CRETE - A Year in Review

LOL, I guess we wouldn't want to be around for the truck stop chili dogs.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for the updates and directions on what to expect. I was all set to leave to go t Crete's orientation, when I went to one last interview. They hired me on the spot. I'll be in the specialized division, heavy hauling up and down the east coast. Great thing most of it is salary based, then rest is percent of profit of the load. I like that, easier to make a budget and also don't have to worry about the unpaid miles lol. First year for this rookie driver is projected at $53,000, after that it can go up to $72,000 after two or three years and get on the really big loads with the 5 or 6 axle trailers. I start Monday morning bright and early and will post how it goes.

 

Good luck. You can have the east coast. Can I have the northwest?

 

I'm with you there! I'll be applying at Interstate soon...

 

Well, I made it home finally. Got my physical, passed with flying colors. Now home trying to calm my wife down...my daughters wedding plans has her running around in circles. And I finally got to pu my smartphone...amazing how you get use to having one and how lost you feel without it. I did have a fun filled day in UnSocial Circle. 9 hrs waiting on a load that was suppose to be ready, told once I get the green light, hook up, head to the guard shack and get paperwork and head to the rail yard in Jacksonville. So, I followed directions. Got to guard shack, then was told to return to my dock, I wasn't done...even though the dock door was closed, the ICC latch was off, and the trailer was full, top to bottom and all the way back. So after another hour, I dropped the trailer, and bobtailed to the closest truckstop. Before I left, during my 9 hours waiting up there, one driver had been there 24 hrs, after they finally loaded him, he had to come back twice to reload due to overweight issues. There must have been 20 or more Crete's waiting for loads at docks, and no other company's trucks. I guess they must love us there and enjoy staring at our trucks.

While I was at Deland, I did find out that our most of the new trucks are the new Cornbinders and are going to be the the single bunk sleepers (I forget what International calls it - skyrise I think). The double bunks are going to be for teams or trainers. I was wondering when they would start buying singles since all these new trucks are so heavy, and they're running out of things to take off or delete when they order. Still going to be ordered with the battery pack a/c for our sleeper break time, maybe with a smaller height to cool, the battery packs will last longer.

 

I don't know what I'd do without the upper bunk. I keep my tote with food, and a few other things up there. Guess I won't have to find out for a couple years, only got around 214000 miles on this truck.

 

Me either, I have mine pretty full (and tied down so I don't get yelled at)

I was told that not all trucks are being kept longer. Perhaps that was why I didn't get the message about the extended warranty that other drivers told me they got, I've got 462k on mine...My terminal manager said to beep her when I get close to 500K so that Lincoln can do a mileage evaluation...I guess if they go too far over 500k, they can't get the extension if they decide to keep it longer. Based on what I heard (and have seen with all the Internationals in the shop)I'm not sure I want one. I wonder if Lincoln knows that there are more than 2 truck manufacturers. I mean, they leave Freightliner for International...then switch back to buying Freightliners...I mean - what about Volvo, or Kenworth. I see other ATA members buying them...Crete tends to follow the pack with other policy's and decisions that other members do...why not that? Oh wait...I'm not suppose to be thinking am I...Geez

 

Well, I am at 535k and heading north on mileage. I like my old freightshaker. Went thru the warranty review, so I guess I am keeping her for a while longer. Not disappointed. After hearing all the shop of horrors' stories on the Prostars and the weight issues, please let me keep plunking away.

 

Crete SOLD our 2011 Cascadia that only had 191k miles on it. (That's what we were told anyway.) We moved into a new International with the Maxxforce engine. We are going into the shop today with it for starter issues. It has just under 10k miles on it. Our Cascadia had only 1 breakdown in the year we had it. Don't know why they would give it up.

 

Those prostars are junk! I'll keep my good 'ol freightshaker she keeps on ticking! Plus it was my trainers truck and he got it brand new and has 160K plus on her and no problems at all! His brand new prostar has already been in the shop! Has less than 5K on it!