CRETE - A Year in Review

What ET said. Since I never drove as a trainee with any OTR companies I can only go by others experiences. I would suggest trying to get your wife into driving as a team with you. You guys could work for about 10 years and save some serious money. My mom and stepfather was a team for about two years till health issues forced one of them off the road so they both got out of the industry. In that short period of time, and having no bills, they saved close to $50k. Just sayin'. Best of luck to you.

 

I cant thank you enough Ever! Im reminded of my past OTR life with Crete, through these posts and its a good feeling to remember those days. Crete was a top notch company when I was there and its good to remember. Thanks!

 

thanks jd i talked with watkins sheppard who does have a facility near detroit but say i am out of there hiring area which is 120 miles they wont hire outside because they say to far to drive for home time (4 hrs for me) they must be hiring drivers that can drive 2 hrs at a time. (crazy) I did however got ahold of swift and they are hiring in my area and sounded somewhat promissing, filled out the app and now all we can do is hold our breath or cross our fingers not sure which.we have a couple older great danes and the wife is a manager at the glens so i wont be able to get her on the road for a couple years when the big dogs go to the back yard for the big sleep. hopefully not before there time love them to death since we couldnt have kids there kind of ours. nice truck ill be lookin for it when i get out there. safe journeys and many miles.

MOD

 

What about firms around the Milwaukee-Chicago area, anyone hiring. Long or short haul, doesn't matter. Thanks

 

Can anyone from Crete answer me these questions......

Have 5 years of exp driving truck, 3 OTR and 2 Local. Last time i've been in a truck was 2008, I am interesting applying with Crete or Shaffer will they hire me or will I have to start over and go with a trainer since last time i've been in a truck was 2008.

I see one driver here who gets over 3000 miles per week almost all the time. Is he a trainer ? or is it all solo miles.

 

Ok ladies and gents....yeah and you too SS, lol.

Im at glorious New Kingstown for a sleep study. Last night was tough, not much sleep and felt like Gullivers Travels with being wrapped up in wires LOL

I do have sleep apnea and will spend two more nights here....tonight to try the CPAP machine while being hooked up again, and tomorrow in the truck after they hook up whatever it is they have to hook up. Friday I have my physical (sleep and DOT) and year end evaluation.

I'll have 1 year in on the 23rd. So Im looking forward to my raise and not being a Crete rookie. Man the year has gone by fast, and they have kept me rolling.

Sorry Big Al, I do like Crete and will hang around for a while.

 

I am guessing you will have to spend at least a short time with a trainer, since it's been 2 years since you were last in a truck. With your previous experience, maybe not too long. Give them a call to find out. My miles have been pretty strong. Good Luck!

 

Is sleep apnea testing part of cretes orientation? Is it required to be retested each year?

 

I was diagnosed years ago, and use a CPAP. There were two problems that I initially experienced.

During the night I would wake enough to take the mask off, but not enough to realize that I had done it. The problem was that the machine would start at a low pressure, and the increase to my prescribed pressure. They call this ramping. During the night I would rouse a little, sense the high pressure, and take the mask off. I had the unit switched to Automatic. Now the pressure stays low until I go to sleep and start to need it, then the pressure goes up. If I start to wake the pressure will automatically drop, and I can get back to sleep, without taking the mask off, or even knowing that I started to wake up. I would suggest that you ask about getting your machine set to auto.

I had a great deal of trouble finding a "mask", the sleep people call it an appliance, that I was comfortable with. I recommend the style with the "nasal pillows". I personally use the Swift FX, because I prefer to sleep on my side or stomach and this model provides very little bulk in front of my face.

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/res...eadgear.html?gclid=CO7mx-mE1KcCFZNd7Aod_Ex9AA

I mention these two suggestions since you will not have easy access to keep going back to the sleep lab, or provider for adjustments, or to try other types of masks.

Finally be sure that the machine has the ability to keep track of your use , and it's effectiveness. This will be important for future physicals. My last DOT, all the Doc needed was to see the download, and I had another two year card. But if I had not had the download he would have given me a three month card, and told me to come back at the end of three months with the download. I think that all the machines are downloadable now, but be sure that it is, and that they give you the card. If your company is going to ask for the card for occasional reviews, make sure that they give you a spare card for when you send the original in.

 

I'd pay attention to the roads around your area and the trucks travelling them. Write down those companies and investigate from there. Furthermore, grab a bunch of the job market books you see outside truckstops. Go home and start researching where the advertising companies are based out of. Totally disregard what these ads are promising, just use the ads for names of trucking companies. I'd think those that are based out of MI and WI would offer you the best opportunities. As mentioned, Roehl has a decent reputation with new drivers.