CRETE - A Year in Review

A real joy to follow this thread. Especially since I'll be heading out with my trainer possibly next week (with Crete).

Your attention to detail and "day-in-the-life" experiences have proven to be a wonderful way to see the realities of life on the road.

Thanks for taking the time to document your travels!

 

I run the national board. Drive an '07 (w/'06 ISX 435 Cummins) International 9400i.

 

Thanks for the information. Hope things are going well out there.

Hunter

 

You picked a good carrier to drive for, and good luck with your trainer. Learn all you can from him/her. DRIVE SAFE

 

Can you request a female trainer? Mid twenties? Non smoking (cigarettes)? Single?

 

Read in another thread that Crete will not have APU's in any additional trucks until Spring due to a shortage of them...manufacturer is out and behind.

 

That sucks, this means I will never see one as a Crete driver. I intend on leaving by the usual freight pickup in late winter so I can work for someone that can plan and execute without screwing things up.

The load I took to Harrisburg, once again, had no appointment even though the Q/C said 6 a.m. Fortunately for me they weren't busy and they squeezed me in. This is the 3rd F'up in 5 loads. I wish I could screw up this much and still keep my job!!!! Then I got stuck on a short shag. Which did have an appointment but a whopping 67 mi run. Once I got unloaded, I was delayed because the shipper(Campbells in Maxtor, NC) included 2 pallets of product the receiver didn't order, didn't sell and had no place to stock, so back on the trailer it went. 4 1/2 hours later, Crete finally decided to run me to the Reading ABF terminal. It seems they had the info from the shipper as to what to do with the stuff, but neglected to tell me about it. Once empty I have a hour and a half on my 14. 30 minutes of beeping them over and over without response. I decided to head for the nearest truck stop with Transflow. Once I shut down they finally started sending offers. All they kept trying to stick me on is another 170 mi run out of York to NJ. for 1500 on Wednesday. Needless to say, my pleasant attitude was long gone. So I gave them the 'Crete dispatch silent treatment'. I mistakenly overlooked any messages until I got something decent. Now I am heading on a load to Beatrice, NE for Friday (anytime). Which, I was hoping, was going to get me to the APU shop...but since I saw this msg... about the shortage that is.... Arrrrrrrggggggggg.

Sorry evertruckerr.... I broke your good luck. Is it under warranty????? Where is the closest luck repair shop???? I'll pay for it if it isn't under warranty. Guess you won't let anyone else borrow it after this....Geeez, I ruin everything

I have figured out why I get these gaps in bad luck, it's because God has run out of problems that he hasn't hit me with, and he has to run to the R & D dept up there to get some new ones.

 

Sorry, my daughter is busy. LOL

 

No man... you got gaps 'cause he's busy screwing with me...

 

I think whomever posted about Crete holding off on APU installs was mistaken. Once I got done in Beatrice, they had me do a quick shag for a driver that was going to be delayed, and this load was getting him home, but the delay was going to push him past the latest p/u time. Which I didn't hesitate to do...after all, I have been on the receiving end of that kind of deal many times, I figure I owe karma a couple. While I was at the yard, there were a couple of drivers there talking about the APU's, it seems as though they are booked up at the dealership for a few days, but they are installing. They must have just been out of stock, and he/she misunderstood or was misinformed.

Anyway, as a thanks for helping (besides being thanked repeatedly by ops) I got a load to Ellabell, GA for Monday. Not bad for a weekend, plus the shag pay and extra miles will be a nice bonus I wasn't planning on. I was planning on coming to the yard and doing laundry...I just go paid to do it...