CRETE - A Year in Review

I guess I'll count myself as lucky then, I'm at a Peelot that has a choice of Taco Bell or Subway for Thanksgiving...at least Subway has a cold turkey breast-like substance...but no spuds, or sweet potato caserole...and no pumpkin pie....wahhhhhhhhh

 

Just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Thanks for the info do they let you request where you want your home time to be

 

It depends on where and what kind of mood they're in that day. I'm a Western Regional driver and had requested to take my vacation in Illinois a couple of years ago. I told them I wanted 2 weeks and that I was going to park the truck at the Ottawa, Il. terminal. It was approved but then less than a week before my vacation was to start my terminal mgr calls me and says they can't let me take vacation out of my region. I said really?! then why is it they seem to have no problem sending me out of the 11 western states when it suits them? Also I was told that I HAD to go at least as far as the Mississippi river AND into Chicago and Wisconsin. The icing on the cake was, as I was asking her this I was AT the Ottawa terminal AND had been there just 1 week before. Needless to say when I called their bluff with the facts they had no choice but to relent. NOTHING about taking time off with this company is EVER easy. I'm a former Army SSG and don't take any garbage from them or anyone, but there are plenty who do and then whine about it. I guess in the end it's about how hard you're willing to push back!

 

I understand what you mean I was jus saying for the weekend home time u get I'm doing regional so they told me I get home every 12-14 days I get two days.. I'm also a former SSG Army so u know how we are already not takin anybody bs lol

 

As far as hometime goes they tend to want you to take it at home. It never used to matter but now they push the point. If you're regional I assume you're western regional. Crete did away with all the other "regions" a while back. They have added "weekly fleets" and what not, but my point is that if you are western regional, I think you would have a very difficult time getting them to send you anywhere but home. The problem is that if you ask to go anywhere but home, they actually have to plan ahead. Since they seem incapable of that on any given day I think you'll be holding your breath quite a while. But, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" right?!

 

Yea u right I'm coming out of the savannah area will be assigned to the Marietta ga terminal hope I can find a good trainer

 

hey guys i am looking at crete and would like some info i have 7 years otr and great driving record. i live about 60 miles from madison al and was hoping you could tell me what the dedicated accounts are like and what miles and pay would be for me. hometime is very important to me i have to be home every 6 days for at least a 34hr restart for my kids. cant decide on crete or averitt can you help

 

This is so true, I live in Florida, but most of my family is in Illinois. I had been taking time off in Illinois for years with no problem...until a couple years ago. New suit they hired wanted to make his mark and outlawed time off anywhere but your home (at least without securing his permission first). Short version, after years of taking my time in Illinois he decided I could not do so anymore. I started my campaign to change back but he said no at every turn. Finally after about a year, I got to Lincoln and had the opportunity to ask Jack Peetz and Kerry Kearl about it, and told them what I wanted. Both said there should be no problem and within days I was back to having my time off in Illinois. Open door policy in Lincoln, call or ask the top guys and if it's not just crazy, you will probably get it.

 

WTF? I had hoped to do similar scenarios for both home time and when I earn vacation (a long time off). I wonder what possible reasoning they could have to restrict that. If the truck is parked, what's the difference. When I worked for Crete back in 2003, that's exactly what I did. I lived in California and my home terminal was SLC. After the first year, I took my first vacation in Miami. I parked the truck in Deland and then went down there for a cruise. No one said a word. The only trouble I got in was that was before the air brake lock requirement. But I had one of my own and when I got back, the shop was pi$$ed because they said they had wanted to do an early service on it.

Now i live a long ways from a terminal and would like to take days off in different locations (like Las Vegas). As long as we give the load planners a heads up plenty of time in advance, I don't see why they are now banning it. That's one of the few perks left in trucking.