My Crete Diary

As I stated in another thread, I am starting with Crete soon, and I will share my experience with the company here.
Allow me to give a bit of my industry history, which should give some insight in this thread.
I have been a driver for just short of 5 years. I have hauled dry van, reefer and flat bed. I have done dedicated account work for almost all of those 5 years. Prior to becoming a driver I worked in civil service. I was a volunteer firefighter/paramedic and a full time narcotics detective. I was also a 911 dispatcher for a few years.
What does that have to do with anything? Well, it means that I take safety and legality very seriously.

At any rate, I interviewed with a TM today at the Ottawa, IL terminal. The TM seems to be a very nice person. She strikes me as being a straight shooter. During my interview she noticed that they had me slated to be in training with another driver for up to 3 weeks. She immediately called the head of the training department to find out why. They told her that I would have to do the 3 weeks for the following reasons:

1. Most of my 5 years was with a small company with no formal safety department.
2. A lapse in communication has Crete of the belief that I only ran in 5 states, mostly in 2. (The fact of the matter is that I ran in 11 states with most of my deliveries being within 2 states of it's origin)
3. No qualcomm experience.

While I am not turned on by the idea of running with a trainer, I am not put off by it. There is alot of valuable information that I will be able to learn. I have never run with a trainer before. The closest I came was when my friend taught me how to drive. Even with that, it was all local. I didn't live in a truck with a stranger. I have trained new drivers, but they where generally only with me for 1 or 2 loads, just long enough to get the general idea of how to handle account specific procedures and paperwork.
My biggest concern about being with a trainer is that I will get paired with someone whom I am not compatible with. I don't want to spend my time in a tense environment. Even if that turns out to be the case, I will make the best of it.

At any rate, I should be getting a call soon to set me up with the first part of orientation. I am thrilled to be working for Crete, and I am excited about getting under way. I will use this thread to share my experiences with the company and answer any questions that might arise. I am an up front and honest person, so I will offer a "no holds barred" appraisal of the company, as I see it.

Matt

 

I spoke with someone yesterday and was told that she was having problems lining me up with a trainer, as I am a smoker. I am expecting to hear from her again on the 24th. I hope they can get me moving pretty quick, otherwise I am going to have to start looking elsewhere. I need to get a paycheck, and soon.

 

I am lined up for Orientation in Lincoln starting on May 3rd. This is a long time to go without a paycheck, so I have made other arraingments to get paid in the downtime.
They are even going to rent me a car to drive to Lincoln. That is cool as sliced bread!

 

They know I can drive. The purpose of the trainee thing is so they know I can run a clean log, take care of any unsafe habits I may have developed, and teach me the ins and outs of the Quallcomm. As it happens, I can get out of training early, as long as the trainer thinks I am good to go.
I am not thrilled about the training period, but I will make the best of it.