company's discretion. I'm still due about $4,000 in back detention pay and the paperwork is right. Many other drivers don't even fill out papers because most of the time it's not paid. Home time is not important to them and it doesn't mater if you've been out 4 months because they "can't get you home, no loads" you still only get a max of 4 days off. Parts reimbursements are also optional. If you get a truck from New Kingston, PA make sure it's in perfect condition. When you turn it back in there, they charge you for everything they can like a scratch on the bumper. I got a filthy truck and they wanted to charge me a detail fee ($105) so I passed. When I turned it back in it was clean but had some road dust on it, I "was" charged a cleaning fee ($105) for turning in a "dirty" truck. I was with them about a year and couldn't afford to stay. Miles are promised but real paycheck was 1700 miles per week (minus the things they won't pay for). For such a good company, they have a lot of non-pay issues you don't learn about until you get hooked in. I can prove with my paystubs all of what I said here.

 

Anyone drive national for them and can comment on how long out, and how they are liking or disliking it.

 

I used to work for crete, you get 1 day off for every 6 out, and 4 days at home maxs, which i dont like.