CRETE - A Year in Review

That's what you get for bragging about your good week. I would have thought you knew better by now.

At least you are getting the $100/day breakdown pay. Not that it really makes up for what you would have made on your flip flop run and a weekend at home. But then, I'm sure the motel6 is as good as home.

 

Ralph4159 wrote:

That's about the gist of it. You have to get started somewhere and put in your time. It's unfortunate that you couldn't have done that at Crete, it would have been far less painful starting at 34cpm (I think that's what they are starting them at) than whatever you happen to find out there. But Crete is rather picky about what student drivers they hire and no one is a shoe in.

When I started driving I was pulling rocks and sand around Phoenix at the rate of 300 miles a day and made $10/hr. I did that for years and when I decided to head back to OTR driving I actually had to drive with a trainer for 6 weeks because I didn't have any recent OTR experience. My trainer had been driving for a little over one year.

I know it's disheartening, but it's just one more way this industry beats you down. It's a continuous challenge and you just as well get used to it now.

Best of luck and keep us updated.

Iceman87 wrote:

Best way to get accurate info is to call a recruiter. Check out the Crete Carrier website for numbers.

They are still hiring student drivers but they are a bit picky about who they will hire. You have to attend a PTDI certified school and have to finish towards the top of your class.


Tucker wrote:

Not quite. A driver will be considered after 6-12 months of experience with another company but must have a perfect driving record up to that point and past work history will also be a determining factor. If they are approved for hire, that driver will still be required to go out with a trainer for 2-6 weeks depending on each individuals circumstances. Once a driver has one years experience they will no longer be required to go out with a trainer, unless that driver has been out of a truck for an extended period of time. At that point the safety department will determine how much time the new hire will have to spend with a trainer. Usually two weeks or less and that is just to familiarize them with Crete's system and I suspect more to the point, to brush up on their skills and drive home the need to run 100% legal.

Dna Mack raises and eyebrow too:

I'd love to say it never happens, (days at a truckstop) and up to this year it didn't. But the first part of this year was a little rough and it did happen on occasions. And oddly enough, I often found myself conversing with other Crete drivers on a regular basis. I am happy to report that those kinds of delays have come to a halt, at least for know, although who knows what next spring will be like. This economy of ours is still a little shaky to say the least.

I don't know that freight as a whole has really picked up. From what I've been reading the tonnage numbers are still falling, but if that is the case Crete has done a great job of chasing down additional freight. I had become accustom to the "no freight" message last spring but as of late I haven't had to deal with it. I've actually been rather busy.

The one notable difference I have been faced with is an increase in appointment pickups and deliveries with less than desirable delays at one end or the other that have affected my productivity somewhat, but outside of that I have had little problem getting load offers after my MT call goes in.

 

I just happen to be under one of those undesirable loads right now as a matter of fact. A 500mi run that picked up yesterday morning and delivers today. Problem is that I arrived here in KC last night and now have to sit around until noon to deliver the load. That's what has been hurting my miles lately. But thanks to my APU I was able to have a nice breakfast. I fried up some bacon and and egg and tossed it on an English muffin with a little cheese. Not what you would call heart smart, but it sure tasted good. I have to treat myself every once in a while. Right?

I'm not going to complain though. I have my home time request in and was put on this run to get me into an area that has west bound freight. Up to this point I haven't stopped moving since my reset. I took that 1500mi run up to Boston and was immediately turned back around and have another 1600 miles under my belt in my bid to get back to Phoenix. Hopefully, I'll get the magic load to the house after my MT call goes in this afternoon.