Crete Orientation & Training

hey tony, just wondering what your final choice was. those were my two top choices also and i decided to go with shaffer. i leave on monday for pre qual.

 

My husband finished school last July and started with Shaffer (Crete) last September. .34 cents a mile..trained with 2 different drivers. the 1st driver was for 6 weeks and the 2nd driver for 2 weeks. He came home once during that time. After his 8 weeks he had a 3 day orientation in Lincoln, NE after that they gave him his truck and he got to come home for 3 days. He stays out for 21 days and than home for 3. I have to admit I'm not happy with the pay but he needed the experience. He is currently looking for another job. My husband said it is a long training program but well worth it. He felt very confident going on the road. (presuming you get a good trainer). He got $500.00 per week guarenteed. You have to buy your own locks but they wait until your on your own before they start deducting it from your pay. ( I think it was $25.00 a week).

 

I've read some horror stories about trainers on here, not Shaffer / Crete so much but some of the other companies. i'm hoping I luck out, i'll know within a week provided i get through the first few days which i'm sure i will. i haven't been in a truck in 3 weeks now but i'm sure it will come back to me. Also, i'm sure they don't expect the most out of new students. During the first week of OTR training did your husband drive or does the trainer? I've been reading another crete forum and the trainer on there said he drives the first few days to give the student a feel for the truck. I'm kind of hoping that is the shaffer way of training.

 

Driver you are very smart! Not many newbies pick good companies right off the bat! Crete/Shaffer/sunflower is an excellent company. It is going to take you a little while to climb the ladder but is worth it. Good choice driver. Good luck to you!

 

I think he started driving the 2nd or 3rd day. You get paid the straight 500.00 weekly the trainer gets paid the mileage.

 

My husband was hired in under Shaffer but the first 6 weeks of his training was with a Crete driver in a Crete truck. The last 2 weeks he was with a Shaffer driver in a Shaffer truck. I think on average Crete drivers get more miles and less down time because what ever they are hauling is usually pick up and go where as in a reefer the load has to stay cold and they usually cant preload it...he gets loaded on arrival..which ends up in a lot of down time...wait to get loaded and than wait while its getting loaded...than before you know it your out of hours...O well, we are grateful that they hired him fresh out of school and he was able to get experience...its just time for him to move on now. Words of advice...when your on your own try to take loads going West that will give you m i l e s..loads heading East are short 200-300 and you often get stuck waiting on another load plus you burn up your hours going on short runs and waiting to get unloaded..before you know it your day is up and you have less than 300 miles for the day..and at .34 cpm isn't much money for a days work..