US Xpress can die!!

How about choice #6, none of the above? I have to agree with Mack though, if my life depended on being a number at one of those big company choices, it would be Crete.

 

What can you tell me about Crete? I know this may sound crazy but I'm sick and tired of driving a freakin freightshaker, is that all they have. If I have to live in a truck for weeks at a time I want to be comfortable and able to sleep without being shook all over the place and the lound noise. Do you know anything about Hogan?

 

I believe that Crete has some pete 387 along with fr8liners, but I also think they use opti-idle. I'm guessing that is what you are referring to.

As for Hogan, the last I knew they were a good company to drive for. That information is probably 5 years old though,they may have changed. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that Hogan's brokerage dept. is fair with us and good to work with. I know that info doesn't help you any. Maybe someone else on here may know something about them as to how they are to drive for.

 

Hey roaring down~

Do you know how they are taking out the per diem out of your check? No matter how we figure it out the numbers are not adding up.

Btw if you quit they will take away the last half of your sign on bonus.

 

FYI - I'm a 10 year driver for the Acklie companies (Shaffer and Crete included) who just quit. They only have Frieghtliners, other models are o/o rigs. They have opti-idle which isn't terrible, but it does take getting used to being wakened frequently on start-up (for shut down, just make sure your jake brake is OFF!).
Crete last year was involved in that multiple fatality in FL and since then has cracked the whip in regards to logbooks. There is NO leeway, they use GPS against your logs to determine that you left when you say you did, you fueled when you say you did, and that you were within the speed limits (don't cruise Ohio I-70 at 60 mph or you will need to shut down for a half hour prior to fueling in Indiana). If you leave after taking a 9 hour 45 minute break, you will be shut down for another 10 hours. It is no longer possible to log with a 2 hour grace period as they allowed for the past decade, you must log everything to the 15 minute mark, including quick bathroom breaks on the interstate or pulling over to answer a qualcom message. I just quit when they forced me to leave the national fleet and take a temporary assignment driving for $150 day for one of their WalMart fleets. I refused, and my manager wouldn't back me up (it is a forced dispatch company but NOWHERE in the books does it say drivers can be forced into fleets other than what they voluntarily signed up for).
Obviously, even despite the 24/7 presence of the GPS and the log auditing, I would not recommend them, and I never have (yes, pay is good, benefits are good, but miles are average, home time can be ignored, and you will be looking over your shoulder all the time - I was called to the mat once when a 'mystery driver' reported to Crete that I did not have a king-pin lock on a trailer I set down so I could go a mile away to a restaurant for one hour). Big brother is alive and well at Crete. Unfortunately, big brother is coming to all larger companies, but why waste time in shackles now if you don't have to?

 

Thanks for the info on Crete, I really appreciate it. I guess I am no longer interested. Can't work under those conditions!! What are you going to do? You just don't know who to work for these days but we don't want to be O/O too much responsibility and too unsure at this point as to how it all works. I am at a loss.

 

I read several of the post concerning USX. As for being sent to pu a load and then find out it was already pu? They sometimes double dispatch loads because someone in the office did not show the load dpd.

I never had any prob with their payroll in my 6+ years there, except when the DM did not put in for accessories pay that was owed.

There trucks are hardly top of the line. They are your average stripped down company trucks. Just compare one with a company truck from Interstate who I worked for after USX. Missing gages -no differential lock- no chain racks -no trailer break- -cheap seats- programing in the control module that robs power and last but not least having to go through every gear after 3rd when bobtail- mty or downhill because the trucks are auto shift.

They do keep them clean and maintained if you if you stay east, out west not as well per my experience.

 

do not even think about going to usa trucking. After working for covenant,i didn't think any company could be as sorry,boy was i wrong. As with most companies there are problems. The main problem is the dispatchers. I had ryan for a dispatcher. He is a young punk that has no idea of what dot reg. are all about. He will cut your throat on miles if you refuse to run over hours and will not get hometime as promised. I ran what was a regional rte. this wasa to get home 1 day a week. drivers sit over the weekend,however not anywhere near your home. I tried to get home for 2 weeks to get my wife to dr. where she has ongoing apts.however they kept me away from taking her. Regional also meant very little hywy driving,instead running thru a lot of small towns,getting few miles. One of these days it would be benefical to drivers to have dispatchers learn dot regs. he insisted i still had driving time as i had not completed my 14 hrs. i tried to inform him the 14 is for all on duty and does not allow for one to drive the 14 hrs. what an ignorant child.this is a co. meant for students only as i have found out the hard way. by pushing newbies to run illegally they expect all to do it. No wonder they are on the top list for roll overs. Stay clear of this co. also will not repair dangerous maintenence problems on their trucks. do not go with usa you will be sorry