CRETE - A Year in Review

thanks i have been tring to figure out how to track my year . this will be helpful. good job and congrats on your first year under the belt.

 

GAR-ROSE. OTR isn't for everybody. If i wanted to be driving a day cab, i'd be driving a day cab. You are reading the pro-crete section of the forum. Please fell free to start a negative thread in the other section describing the problems you've personally had with crete.

 

Tax write off ? Not bad if you can write this stuff off at the end of the year.

 

My tip of the day:

We get a standard deduction of $52 a day. Using the standard deduction eliminates the need to save supporting documentation - except for logbooks. Deductions reduce AGI, so the net effect is based on your tax bracket. It is not spend a buck on yourself and reduce your tax liability by a buck - that would be a Tax Credit. More than likely ET is in the 28% bracket ($77,100-$160,850) meaning the dollar he spends on the road is basically costing him $0.72. For personal tax purposes there is no entertainment deduction. As with most of us, I would assume the standard deduction works in ET's best interest.

Anyways, I am not here to be critical of ET or Crete. Just questioning the obvious (at least to me). Everyone's situation is different and what is perfectly logical to them can be nightmarish to me - and vice versa.

Sorry if I ruffled any feathers.

In closing, I think it was Ben Franklin that said, "believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see." We hear a lot on the internet!

 

gar-rose, what exactly were you questioning about ET's posts? You didn't bring up a specific issue about E.T.'s posts, you simply made general statements questioning his honesty. Then you say you don't mean anything personal by it, which is pretty conflicting to me.

"I think you are a liar, but nothing personal?"

I never understand why people who choose to work local jobs feel absolutely compelled to try to convince others it is the only choice? Who are you trying to convince, yourself? Don't you think someone as intelligent as ET obviously understands the benefits of a local job, and the drawbacks as well? Yet you, and in fairness many others, feel like it is your responsibility to make an opposing argument. I really wonder why that is.

I have read every single one of ET's posts, and absolutely nothing smells fishy to me. And with some 13 years of trucking under my belt, I think I am in a position to judge.

I have done both, local and otr, and they really are nothing alike... Both have certain pros and cons, and they have been well discussed here and elsewhere. When I worked local, I thought it was better for me at that time in my life. When I worked otr I absolutely loved it, because it worked for me at that time...

Be happy with your job, what works for you. If you doubt something about what is represented in a post, give good reasons why, that is fair.

But don't call someone a liar just because you don't like the choices he has made in his career, and then try to back track by saying it is nothing personal. It kind of is personal, isn't it?

 

Uncle Sam gives you 80% of $52 a day for every day you are away from home. That's $41.60 a day. Times 7 days - $291.2/wk you're allowed to deduct. All without keeping any receipts...like you said, a log book is all you need. I have never spent that much in a week. Mostly I spend around $100 at W-mart, and a few bucks for coffee and ice (I have a plug in cooler, but it takes forever to cool down a 12 pack of diet-soda...So, I can do a 24 pack in 1 $2 bag of ice faster. Plus I don't want to warm the food I have in there just to cool drinks) And before anyone says anything about the quality of my meals, I eat as good and healthy as ever, maybe better than most. NO fast food, no food poisoning. When is the last time you had meatloaf with green beans or corn? How about grilled chicken over rice? Or steamed veggies? Chili? Home made beef stew? A choice of eggs or pancakes for breakfast? I do it all out here, much cheaper than spending $10+ on one sit down meal plus a tip. If they'd hurry up and get me my APU, I could have a greater variety of meals to choose from. If you're in trucking and don't take advantage of the meal allowance deduction (that's what it's now called, not a per diem - IRS definition is: meals and gratuities, including any transportation costs to/from restaurant... ie - a cab or bus) you are either not spending much time on the road, or missing a huge deduction. Last year my meal allowance deduction alone was $12,000+ (that was after deducting the 20%) If you're local, you are not allowed to take the meal deduction because your job does not require you to be away from home for more than 24 hours.

To those still sitting in Breinigsville, I'm sorry for you. Watch what you pick up in your tires in the 'Bandit' lot. I picked up a big chunk of metal, and ruined a decent tire. It was too big of a hole to repair. Thursday, I got offered a load out of Philly going to somewhere in MA for Monday... A whopping 275 mi (loaded) run. I don't think they were too pleased with the 'tone' of my refusal. So around 1900 Thursday, I got a load offer out of the Philly area, going to Crossville, TN for 6 a.m. Monday. (not great, but based on what I am reading about the remaining Crete campers up there, a wise choice) There were a few Crete's there ahead of me when I parked for my stay, they were still there when I left, so maybe some of them were on home time and didn't want to park at the terminal and chance loosing their empty) It's an ultra light load (9000 lbs)1/2 a trailer of some kind of bearings. But I'm out of there. They won't like my idle % this week. Am above 58% now, and it's suppose to be in the low 30's tonight. So more time will be added.

And we had a discussion about local driving earlier in this thread,(I think it was this one, maybe it was another Crete thread in this forum...they say the memory is the second thing to go...I can't remember what the 1st is) and like then, I still feel the same. I would rather quit trucking than run a local truck. I am too grumpy when I am sitting at home(believe it or not I get worse )...but that's me. The longer I am in this industry, the longer I stay out. If I went local, I'd go loco.

And as for ET's signature phrase at the end, it comes from one of my favorite shows, Mythbusters, when ever I get the chance to see it, that is. (which is also my dream job...blowing things up just for fun...and paid to do it. All paid for by the sponsors).

 

Supersnack, Evertrucker got me started on this thread keeps me reading this thread, but you keep me coming back sooner. I'm not sure if its the unhappiness, happiness, or the sarcasim you post. But I'm happy you keep posting. Its you and Ever that keep this reliably unreliable company (CRETE) going on here during hard times! LOL. I hope i'm on your Christmas list this year, I need a new tire thumper.

 

You are the one that suggested that I apply to Crete. I only responded to your comment. Thanks for your positive view of me. I am flattered. I don't know why you wish you were as great as I am? I am sure you are great in your own way. Now I could see where you would wish your company was as great as mine. The funny thing is, my company is good though not the greatest. However, if you compare them to Crete, they are great. In fact, I think they are better than any otr company out there and rank right up there with most locals as well in my opinion. If you disagree, prove me wrong.

What can you do to make me happy? Nothing. I don't rely on you or this site to make me happy. Use your energy elsewhere. I just try to point out that there are good companies out there. You don't even have to be union.

Positive? I have been positive about where I work just as you have been with every company you worked for. Knight, Crete etc.

What truckstop? I don't think we will ever meet at a truckstop. I am home every night just like I said. Now if I wanted to do an out of town run, it would have to be a truckstop that had a hotel attached to it.

I guess, if you wanted to, meet me at any truckstop off of the 10 freeway in Fontana. I don't know there names but I am sure you will let me know which one. The only thing I ask is that you make it between Mon-Fri. I am off on the weekends and wish to spend that time with my wifes and kids.

 

"reliably unreliable company (Crete)". What a positve endorsment for your company.

 

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I guess I should have prefaced my original comments, "with all due respect" you are a lying SOB! Sincerely, Ricky Bobby

All kidding aside, I have read ET's posts for probably a year. His stories from the road partially motivated me to apply at Crete. In fact I am supposed to be at Orientation in New Kingstown next week!

In one of the posts ET mentioned he was home and sipping scotch. He remarked about the scotch hitting him hard because he had been out for 7 weeks.

Apparently, up to that point I never realized how much sacrifice went into making $60K at Crete. From there my mind started racing - smart guy, great gal, nice house - why, why why. The "somethings fishy" is a comment made by Randy Moss a couple years ago when the Bed N Breakfast guy was the Raider's Offensive Coordinator - it is an ESPN classic. Using the quote was a bad attempt at a humor on my part.

Moving right along, the original question (sans the bad humor and verbosity) was simply -

Dear ET:

Wouldn't a job making $45K with less travel (and less road expenses) keep you in the same relative financial position as the $60K you are making with Crete?

Sincerely,

Garfield

I wanted to ask that question because I am also an OTR driver. During my 2.5 years as OTR'er I have never paid for a hotel or rental car. I have never gone to movie, sporting event, rock concert, or strip club while on the road. I was always taught/advised to minimize road expenses cuz you can quickly end up with "not much." I am not judging ET, putting ET down, or calling ET a spendthrift - I am just trying to explain the context of my question.

ET - nothing was meant to offend you! Also, no need to respond because a. your readers have responded for you and b. it's none of my business!

Again sorry if I ruffled any feathers.

I have decided against going to work for Crete. Therefore, I will refrain from further participation in this thread. However, I will lurk because I enjoy ET's posts and admire his "Terminator" like dedication.

Thanks, you guys are great!