Crete / shaffer - short on miles

Crete is the absolute worst when it comes to hometime. Ive been out since Xmas, when [if] I get home this weekend they told me I can stay 4 whole days after 7 weeks out. Ive been with Crete for 5 years but, plan on being gone by April.

 

Where do you live? I never have issues with home time, but I live in Iowa, which is easy to get me home to.

 

How are the miles now? Talking to my friends at Crete they are all around 2000 to 2500.

 

The Terminal Manager said if you quit she would understand? Not a good sign..

 

Long enough that he should know better about managing his father in law and wife's company. I was there back around 2000 just when he got started and I guess its been downhill lately. I hope he gets fired. I didn't like his policies then, doubt Id like them any better now, miles were great for me at least. Lots of guys #####ed about that, I guess I never minded running like greased piggy..lol!

 

Long enough that he should know better about managing his father in law and wife's company. I was there back around 2000 just when he got started and I guess its been downhill lately. I hope he gets fired. I didn't like his policies then, doubt Id like them any better now, miles were great for me at least. Lots of guys #####ed about that, I guess I never minded running like greased piggy..lol!
QUOTE=Lady Finger;3031163].WE FEEL LIKE TRUCK SITTERS INSTEAD OF TRUCK DRIVERS ALOT. We have been in this business long enough to know that there are periods of time that miles will drop. Crete / Shaffer lost alot of their freight lanes last fall and they haven't recovered. They have been telling us they were securing more team freight but it hasn't happened. They try to keep our miles up by dispatching us on alot of solo runs but .. it doesn't work for a team. You feel burnt out, your hours to drive are uneven between drivers, and alot of SITTING getting unloaded and between loads. 44CPM EQUALS NOTHING IF YOU ARE SITTING.
DETENTION: Yes they pay detention ...ONLY IF THE SHIPPER OR CONSIGNEE PAYS DETENTION (VERY FEW DO). The solos are really getting hit hard too. Maybe the teams are soaking up their freight.

Something is going on with the company: They have completely closed terminals, unstaffed some making them dropyards, and layed off staff. The terminals look like parking lots with trucks with no drivers. In the last few months when we were at a terminal, we talked to more than one driver each time that was turning in their truck because of miles or not being able to get home as promised.

We really don't want to look for another company but we need to work.[/QUOTE]

 

So all the bad threads I have read deal with the person running the place, and crappy managers. Honestly this sounds like any other company out there, because there is always someone you won't like.

I served 11 years in the Army, it was great in the beginning then declined over the years, I have dealt with my fair share of ####### in charge over you.

I am looking hard at this company because of the starting pay and I can get credit for driving trucks in the Army for an extra incentive. I have researched a lot of companies and Crete by far has the highest starting pay for new guys.

So the run down from what I gather is this:

You get home when you get home

Short miles to save the company money

Crappy managers <-- find any company that doesn't have a few of these.

General aggravation overall, but this seems to be the industry standard from what I have read.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. However, this industry seems like a game of chance. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.

 

Roll of the dice. They have good equipment and good people. If you get stuck with bad equipment, bad trainer, and a bad asset manager its just like anywhere else I guess. If things work out it seems like a good company. I never met anyone who wasn't willing to help out. Just a lot of overworked people. Sounds like you have the right attitude and patience for it.

 

It's not necessarily the right attitude as much as I am a logical thinker. There's not a local job market for me, fast food is it. So since I am supporting my family by doing this I have to look at the honest approach of the 1st yr I'm probably going to get crapped on because I'm "new" (never mind the 4.5 yrs tractor trailer experience in the Army), and the new guy wherever you go get crapped on.

I like to drive, I liked driving tractor trailers in the Army, so I feel this would be a good choice for me. Oh and you haven't driven garbage equipment until you have driven the Army's trucks, if DOT ever sniffed around, oh my goodness.... it'd be a really bad day.

 

If you can logically deal with illogical performance by those who you depend your livlihood upon you will be fine.