Lower Miles, Aggressive Hiring -Is Crete Expanding to Implosion?

And people wonder why truckers don't get any respect? Why would anyone give a pottymouth like that respect?

 

I'm having some real trouble getting hired cuz I think if I'm going to stay away from home for 3-9 weeks I want to get paid 950-1300 dollars a week. Most trucking companies find this just terribly unreasonable. We're supposed to lap up those $650 a week gross paychecks and LOVE it! (650 minus taxes= 400. 400 minus family medical premium= 250. 250 minus road expenses= 175 going into your household. 175 minus child support= negative 75). It's not even worth it for a guy like me to drive for these kind of crappy wages.

 

I drive for Crete, and my checks are almost always at least $950 gross. Usually are more, the only time they are less is when I take my home time. I do stay out 3-4 weeks most of the time though.

 

I also am a Crete driver. My miles have plumteted the last 4 weeks. I was at the new terminal in Lenoir TN. last week and there were about 12 drivers sitting at the terminal waiting for a load that were having problems with not getting any miles. And there were also 4 new hires just starting also at the terminal. It was stated by some corporate people durring the grand opening lunch that Crete was indeed going to have to change their average load to 300 miles per load average because that is where the industry is taking it. This they said was because the rail system is hurting the long haul miles.

 

#### railroads.

Well I doubt I will ever drive for them. I like running I-10,20,40, and 70. Nothing north of 40 east of the Mississippi River.

But those days are long gone...

 

As a former Crete driver, I find that very hard to believe. I can see a 900+ check on occasion, but not every week. I have a friend that still works there( hes a 15 year guy there) and because he is at the top pay scale, his miles suffer when a newer lower paid driver is near him and needs a load too. When I "started" there, sure...3300 per week was the norm..for about 6 months. Then it gradually started to decline, 2900, 2700, 2300, then settled in at about 1800 a week. Now I know times can get tough, they do for every carrier, but it is unreasonable for a carrier to drop a drivers wages like that and expect them to stay when you continue to hire even when freight supply dictates not hiring for awhile. Now, don't get me wrong, I DO NOT in any way bash Crete, or think they are a trashy outfit, ect. I just felt that I, as a family man, could not survive on the miles I was averaging at that time and made the decision to move on. Was that a mistake? I can't really say, because I like the equipment, the people I worked for, and the benefits they provided. The benefits were some of the best I have ever seen and probably will see. But "if" the miles are indeed dropping to an average of 300 per load, I can honestly say I would not reccomend Crete to a new driver or one with a family. There is no way that I can see how a man(or woman) can be expected to live on those wages and find that exceptable and stay for the long term. Had Crete kept my miles up and trust me, I had several chats with my DM on that,( I would stay out for 2 to 3 months and just go home when freight slowed down so to speak) and actually kept the promise of my raises(raise being the raise you get for averaging a certain amount of miles for the year, and because of low weekly miles, thus the yearly mileage was hard to attain) and becoming a trainer, I can almost guarantee I would still be there.

 

Agresssive hiring?

Seven years of local experience, with a perfect background and spotless MVR. Only thing was that I hadn't driven in three years. Took them less than a week after me applying before I got the letter saying they wouldn't even consider me.

Actually worked out for me, since it got me to apply for the job I got, with better pay and weekends home.

 

I have averaged a little over 11,000 miles per month since the first of the year. I do stay out 3-4 weeks at a time, which probably boosts my miles some. As long as the shorter loads are drop/hook I don't mind them, but when they are live load/unload it doesn't lead to being very productive. My lowest weeks are still at least 22-2300 miles though, unless I've been at home that is. Things can always be better, but I'm not complaining too much.