CRETE - A Year in Review

They do have the computer do the load choice and offer(pplan) when it is within certain criteria. That's the loads that appear really quickly(in Crete time, within 5-10 min). The long wait for a load is when the driver is outside the computer's acceptable criteria(excessive deadhead, no close available freight, etc.) Then it requires human intervention and management approval. But what gets me is they push for an accurate pta and know your hours, but still don't send at least a possible load to your A/M to check and see if you'd be able to handle it in advance of being empty. There really isn't a difference in the system other than who's screen you're truck pop's up on. Now, you're truck pops up on the planner's screen only when empty...but 12-14 yrs ago, when I worked for Arnold, I would sit next to a friend who was a regional planner and see what he saw, and he would seek my advice on questionable timing of certain loads to see if I thought that a driver could make the p/u and delivery. He could see a day in advance what trucks were coming into his region based on the drivers pta and/or delivery appointment...so I know they had a system that advanced back then...I would be fairly confident the systems haven't regressed. I'd bet they have gotten the software and processing power to almost predict what you're gona think before you think it and have a reply ready.

 

One thing I might add is that Crete is set up for the 1st empty, 1st loaded scenario...But that use to work when there was Load Offerings, with a choice of loads. Now that we are on the A/M post-preplan system. I don't see why they still do that. If they abandoned that and just started preplanning ahead of time, most wouldn't know the difference, and would probably be happier(since we don't have a real choice anyway) because it would boost overall productivity and morale. Since there is nothing more aggravating than sitting there staring at a Q/comm screen waiting for a beep that will probably have a load that is going to screw up your 14 for the rest of today...

 

switch over to shaffer we dont haveta have hazmat

 

Since I average less than one hazmat load a year (been here 9 yrs, have hauled maybe 6 or 7 total) I couldn't afford to lose any more miles than I already have. My normal yearly average is 125,000+. This year I'll be just at 120,000. Most of the Shaffer drivers I speak to wish they were getting that many, and the .01/mile raise to pull a reefer wouldn't make up for it. If/when I leave Crete, it will be a total departure from the Acklie companies as a whole. Besides, what is so bad about hauling hazmat. As long as you play by the rules and do it legally...I really don't mind it.

 

Hazmat is not bad. Besides, I like the Coca Cola loads out of New Jersey. They go to Florida and weigh almost nothing. I had one with 7 extra pickups, so in addition to the miles, I got $210 for stops.

Like SSB says, follow the rules and it's no problem. I will be keeping my hazmat endorsement, since they will still pay for it.

 

Once I was empty in Marion, IN, I sat for almost 40 minutes waiting on a load, occasionally sending random messages (fuel level, mileage update) just to see if the q/comm was jammed up, or there just wasn't anything available. I then decided to lay back down and chill out...counting myself lucky I wasn't out in NE and SD where it's sub zero temperature wise. About 745 (est) I get a load. Pick up in Greenfield, IN by 8 (58 miles away) then deliver in Fairfield, OH 97 miles away by 1300. I sat waiting over an hour, and the system waited until almost the pick up appointment time to send a load to me. I let op's know that I wouldn't be on time for a pick up, and headed for the shipper. Almost 20 minutes went by before I got a reply asking for an eta...so now I had to find a safe pull off to tell them. I get to shipper (which is usually a drop/hook) and the load isn't done getting loaded on the drop trailer. But it'll give me 1105 miles by the end of Monday plus short shag pay. The last time I did this run, they sent me to N. Vernon to pick up ET's old AR dedicated load...we shall see.

 

That's when I tell them the only two factors I care about are my paycheck and my home time.

 

Not knowing all the factors involved has never once stopped Lincoln from telling us how to do our job, or finding fault with the way we handled a situation...but that's right...we iz jest stooped truk dreyevers. We don't have an office upstairs with deploma's on the wall telling the world how smart we are...and a fancy title.

 

They complain about how much every thing costs, cut the truck back to save money. Route us 50 miles out of route to save a penny on fuel. But, now they are sending out new messages with our dispatches. On the routing solutions, they now have the total miles at the end of the list...and this morning, something new. A reminder message after sending in your load call telling you to remember your enforcer door lock on the trailer. What's next, a message ever 5 minutes reminding you to steer, shift or hit the brakes when traffic slows in front of you! This is becomming the most Nannyfied company in the industry.

 

Pretty soon they will tell you the correct way to couple and uncouple from a trailer just like the big pumpkin tells their drivers.