Crete Carrier Corporation - Lincoln, Ne.

We talk a lot about how great Crete is here, but know this: the jobs that are opening up there are "vacated" jobs. They aren't opening because Crete is growing.

Be sure you know why Crete jobs are being vacated before doing a song and dance to their orientation. I know they're good, but apparently they aren't quite as good as we make them out to be if folks are leaving them. Maybe the jobs are opening up because drivers there are having accidents and are being booted out. Don't know. Be sure you find out before going to Lincoln. There's always a reason for a job opening at any company. Those reasons can be narrowed down to drivers retiring, being terminated, quitting, or dying. That's about it. Medical leaves could be added, too, but these are rare. Jobs being added because of company growth are ultra-rare, at least in numbers above about 5% a year.

 

Tip - you are on the money! I think they jerked their knee a bit too far in response to the Florida incident. Talking with them I was confounded with Safety is reviewing this, that, and the other thing. The issues had nothing to do with safety, but employment verification etc.

I have an invite to orientation, but I doubt I will take them up on it. It seemed to me they are building a system to insulate the company from any future "incidents" - which means the driver's will be crucified. It "appears" they are building up a case against you BEFORE you even get to orientation.

FWIW, the Crete drivers I see on the road aren't any better or worse than any other company. Late night in a truck stop some are downright Swiftian when trying to back into a hole.

Nevertheless, they are one of the better companies. But, like everyone else they have their own peculiarities.

 

They want me to come to orientation too. I put them off since my house sale fell through. Plus it is kind of a backup plan for me anyways. I hope to go to Landstar but if it doesn't work out I have this to fall back on.

 

Thanks all for the info. It really helps for those looking for a change.

 

If I couldn't get a union job, I'd go with Crete again. If CCC wouldn't hire me, I'd throw away my CDL....again.

 

ones that most grownups aren't going to put up with for very long.

 

I would say is due in part to them being very strict logwise. I've seen many drivers at terminals upset due to being written up for log violations. There is no wiggle room here, so be prepared to log it exactly as you drive it, or pay the price. Even then, expect that you will make some mistake that they will find. Is this practice aggravating? Yes it is. It drives me up the wall sometimes, but I still enjoy working for the company. I've been lucky enough to have a good terminal manager, as well as a good dispatcher, so I can live with having to be extra-careful on how I log. I've gotten spanked my share of times, and while I didn't like it when it happened, I understand why they have to do it. I do wish they would lighten up a little, but I'm not going anywhere even if they don't.

I have talked to many of the longtime drivers at terminals, and heard them complain about the logging business though. It upsets them more than it would me or anyone else newer to the company. They logged the same way for many years with the company without problem, now they are getting called on things and don't like it. Those that don't like it enough, go somewhere else. The rest of us stay on, and try to keep under the radar logwise. The other openings probably come from those who have been warned and warned and still continue to try and fool the log department, and end up being asked to find somewhere else to work. JMO.

 

Accurate logging is not a problem. In fact it's the easiest way to log. The only time I ever "worked" the log book was to accomplish something ridiculous for the company. If the load planning is cool and the driver isn't a dimwit, then the log is a piece of cake. I would prefer to log it as I drive, that way I'm not working myself to death

 

I agree. Accurate logging is not a problem, but no one is perfect, and people do make mistakes when logging. BTW, I live in one town in MO, and when I park my truck during TAH, the qcomm shows I've parked in another town, seven miles from where I live. So my log says that I've parked in my home town, and their satellite says I'm in the other town, which makes that an error. See what I'm saying now?

 

I remember back in "ought 2" CCC was pretty #### anal about logs. A lot of drivers #####ed about it then, and with Crete's safety department being even stricter now, I'd say you're right, QComm. Lots of guys probably do quit there over this issue.

Truck drivers are their own worst enemies sometimes. Even at a great company like CCC. But that's alright. When those guys quit, it leaves a bunch of good jobs for somebody like me to jump on.