Crete Carrier - A Year In Review - Fall 2013 Going Forward

I wish you luck on that. I think you'll be disappointed. How long are they telling you you can stay home for? I wouldn't expect more than 34 hours and with the new reset requirements you may not get that much.

I can just see a driver on that fleet having to take a reset out on the road rather than at the house. I ran into a driver on the SE fleet at a warehouse in Atlanta picking up a load going to Minneapolis. I was a national driver picking up a load going to Pageland, SC. Go figure. Dispatch wanted to save a few pennies on the longer load by giving it to a regional driver. We tried to switch but dispatch said no. When we asked why we were basically told it was none of our business.

And BTW, just because the fleet isn't being called by the name it used to be doesn't mean it isn't the same old fleet with a fresh coat of paint.

 

I found giving the problem children the 11am to 1pm lunch rush shift 7 days a week so they couldn't go anywhere but didn't make any money got them to quit fairly quickly. (used to manage a restaurant)

 

I hear that Longbow! I was on the Western Regional Fleet back in the day and spent all my time in Missouri and the rest of the mid west. Their response was that I was in Western Missouri wasn't I?? Never again.

 

What are the new reset requirements? And Im interested, what was the name they used to call it? There telling me (as of this morning) that ill be home every 5-7 days, and home for 34-48, sometimes just to reset and sometimes for 48....

 

And I appreciate your concern longbow, I do. But you understand I cant make my decision based off a couple of incidents from a company as large as Crete. For all I know, those situations could of had some extenuating circumstances no one knew of. Call me naïve, or just plain stupid. However, once Im out there and if I see a pattern developing, I can worry about it then. Theres no point in being bitter and pissed off about the potential of something happening, and whats actually going to happen.

 

New requirements are only 1 reset per 168 hours (7 days) and 2 1 a.m.-5 a.m. segments.

 

If there was another company offering a daycab position paid by the hr, there would be no way in Hell, that I would fall for some misrepresentated RDO-6 nonsense. I was looking at a fuel delivery daycab position the other day that was paying $23 an hr to start with time and a half avl.

 

Given the size of Crete and the way they let each terminal do there own thing as well as the number of dispatchers to drivers everyones results here will vary.
Terminal your out of or dispatcher you get may greatly vary what results you get here.
Dispatch is stretched thin and how long said dispatcher is there is anyones guess.

Personally I think xls is a good example..last time around he was fairly productive albeit not to his liking but this time around different results as far as I can tell from his posts..I can bet he has a different dispatcher this time around..it is hit and miss who ya get for a dispatcher.
My observations about drivers is the results of questions I ask when I hear drivers aren't getting miles / not happy / crete just not working out for them..I ask these drivers questions to get a feel for em...I'm not pointing fingers just making observations..
When I hear the same thing over and over from multiple drivers ( I turn down loads / want something more productive ) and these drivers are getting similar results it brings to question if turning down loads is contributing to low miles/unhappy campers.

I have always been quite vocal in all my previous jobs and have no problems speaking out/voicing my opinion to the higher ups/owners of companies/ceo's.

I have no problem leaving a job in a moments notice, I have done it on numerous occasions, and no job dictates my home life. It's a JOB to me nothing more nothing less, I don't care to be a part of anything if I did I would open my own business. I don't care who you work for, you are disposable at anytime no matter what you may feel/ think. Money dictates everything,your opinion means squat to them.

If I don't feel I'm being shot straight I'll call that person out, no matter who it is, I know what to expect from Crete/ they aren't perfect (never said they were / and when asked by other drivers about them thats one of the 1st things I say)
Just know what works for me and still waiting for the bottom to drop out, nothing is keeping me here and I can be gone in the drop of a hat if need be.

I don't need pats on the back / high fives / attaboys / plaques from my employer..I know I'm doing my job to the best of my abilities..Like I have said to previous employers, if you truly think I'm doing a good job put it in my paycheck ( put your money where your mouth is ) save the BS for your other Cronies. (some did/some didn't)

 

well said to the post above....so now im torn between the Crete job, (southeastern fleet, home every 6-7 days for 24-48 hrs) OR a JB Hunt PPG dedicated acct. No touch, one customer, out for 11 days and home a guaranteed FULL three days off....what do you guys think? thanks for any input...

 

Not a Jb hunt fan, but i have never worked there.

My dad ran warehouse for 27 years and I used to help when I was younger. He never liked JB but, I wouldn't go with Cretes 6 day / SE region (i heard they were starting SE Regional up again but don't know much about it).. I think you will find the lack of planning for those 6 days are going to bring some low checks, if you have to deal with nights / weekends good luck ...only fleet I would consider is rdo 21 .. they aren't good at preplanning and the short time out will be a challenge for any real miles, I have talked to a few on rdo 6 and getting you home in 6 or 7 I think is gonna be a stretch with any real miles.

24-48..I think 24-34 is more like it with it leaning toward the 24 side..like ss and others have said Crete doesn't preplan well at all.I think you would see a lot of social circle and the Atlanta area (not my favorite area) and that area can burn up the clock.

Whatever you choose make sure it fits YOUR liking..