Crete Carrier Corporation - Lincoln, Ne.

I was with Crete for 7 yrs. Two as an o/op fleet driver and nearly 5 as a company driver. Even though I was terminated by them and have my own personal grievance I still recommend them as a company. The issues I have with them are unique and due far more to my strongly independent attitude than them as a company. I had my own truck for many years and am going to again

 

I'm getting ready to retire from the Air Force I have my CDL and 3 years driving local runs. I'm thinking about applying at Crete. I'll be moving to the Kansas Oklahoma area. Any thoughts how long my training would last. I'm also a smoker will that limit me on a trainer

 

Don't know about Crete, but with most companies it's easier to get a trainer if your a smoker or don't mind going with a smoker. Never a shortage of truckers that smoke, lol. Should'nt be a problem for you. Good luck, be safe.

 

Thanks. In the Air Force your a horable person if you smoke.

 

I've been there over two years. It's not a GOOD job, it's just a job.

I'll stay until the economy improves and there are more options.

If you're happy with earning in the mid 40's as an experienced driver, not much home time, a very impersonal work environment, slow trucks, lots of rules, not many miles, and too many short runs, you'll be happy at crete.

Crete will be happy to sell you shirts, hats, and other stuff with 'Crete' on them, and you can can strut around proudly announcing to the world you are proud to settle for an average job.

For a new driver? It's OK. After you have a few years experience, you will ask yourself 'is this all there is?'.

Is somebody telling you they get high miles? I do, maybe 3 weeks a year.
I'm not trying to get the $1000 recruiting fee Crete pays drivers. I'll tell you the truth.

Don't forget, many new truckers are people who have never made much money in other jobs. Many OLD truckers are people who are happy to have a truck to live in, and spending money.



Dry Van is a dead end. You compete with unskilled people for miles.

I hope you like sleep apnea testing shoved down your throat? CRETE has two sleep labs set up at two terminals, and I was told (May be rumour) EVERY driver will eventually be required to undergo sleep apnea testing.

Want to be home on a holiday? You better have vacation time.
Want to work over a holiday? Hope you have some hobby you can do while you are sitting in the truck with no miles to run, but Crete says the only time they will get you home is Xmas, and that may be just a touch and go.
I got home last year on Xmas eve, had to leave xmas night 'because they had freight' and ended up running two hundred miles a day well beyond January 1.

Sure, it depends on who you are....maybe brown-nosing comes into play, I don't know.
Maybe if I spent more money in the company store, and stomped around the terminal in my crete clothing, I'd get more miles?

I do my job, don't ask for much time off, and I don't get much in return.

Welcome to trucking. They are not the worst of the companies, they are sure far from the best.

I wish they'd spend less money on advertising, recruiting, and put it in my pocket.

 

hellava first post OFTOTR kinda makes my next post look like suicide but.....

I just got off the phone with Crete and I go in Monday for testing and what not. Should be on the road by Wednesday or thereabouts with my trainer. I am excited and nervous of course but I'm no spring chicken so I have been around and seen/done plenty...just not in a truck (well there was this one time back in high school. Her dad had a an old farm truck...but I digress).

I researched plenty and asked all of my trucker friends about Crete. More positive than negative came back so I reckon they're just as good(if not better) as any to start with. I hope to get plenty of experience.

 

While Crete's dispatch system is impersonal it also keeps favoritism from being a problem. Plus as a well experienced driver I don't need someone to hold my hand. Just give me the info and leave me alone.

Short miles... I hate them too. Especially when unproductive. However, that is what pays the best rate and allows Crete to remain debt free and pay above average wages. You want longer runs on a more consistent basis? Just go work for Swift, Celadon, Werner, or even a smaller company. What? They don't pay enough? You mean you would rather make .42-.47 cpm instead of .35-.40 cpm. You can make the same money at Crete running 2500 miles in a week as you can driving 3000 mpw with someone else at a lower wage. So, why work harder?

Company logoed shirts are not a requirement! But as someone who takes pride in being a good representative for any company I work with, I choose to wear them anytime I will be interacting with a customer. Having a good image, and ATTITUDE, while interacting with a customer could result in Crete getting more freight from said customer and in turn could result in more miles for the drivers. Doesn't make me a brown-noser, just looking out for #1.

 

Well said, JD. Look at the BIG PICTURE. Your appearance and actions affect the company's business, which affects your earnings potential. Not only in trucking, but in ANY other business... McD's, any restaurant, cab company, bank, insurance company, cable company, etc...

I can't tell you how many times I've seen pimply-faced high school kids who didn't give a rats *** about customers lose their jobs when the store closed down due to lack of business.

 

I'm certainly NOT a brown-noser, and I have real issues with Crete about holidays, but for some reason I don't mind working less to make more! I am able to avg 2650 miles/week while I'm out, and while I hate a slow truck, I can deal with it. And I NEVER wear logo clothes, of any kind(except my beloved St. louis Cardinals!). So, whenever it is that you move on, and I'm sure it won't be long, good luck.

 

And that is the major problem with that ###### regional dispatch system. Favoritism is only a problem when you are not one of the favorites. When I started at Shaffer, Tom Hart was my dispatcher. I sometimes got treated better than other drivers because I took care of Tom. Favoritism is what makes operations run smoothly. They guys that occasionally will haul a garbage load get treated better than the whiners or the ######### that have to call all the time because they miss their mommys.

The other flaw with that system is there is no accountability. If I have my own dispatcher and I'm not getting what I need, I know who's ### to chew on.

Short miles can only work if properly managed. Lots of drop and hook and you have to charge EVERY customer detention in order to make it worth the driver's time. I talked to a lot of SE regional guys in Marietta. Crete does not know how to manage a short haul fleet.