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

That's why I said "many", not all. I don't believe that everyone tested will have sleep apnea, and from what I hear, alot come out of the test with CPAP's. I also was given the "NAZI" style treatment when I balked at the test to begin with....you know, the take it or hit the road stuff. I don't agree with how they run it, and there should be an automatic second opinion, which I do not think they allow.

 

I do understand they don't say anything until the next day...and the 4 of us that were there were all waiting together, as we were given an approximate time. None of us ended up with the diagnosis. That may be uncommon results, but that's the way it was when I took the test.

 

For what it's worth when I was in orientation they didn't test me for Sleep Apnea. I was told because I'm skinny I don't have to worry about it, only larger folks with "big necks" get tested for it, the nurse there told me that.

Crete made a big deal about safety and how THEY are paying for these tests for us.
Just to give to another example for the strangeness here... I met a guy in orientation who had 3 years clean experience but during this driving test the tester said he drove too fast so Crete told him he must go out with a trainer for 7-10 days.
The driver was insulted and left, even though he said he was going to be paid over 10CPM higher here than his last job.

 

Do you have proof that 99% are diagnosed? My personal experience says otherwise. The number may be higher than a place that tests outside the trucking industry, but even that is a guess.

 

Yes, they target overweight drivers for the test, and they told me that if the neck is 19" of more, you will be tested. I am overweight but neck is 17.5"...I still had to take their test if I wanted to stay driving here. After taking a day to think about it, I took the test, mainly because I knew I had a better than average chance of having sleep apnea, and I would not be paying for the actual test. I think they run the testing like NAZI's and do not agree with it.

The driving test...was it another driver giving it, as usual? I don't see how 7-10 days is going to help anyone really, especially with his experience. I would have been ticked off at that too.

 

Because if diagnosed, it's buy a CPAP from SleepPointe or clean out your truck and pound sand, no other options. With severe cases, it's surgery or PAP, period - but for mild or moderate cases, there are other options. For one, there are two types of PAP machines, CPAP and BiPAP. CPAP is Constant Positive Airway Pressure, and is self explanatory, where as BiPAP will detect your exhale and back off the pressure until you stop exhaling. The latter is far more comfortable and easier to get used to, but it is not an option if you get diagnosed with SA after Crete makes you test.

This is a pretty strong indication that SleepPointe is giving Crete a sweet deal on the tests in exchange for guaranteed sales. $3,000 sounds like a lot, but it's definitely below the going rate for sleep tests these days.

 

We all agree that Crete's SA policy is Harsh as well as many other Crete policies. But most companies do not spend ANY money to test their drivers. They do not want or care to spend the money to screen for potentially untreated/undiagnosed SA liability. When I tested the tech said I was Crete/Shaffer/Hunt testee #1067 approximately. He said the other two locations in Texas and Utah have tested a similar volume for Crete/Shaffer/Hunt. That places Crete/Shaffer/Hunt at somewhere in the vicinity of $10 million dollars Crete/Shaffer/Hunt has spent to determine if there overweight drivers are a greater liability based on untreated SA. The only logical explanation is that Crete/Shaffer/Hunt expects/fears that the judgment of potentially lost civil suits where SA would be deemed a primary contributing factor, to greatly exceed the $10 million they have spent in prevention. Once again, most companies are choosing to be reactionary and zero upfront expense. Each company will address risk however they see fit. I guess I am the only one here willing to acknowledge that Crete/Shaffer/Hunt has a substantial expense here, that they chose, just as the driver does if diagnosed. No one wants to recognize/appreciate that Crete is paying for the driver's sleep study. Regardless of whether we want the study or not, that huge expense is not coming out of the driver's pocket.

 

They did leave me a second option when I was tested. I was told prior to the test that if I was diagnosed with SA I had the option of finding and buying a machine elsewhere...BUT it had to be identical (same model exactly) and I could not drive their truck until I had the machine and it was installed. Not much of a choice really, but it was a choice. Luckily I did not have to make that choice.

 

48 came here with one from a previous employer. I believe they let him continue using it because it was compatible with Crete's compliance reporting technology.

Years ago they were stricter on who they tested and the failure rate was higher. It use to be 17" neck or a 33 BMI. I think it went to 19" and 35 now.

 

That's all that is... Crete is a laughing joke now...