CRETE - A Year in Review

It's a downright ugly word that really has no place here, that's why.

 

getting your terminal manager to do his/her job is easy... Go over his/her head and keep climbing until you find someone who can get things fixed. I ended up having my sitdown with 2 VP's before I got someone's attention...then guess what? When I called my terminal manager with an issue...it was looked into because it was known that I would 1...unload on what's going on at Crete on this forum...and 2... I wouldn't hesitate to go all the way to Mr. A if I had to in order to get something straightened out...

As for miles, when I am not having to deal with personal issues at home...productivity isn't a normal issue...if they(dispatch/planning) don't get things moving...I start asking, then telling, then demanding more miles...then if that doesn't work...I start climbing the ladder and go over their head...if I get someone fired...then so be it. I never once started doing this job to make friends or build a long term relationship...I do it to pay my bills. If I have to step on toes or get on someone's bad side to get that job done...tough enchiladas. If I hurt someone's feelings because I am a little abrasive...toughen up chief...grow a thicker skin. Those that work well with me, I will work well with, those that screw with me, get screwed with. Cory...well, I can't say anything here about him, too many ####'s...I have the advantage of getting in and right back out...he doesn't like me...I don't like him...and I will not take any crap off of him what so ever...and that is why he gets me out of his area asap.

 

Hey, don't think I didn't earn that 3k miles. I bugged my asset and the assets manager every day. Last week I lost my house because I've been letting other people take care of my miles. I come to an epiphany that they hired me and they ARE going to work me. My miles are really bad this year.. because I got into the train of thought that 1 good paycheck and 3 bad ones were my fault.. until I started trying extra hard and same results.

So I called and gave my notice.. I was determined that burger king would not hire me just to keep me on stand by.. 10 minutes later Mike mimic called and we talked about an hour... He told me miles will go up if you keep this gung-Ho attitude up. I have and im doing better.. constant communication with asset manager, her manager and load planners on my eta and pta.

So by no means are my miles handed to me, I'm homeless with a wife and child on the way. Either shaffer will give me 2500(ish) a week or ill find another place to work. Honestly, I'm happy and a quite guy when I just don't have to pound peoples heads about miles. If my miles stay decent where my family can live off my work, great and if not, ill move to where I can support them. I'm not really homeless.. I mean she is staying at her parents house but its not our home, ya know. So get motivated and make some calls but make sure you are being as productive as you can on your part or no one will take you serious.

Is shaffer/crete a good company. Yes. I like working here and I like who I work with. I just don't like having to be a butt head to some many people to get miles.. they hired us.. they should work us to the best of their abilities.... Whew..

 

That is the very thing that tucker needs to do to keep Donna off his butt.(that was sorta the direction of my previous rant...hope it wasn't assumed that it was aimed your direction) One thing I have always found to be true here...IF/WHEN there's freight, op's will only run you hard enough to keep you quiet. If 2000k a week does that, they won't try harder and will let a terminal manager deal with a driver that unproductive. (I have talked to many a driver who was content making that little)...and generally the more productive a driver is, the more tolerant they are with them(to a point)...they put up with my crap, and yes, sometimes I go a bit overboard with my grumpy attitude...but when they put the miles on me, as long as my logbook can handle it I roll with it. The where and when doesn't matter to me usually, it's the how far how fast that is my concern...and that is why they keep me around I'm guessing. It certainly isn't because of my sparkling personality or my cheerful demeanor.

 

That makes two of us.. and sir, you hit the nail on the head. Before, 2k a week was my norm. Now that I needed the miles, I guess no one even knew I existed because i was quite and content with 2k. So I'm working extra hard to get there as fast as my logs and truck will allow. last Friday I was offered a load to deadhead from greensboro,sc to Atlanta,ga to pick up and go to the Bronx for Monday morning at 0700.. it was 260 dh and 958 loaded. Problem was my hours were shot and i couldn't have made on time and it was something I did not care to do. Get paid to cross the bridge, unload and then reload most likely out of nj to manteno,il for an ASAP drop...

You just gotta speak up and not tell your asset manager rude things like I was doing. She is someone's mom or daughter.. and i would light someone up if they talked to my wife as ive talked to Mary. I am only human and am glad I've seen the error of my ways before I burned a bridge that i may need for the rest of my career or I may take the local job offer I have on the table. I'm just saying, I finally got tired I'd being a complained and did something about it. You just gotta do what you gotta do.

 

I'm twice your age, and I'm just now mastering that.

And only on SOME days....never stop learning about yourself!

 

I am grateful my asset manager is on his toes already. For someone who had never done the job before...he has adapted well and keeps me moving. I hope they don't read this, because he and I get along well and I am satisfied with the company's choice.(when I made that kind of statement when I was at Arnold...2 weeks later I had been moved to someone elses driver board and was on the path of exit)

 

I guess you are one of the lucky ones in having an AM that you get along with. I had better luck getting home on time under the old system, last month I missed an appt by 3 days,...so NO I have not been thrilled. I have been looking into a local day cab gig in town which is looking better and better unless they change out this moron. Grazing 11000 miles a month is what puts a smile on my face but when I have plans at home that everybody is in the loop about but drops the ball, ya I get bent outta shape real quick.

 

We drove past Crete yesterday on our way East and I gave my usual one finger wave to Tonn as we drove past.....hope he caught it!

 

Hey SS i'm glad to see your still your old self and things are going smooth for ya
Keep thinking about going back to shaffer (as long as i didnt burn my bridge). I miss the road.
I moved from florida to pennsylvania driving tanker local. gets boring but great $.
So you think they will keep me away from the NE now that i live in Pa.?
but driving 90 miles to newkingston vs 250 miles to deland is an a plus alone.
I know all bout the miles you all chat about, been there. take care all and keep the cuffs off SS! LOL