CRETE - A Year in Review

i applied for OTR in deland..i met with the fleet manager there and neither her nor the recruiter could give me an answer on the starting pay....it does'nt matter tho, the fleet manager talked me out of coming over...she did'nt understand why i was looking for another job when i'm currently getting 2100 miles at 41.5 cpm...don't think she believed me when i qouted evertrucker's stats

 

The FM and recruiter were probably unsure of pay due to the recent change, but I will admit, they should still know what the current pay scale is at the time you applied.

If they don't believe Evertruckers numbers, that's probably because he is the exception to what drivers average at Crete. Make no mistake, his numbers are real and doable, however, it's because he puts forth the extra effort. Myself, I've been in his shoes when it comes to pushing the limits at all times to make the extra $$$ (in 1999 I put 170k miles on a new truck, got paid for 154k due to HHG miles at the time). However, I've become a little less pushy on myself as an O/O leased to Crete, and average around 3000 mpw.

So let's compair numbers. 2100 x .415= 871.50; 2800 x .39= 1092.
The choice is up to YOU, not a FM or recruiter. You send your application to Lincoln for processing, not a terminal. Lincoln hires a driver, not a terminal.

Best of luck in YOUR decision.

 

I really like this board, I can't wait til I get a red truck, or a blue one

 

the best personnel workt at the lafayette in terminal. marietta has a couple of good supervisors but are slow. indy was fast. kc and columbus very slow.

 

Evertrucker is definately the exception to the rule, he is willing to run day or night and when he shuts down its only for 10 hours (doesnt matter if its 2 am he will run)... I ran like him my first year driving, and it was burning me out, now I run basicaly day time and sleep at night. This fits me and I enjoy driving again. Since I joined Crete in January Ive met 2 drivers (with Crete) who have mentioned this website and Evertrucker, they say what he is saying cant be true. I personaly believe that if you run like he does then It can be done, especialy driving for Crete. Notice Evertrucker stays where the heavy freight lanes are, and Crete has enough drop and hooks that 3000 + isnt tough. Oh, evertrucker stop changing tires on trucks/trailers, who knows what the result will be if you got injured.
p.s. I just read Evertruckers last post for the week, now I must take a 10 hour break.
DRIVE SAFE

 

I wouldn't go as far as saying he's the exception... I have been out here 14ish years, with Crete 5 yrs at thanksgiving, and enjoy being tired from running hard. A good number of drivers I talk to at the terminals are the same, they aren't happy until they're 2700-3000+. I personally would prefer to get a good nights sleep after running my butt off rather than being tired from sitting and waiting. I have learned years ago that this business is a feast or famine business. You run it hard while it's there and bank the extra, because next week the freight might be slow. And I run what ever hour of the day the load requires, as long as my log book says I can. It also depends on the season. In the summer I prefer to run during daylight, and sleep at night. During the winter I run at night and sleep in the day. Mostly because the opti-idle runs less and I get better sleep that way. It doesn't have to fight the temperature extremes. Once I get my APU, my feelings about when I sleep might change. But I let the customer and the logbook (weather permitting) determine my schedule.

And I do have an update to the terminal/shop post. I was in the Salt Lake City shop. I had a trailer that one of the slider pin linkages was broken. It was 430 in the afternoon on a Friday. I figured I was there until sometime Saturday. The repair required that the old pin assembly on just one pin be completely cut out and a new one welded in place. (This model trailer you couldn't see any of the pin or linkage. It was completely enclosed) Someone had left it at a shipper that way...Thanks to whomever it was. Just remember one word KARMA(carma?) I was delivering to Costco in Ca. I figured I would have to slide to the back to unload stop 1, then slide to the Ca. hole to get to stop 2, then slide it back to finish the load, then slide it back to the front and then slide it back once I get to my next load. It would have taken all day to temporarily rig it so I could slide once. So I figured I would do the right thing...again... and have it fixed right. It only took the guy about 2 hours(including getting supper from the roach coach). And I was out'a there. That's the second time I have had work done there, after coming in late and getting out in the same evening. Not bad, I'd say! They're rapidly becoming my favorite shop. Too bad they're so far out west in a bad freight area. (I regularly have problems getting right back out of SLC) As for the SLC office....well, lets just say, I didn't even bother to waste my time to say hi. Jenell and I do not get along, and I don't intend on mending any fences. She and 'T' in Wilmer would not be missed if they left yesterday!!!!

 

Well, I'm starting orientation tomorrow! They set me up in a decent hotel up here in New Kingston, Pa. Not sure how many are here for orientation. A shuttle is going to pick us up at 7am to start the day. I did find out that I'll have to leave the rig at their terminal when I come in for hometime. I live 2hrs from the terminal. Does that sound right or am I mistaken?

 

I take my truck home...not sure about the mileage restrictions.

 

Did they say why youll have to leave it at the terminal? I live about 45 minutes from a terminal and I take the truck home(and trlr, though I drop it nearby and bobtail to the house).
Congrats and I hope you like Crete!

 

We have a customer in Newark,DE. Don't understand why you would not be allowed to drop mt there and bobtail home, or even keep trailer if you have a place to park it.

My sugestion would be to work with FM to get a load to customer in Newark when you want time off. At that point it would be senseless to send you to a terminal.

Good luck! And welcome aboard.