CRETE - A Year in Review

Crete as a whole isn't bad... (can anyone who has followed this thread any length of time believe those words are coming from me??????) I think most of the time it depends on which dispatcher your talking to, and how busy things are. Sometime you ask a question (via qualcomm, they don't like phone calls) and it gets an answer...Sometime you ask several times and never hear a word.

We use a Zone dispatch system instead of a dedicated one-on-one dispatcher. I for one am not tickled with that type of system, but it isn't enough of a problem for me to leave.

As for how they treat you, they treat you like an adult, they don't babysit or hold your hand, but they don't pester you either...They pretty much let you do your job, and probably would rather not hear from you, unless something goes wrong.(breakdown, weather delays etc.) I mean, they have done things that tick me off in the past, and I let them know about it in my own very special way...in fact many times I have stepped over the line on my reaction, and they have still allowed me to continue working here...after a bit of an attitude correction..that is.(snackbar-over reacting...say it isn't so...he wouldn't do that, would he?)

The one thing about Crete, the drivers are expected to do their job without having to be reminded...which includes safe, on time pick-up/deliveries.. accurate logs, getting trucks into company shops for regular maintenance and repairs (which is tough...due to the recession, many of our shops have cut shifts back, without cutting the number of trucks that have to be serviced)

The freight varies, sometimes it's an open window-drop/hook load, sometimes it's a set appointment. Sometimes they give you more than enough time on a load, sometimes you just have enough time to get it there. I think JIT is pretty much SOP at any company these days...just the way the whole system is headed.

They only have 1 year of trucks that got actual APU's... the others are either a bunk heater/opt idle type system,(the older trucks are opt idle only, no bunk heater) or the newest Internationals have a battery pack a/c and a fuel fired water heater system that is hooked into the bunk's vent ducts. I've heard that they work good. We shall see once the batteries get some age on them. I've never been a fan of battery pack systems. Plus, this will be the 1st winter on the new heat system, I'm not sure how it will do in MN at -20 degrees.

As far as pet policy, I think all new hires are not allowed to have pets...The only drivers that are permitted are existing drivers that were 'grandfathered' in when the policy changed a few years ago.

And as for home time...it depends on where you live and what time of the year it is, many times. I live in FL, and no company that I have worked for has been great at getting me to FL, so I'm sorta flexible... but Crete has a new system for load planning, and it has showed some improvement in getting drivers home, most of the time (except when OTRScott has a bad tooth and needs to get to the dentist). By living in AL, that's not a bad area for freight lanes. A lot of freight moves through GA, TN, KY and northern AL... Home time shouldn't be a big issue for someone in Birmingham.

The biggest thing that drivers have to get use to here is, a 62 mph truck, running legal(they watch your logs), and fueling where/how much they say...no fueling where you like.

 

Thanks for that breakdown on crete, you helped me tremendously!! I am a 35 year trucker and i am considering making a change from my present company of over 12 years. I presume you recommend this job??? Anyone out there recommend a good company that is hiring??

 

The good companies hire on word of mouth. They do not advertise at all. However, I would check out Calex Express. They are out of Pittson PA. Theres a thread on here about them.

KH

 

ohsjortman:
You have over two yrs experience. If you have a good safe driving record and history, you should check out Bay and Bay Transport out of Rosemount, MN. Good company, excellent equipment, and great personnel. Lots of freight!!! With your location in OH you would have no problem getting home on a regular basis.

If you want more detailed information just let me know.

Good Luck!!!!

 

That is nobody's fault but their own. However, I read so many posts where the driver is forced to run illeagal with the threat of their job over them. I cannot work like that. I can't even begin to see how others put up with it.

 

I know it is easy for me to sit here...on the eve of beginning a driving career on Nov 9th...and say that there is no way I would ever let a company get away with making run illegal...I will promise this...I will go down kickin' and screamin'. And then I will probably quit.

 

I do not post very often but since this thread is so popular I figure I'd throw in my 2 cents. I lost my computer job in 2008 and went to a local community college to get my CDL. My first choice was Crete and I was happy that they hired me fresh out of school. My trainer was great and I still talk to him weekly about the miles he gets and what is going on personally and in trucking. The plan was for me to stay out 3 weeks and come home for 3 days. I have a wife and kids so this was tough (never gets easier) but with the economy I started staying out 5 weeks to see if the miles would pick up. I think some guys here do get treated a little better than others but this is like that in any company. After completeing a year I found a regional company (Wel) that would have me home every weekend so I quit Crete on good terms. While I was between jobs for a week I went to a seminar for a LTL dedicated (NFI) and it sounded too good to be true. Static runs,guaranteed hometime...Needless to say I am so far dissapointed but the fact that I am home nightly (or daily) keeps me putting up with it for now. I strongly advise you to get with Crete if you want to have a professional OTR career. Dispatch can be a pain in the behind at times but it comes with the job. If I ever went back to OTR I'd call them before going elsewhere. They are hiring new drivers at .37 (formerly .39) due to the economy. I hope this helps.

 

I just wish they were hiring from FL. Maybe later.

 

I knew another Crete driver out of Florida and he told me that the only company that he knew that was better than Crete was a smaller outfit based out of the Jacksonville area. I do not remember the name but you might want to check out local dry van units there.

 

Thanks...I am going to go ahead and give Willis Shaw Express out of AR my first year, learn the business, the players, etc.

I have heard good things about WSE too. So, I am headed to orientation on the 9th of Nov to get started.