CRETE - A Year in Review

For what it's worth, I just noticed 7 Crete trucks in the Denver Pilot. I've never seen so many there and who knows how many are at the two T.A.'s in town.

Hopefully things will pick up for all you drivers. Be Safe

 

quote from jdrentz :When it comes to loads, it's first in - first out. I've only had one occassion (that I can prove) where this did not happen. However, the situation was rectified to my satisfaction.

I run on the HTL (specified o/o) board. The difference is that I have a dedicated dispatcher that can pull rabbits out of a hat when neccessary. Usually done for home time request.

My miles would be consistantly lower if, like ET, I wasn't proactive and willing to run an occational wierd schedule.

Overall, I happy here, and feel I've been treeted fairly in all aspects.

I will send you a link, via PM, of my real numbers as an o/o at Crete.
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I thought HTL was no loger around.Do the o/o at Crete have a dedicated dispatcher and not the same regional dispatch as company drivers?Thanks

 

I thought HTL was no loger around.Do the o/o at Crete have a dedicated dispatcher and not the same regional dispatch as company drivers?Thanks[/quote]

You are correct on both accounts. The "HTL Board" is just a way to discribe the o/o's not under regional dispatch. However, on weekends and at night, we are at the mercy of whoever happens to be on the other end.

 

JD then you do have seperate dispatch as an o/o?I don't have enough posts to pm you as of yet but i am curious as to the setup for o/o.Thanks

 

We are at Pilot in Hesperia, CA right now.... I haven't counted trucks but I did notice a few Crete trucks here. Also, one blue bobtail that says Crete on it's door. I, also, noticed a couple Shaffer sitting around as well... Not sure if these guys have a load, can't see the rear from where we are parked at. When we were with Crete, we usually had a load out of LA to park here. Or one going to LA... I did see a lot of Crete flying down I-15 NB.

We liked to avoid the pay TA's so we often stayed in Hesperia instead.

 

Yep, with every company we drove for, no one knows how to read..... Sorry but that's true when it comes to dispatch. We have learned to give them one sentence at a time to ensure they get it. But darn it, they still ask the same questions when we already answered or told them before hand. Dedodedo!

We can use APU all we want and the idle for the month is very low. We only have less than 1percent idle time from starting up the truck and filling air if needed. Crete is different in how they calculate the idle percentage. Don't like it...Glad Marten doesn't do it that way! Anyhow back to APU, we do have to turn the engine off in order to use the APU...either to heat, a/c, or to use the microwave. Anything that uses plugs. And it will start up to charge batteries on it's own. (we had to set it up that way)

I remember with Crete, we had a problem with governor. I'm not sure that I understand what happened, but the speedometer, gas guage and things like that quit working. Good thing for the GPS as it shows speed! LOL...

Hey SS, Merry Christmas! ROFL.... Yeah, we're not into Christmas the way people are these days... Don't care about presents, people don't know what I want and give me something like a candle... Blah.

Have a great day!

 

All you fellow Crete and other drivers have a merry x-mas and happy holidays. I know it must be tough but remember, it could be worse for miles.

Hunter

 

How was everyones weekend? Mine was a bit slow after unloading in Mi. Thursday nite i got a load to NJ for a Mon. am delivery, that's 600 miles for 3 days and now that I'm unloaded in Jersey guess what message came in, yep "have no freight find a place to park and don't bother us". Well it was worded a bit differently but that's basically what it said. Can't complain too much though since my past two weeks came in at 2400 & 2900 miles, not what I have been used to but from what I have been hearing these are good weeks. Did everyone get the message on the QC about Christmas hometime? Crete said they will get everyone home who wants to get home, that is going to be a tough job with the slow freight.

 

lets see... i had a del sat. ft pierce fl stopped at a rest area 60 miles away (walmart load) woke up at 2am truck wouldnt start got jumped by TA at 9am (my del time) was late no less... they let me unload thank god ,dispatch said nothing til tuesday...can u say home time.

 

I unloaded in Dixon, IL on Saturday morning after sitting on the consignee's lot all night. I took a short run there hoping for a Spring Valley Wal-Mart drop & hook. I got a load offer pretty quick, but both were live loads in Cedar Rapids with one going to Eaton, OH (628 miles) and the other to Kansas City (472 miles). Both had Monday morning live unloads. I took the Eaton load and burned it out to get a restart before my delivery this morning. Mission accomplished, but I've been sitting since. My next load doesn't pick up until tomorrow night at 2000 and goes to Columbia, SC (597 miles) and delivers at 0600 on the 11th. Considering that I sat the whole day at the Spartanburg terminal when I came off my home time Wednesday (except for my random pee test), it ain't looking all that great after I drop. Hope I can get an immediate turn and burn out of the Beech Island Kimberly Clark going somewhere a long way west to bring it up next week ... Bleh ... I guess there are drivers with a lot of companies that would love those kind of miles right now. But ... Someone please tell me they're sitting in Kansas City, too ...