CRETE - A Year in Review

I've been having no fun the last week, also. I won't go into details because i think the idiots in lincoln would spend more time figuring out who I am, and how to screw me (more), than they will trying to do the job they are supposed to be doing now. (and very badly)
Unloaded this morning, sat....sat...was offered two loads that were impossible to make the delivery on, both had a set delivery appointment. Refused both. They kept pressuring me to take the second, after I refused it. I took pictures of the messages. Still sitting, probably here until labor day.
My 14 hours are ticking away, and they'll probably offer me another load I can't run legally about hour 13.

Hey Crete, you want us to log and run legally? You are anal about it? Can you try to teach night/weekend dispatch about the 14 hour rule? You may have to draw pictures....use simple words.

 

Couple of weeks back, I went through a similar thing. Two load offers, both possible, but only under absolutely perfect circumstances with no breaks. I turned both down and went to bed. Woke up about five hours later to messages. Another pre-plan and a note from them asking me to "please respond to the pre-plan". It was doable, so I took the third one. I really don't try to be a tail...but sometimes, you just haveta be!

 

All the idiots had to do was send me a preplan for one of these loads yesterday, and I could have covered either one, if I knew it was coming a day ahead, I had plenty of time and leeway to deliver a little earlier, but wouldn't do it without a preplan, and willingly enter into the fantasy world of weekend dispatch in the middle of the night.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...n/176893-well-i-got-tailgater-up-running.html
There is the thread about my setup. When I had the condo trk I set it on the top bunk but now with the midroof I place it on the bed and move it when I sleep. More of a hassle but worth it. It does use some battery power but the little Cobra 400 watt inverter is good for the TV and the box with no problems. I always bring it in at night before going to sleep so i don't worry about it.

 

I would bet they try to screw you out of it. If I were going to leave, I would cash it out right before I told them bubye. Just tell them with all the down time you've had lately from all the shop time you need it for bills...then once it's deposited, ask Janelle if she wants two weeks notice or just wants to shove the job and the truck where ever she has room for it asap. But I'd do it via q'comm, so there is written proof that you offered advance notice.

 

Cash it in and use the time off as part of your two week notice

 

That is one of my pet peeves as well. If I have time to adjust my current delivery/drop so I can accommodate a later pickup time for my next load, advance knowledge of the next load is necessary. But the college educated yahoo's up in cow-tip central will never learn that. It's been an issue since my 1st day here, and will be an issue long after we're all working for our next employer. They will never admit that this system is flawed, and that we, the driving monkey fleet, are not smart enough to come up with a system that works better. After all, we don't have that college degree hanging on the office wall to prove we are smart. With out that, we're just peeon's incapable of thinking for ourselves, and darn sure not intelligent enough to tell them they're wrong. After all, his Royal Highness thinks we're a dime a dozen, and if we don't like their system, we are free to leave.

 

As if my mood isn't lousy enough. While I was sitting here in Fort Smith talking to my wife, the q/comm beeps. I know it's too early for the "weekly b.s. info-msg", I've read both of the "new HOS/e-log shows only 8 hours" messages, and it's too late for my A/M to be in. (he already has me set up on a preplan going to Covington, GA after I unload tomorrow)...so I pull up the message...it turns out, on the load that I ran from Springfield, MO to Union City GA last week, I had put down the wrong trip number on not only the transflow sheet, but the b/l's as well, so there goes 833 miles off of Thursday's paycheck...and it's no one's fault but my own. I will get paid for it with this weeks miles, but we were really trying to keep things semi-current so we could modify our mortgage and drop the PMI insurance...now we've really screwed that...or I should say -I- really screwed that up.(see I'm not just critical of others faults, I'm just as harsh on myself when I foul something up) I never should have gone on vacation...since then, very little good has happened.

 

Been a while since ive checked this thread but I am an Owner Op with Crete now and I get offered loads very often lately that I could only make if I average 72mph or if I have zero complications (construction, accidents, rush hour etc) along the way. I only accept loads that a 55mph ave will allow on time delivery. So far so good.

 

Crete should go back to offering multiple load offers. They could boost productivity and driver satisfaction and even reduce turnover all at the same time. .........

I was with Crete for 18 years ( 14 as an owner operator ). I have been off the road 3 months and just called a company today ( they already turned me down once because I don't live in an ideal location for their operation ). So I called today and talked to a different recruiter. Still waiting to hear their decision. This company will pay a lower rate than Crete. But they will run you and give a choice of loads. I have 2 friends there. Both former Crete drivers. Crete should get a clue.