CRETE - A Year in Review

Is it true that Crete and Knight are the only debt free trucking companies? And if thats true, does that mean better job security and good freight? Or can Crete fall just as fast as any other? Just curious, thx. DRIVE SAFE

 

Many companies try to underbid Crete, but it isn't long before we have the account back because they can't keep the service failures down. We have been underbid on some large contracts...like Pozzi windows. We had our trailers all decaled with their logo's and everything. Then Swift underbid us and we lost it. So we had to un-decal our trailers (it's the trailer numbers that start with a 'p') A few months later, they were asking us to come back, but they wouldn't agree to redecal the trailers at their expense, so we didn't accept the dedicated account. We may still haul some of their loads, but it isn't the at the same level and not a dedicated account like it use to be. They said that it costs something like 10K to do one trailer and Acklie wasn't going to front that much money again.

I did finally get rolling. A whopping 96 mile run from Albuquerque to Prewitt NM. 4 hrs to get loaded with OCC (old crappy cardboard) then wait to del. Not allowed to deliver more than an hour ahead of your appointment.(yes, a set appointment to unload scrap cardboard) Then wait for a load out of the mill. I waited 7 hrs(7 hrs past my p.u. appt. that is)and they hadn't even started making the product to load. And it's one of those places that you have to wait for them to call you on the CB, and if you don't answer, you are bypassed so you have to stay up and wait. All this waiting ran me out of hours on my 14, and you're not allowed to park on the mills property and finish your break. Ended up going to the Milan Petro and picking up the next day(Friday). It still took them 3 hours to load me. Then they wanted it in Denver before 1700 the same day. I politely requested directions to the nearest airport, because that is the only way it was going to go 550 mi in 6 hours. The final decision...T'call it at the Denver drop yard. Turns out the receiver doesn't work weekends. Now I am on a load to north of the Philadelphia area for Tuesday. I guess I got someones attention about miles. 1750 mi, Saturday afternoon to Tuesday 11am. Finally!!!

The moral of the story, if you are offered a load into or out of Prewitt, NM... Break down, get sick, run out of hours...anything but accept. I talked to another driver that lives in the area, (a 11 yr Crete veteran) He said the same thing about that load. He's hauled it several times, all with the same result, 96mi and it takes all day. He said he won't do it any more, if that's all they offer him, he just says no way and goes back home and tries again the next day. It seems as thought we have lost the General Mills dedicated account in that area, and the cabinet company that we use to haul sawdust out of, moved to WY, so there isn't much else we haul out of there in any sort of large scale. In fact, if you don't live within deadhead miles of the Albuquerque area, I would avoid it all together. It is a real dead area for freight for us.

I think that US Xpress is debt free as well. I know they bought back their stock and went back to being a privately owned company. Now their buying 49% of a bunch of companies.(if they don't buy the majority of a company, they don't have to get the governments approval to purchase...that way they aren't a monopoly) I think they are going alphabetically Abilene, Arnold.... It'll take them a while to get to 'C' so we are safe for a while

 

Thats funny SNACK. Anyway, I will keep my eyes peeled for those loads going there, thx. One place I havent been yet are the caves in Kansas City, but Ive heard about them "STAY AWAY"! Ive seen pictures of them tho. I delivered once to a Costco in San Francisco, luckily it was a 3am delivery, it was below the building! What a rush, I think its ok if your in a day cab, otherwise its a white nuckle experience driving a OTR truck with a 53 trlr. Never again, its not worth it! DRIVE SAFE

 

The caves aren't too bad if you're not claustrophobic. The worst part is you have a 50/50 chance of blindsiding in, around the pillars that hold up the roof. At least it's always nice and cool and dry there, they help keep your idle time down

The closest I've ever gotten to Fannyville(San Fran) is Oakland to pick up Gatorade, right down the street from the stadium. It's a Quaker oats company. Very,very tight docks. So tight you have to pull your doors tight to the sides of the trailer with bungee's or load straps, so they don't clip the mirrors of the guys next to you, and so they don't bang together with the doors of the trailer next to you.

 

I just wanted to say to the regular posters in this thread, its an awesome thread and I really enjoy reading the stories on the road. Thanks guys and keep the good work up. Stay safe out there.

 

P.K.S. About 2 weeks ago I sugested this thread to you. Just wondered if you were able to read it all the way thru. I see you enjoy it just like I do. I have found this thread extremely informative.

 

really because they charged ME 35 dollars PER CHAIN to get the full 10 they said i had in the first place, when i finally did get to lincoln.

as far as my credibility, i have no reason to lie to you. i dont know you from adam, nor am i inclined to care about your opinion. you stated you werent in the situation, thats all we really need to know isnt it?

 

Does Crete hire student driver grads??

 

yes they do.. I drove before, but not for 4 years now so I am considered a student and new driver... they just sent me an app today. Most drives I see on here seem to have a good opinion of them.

 

Good post... Swift sucks.