CRETE - A Year in Review

You need to get a copy of your DAC report from USIS to see whats
on it..It not only shows past company driving record, but your regular driving history,criminal history as well..Google USIS to go to their web site and print out USIS's request form and send it off.
Only costs you a stamp, the report is free...
Its your CDL,take care of it.

 

Only a couple things to add to previous answers to this post.

3) not all of the newer trailers have the spring loaded pulls. Most of the 213###'s and a lot of the 212###'s were originally not spring loaded, some have been converted but most haven't. They want to convert them mostly because of workers comp injurys. The 1st truck I was assigned to was from a driver off on medical because he pinched a nerve in his back and lost partial use of his arm when trying to yank a stuck lever, rather than my preferred method, beat the crap out of it with a 2lb sledge. I have picked up trailers that someone uses a big bar to try to move them, only to break the linkage so no pins could be pulled. I was going to use a big bar, until I saw what kind of damage it can do, so I opted to hammer it.

4) Layovers??? I get plenty. In the almost 5 years here, I have never been paid for one. I sit more at Crete than any other company I've ever worked for (even when I was on my best behavior I still sat a lot). Mostly because they can't plan their way out of a wet paper bag here.

5) Road service... It all depends on where you are and what time it is. I have sat for hours waiting for a response, then sat more hours waiting for help. Other times, I get a response within 10-15 min. Sorta' pot luck.

6) From the drivers I have spoken to about the battery packs, they are great for about 5 or 6 hrs in normal summer heat, then they don't keep up. So that rules out a 34 hr restart with them. Plus, the batteries don't hold their charge after a few months. When I picked up my new truck last December, the shop guy told me that many of those battery pack deals were having their ability to idle turned back on, and some trucks have had their batteries changed once or twice in 6 mos. The ones they are currently using are for 'maintenance', another words, once you get it kinda cool(or hot) they'll maintain the temp. They're not meant to cool it from the get-go.

In addition to the layover comment. I am sitting in Albuquerque now. Been empty since noon Tuesday, (it's now noon Wednesday) and no one has any idea as to when I'm going to move. Except me, if not outa' here by morning, I'll foot the fuel bill to get me to phoenix, toss my important stuff in a southeast bound USPS box and hop on the earliest plane home. I only have 795 mi this week. Even Swift and the punkin' trucks are doing better, what good is .47/mi if they don't run you. Only turned 9200 mi last month. Plus they won't like my idle time this week, am sitting on 94% since it rolled just after I got here and I haven't driven but 5 miles in the last 4 days.

Best'a luck to any one thinking about coming here...don't say we didn't warn you!!

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the comments.

 

It's a very slippery slope... But once you start down, it's hard to stop from getting snowballed. I am in Albuquerque. The only thing after sitting 2 days is a 96 mi run to western NM. I talked to a driver that lives here, he just had bad things to say about this run, and that he would never do it again. This gives me a total of 892 mi in 7 days. Pathetic... Dispatch and ops have felt my unending wrath. I have 33min of drive time, and 17hr and 25 min of idle time ...96% idle time. Their lucky it was cool in the evening and overnite otherwise it would be higher. I was hoping to make it to Thanksgiving so I could take my 2wks vacation right after, then start somewhere else after the 1st of the year. But at this rate I don't know if I'll make it.

 

Sometimes you get to the point where your attitude turns to '#### it!' Im there now. My current load has me sitting a little over one day, and I just got off a 34hr restart 2 days ago! This motor will run all day and I dont give a flip about it! Also, they dont pay layover until after 48 hrs!

 

Super,

You will make it but remember to follow protocol as Evertrucker mentioned. Theres nothing worse than having to explain to your next employer about a bad DAC report.

Hunter

 

Every time I get fed up with how things go, I have to remind myself that atleast I have a job...things could be worse. My biggest complaint so far is their putting too much time on loads. Ive been able to alleviate that in the past with early pickups and deliveries, but some times there is nothing I can do...like my current load. Home Depot in Westfield, MA doesnt want early deliveries more than 6hrs prior to appt time(my appt is for 17:30 tomarrow!) 3 days to go 884 miles. Maybe Gainey puts so much time on them because they dont want drivers to be late.

 

ok, here's where i make my point, i apologize been running around to different job interviews and road tests for 4 days. its interesting having people come to you offering jobs, instead of searching.

what im trying to tell you is they had me logging LINE 2 - sleeper berth, while in the jump seat. resetting my 14 hour clock that way, so that i could drive again, as they had moved us to running the super single crap. and then move to the sleeper if we passed a scalehouse because its slightly against dot regulations.

on the chain note, im aware that if you dont have enough colorado will get you, thats why i said that i told them i didnt have enough in utah, (after paying the mexicans to show me how to put chains on in the first place) and they told me to get more in lincoln, they werent paying for replacements on the road. (which is hilarious because theyre cheaper at the truckstop.)
in order to get to lincoln, i wouldve gone across i70 right through colorado, with 6 whole chains and two halves....

anyway good luck guys, hope it works out for you.

oh and if i get the purina gig, ill be the taller of the two guys with too many tattoo's.