CRETE - A Year in Review

I got a laugh when I find the trailer Im looking for is one of Cretes 'recruiting' trailers. Their just so gaudy! "Hey, whats that say?"

 

That is the cleanest Crete trailer I've seen in a while

 

Thanks for the pictures. It helps us slower folks

Just read your latest week...always interesting so thanks once again. I know after awhile it probably gets to be a chore to write...but based on the number of views and at least my personal opinion...there are a lot of folks out here that like the thread. Keep up the great work.

 

Opti idle is the same technology that runs the reefer units, only it starts and stops the main engine of the truck like a reefer. It not only can keep the cab at a set temp., but it maintains the battery charge, and during cold weather, it maintains engine temp so it doesn't have problems starting. Originally developed by thermo king (worked for a company years ago that had tk units installed on their Macks and Freightliners, but once Detroit Diesel took over, became much more reliable) Dependability depends on the truck. I have had new ones that are nothing but trouble, and older trucks that never fail...just luck of the draw. Most of the time its either the starter, or the little 'ford type' solenoid on the firewall that is the major problem. But if you have problems, getting it fixed is tough. I had one that was nonstop problems. Took it to Freightliner, they said its a Detroit problem, took it to a Detroit shop, and they say its a Freightliner problem. (even though they are part of the same company, they still don't fix each others problems I guess)

 

I drove for Crete and they are a top notch company. The pay is good, the miles are there, and they get you home. Never laid over or broke down. Maybe I was just lucky.

 

Very lucky... Last year, I spent almost as many nights in motels waiting for my truck to get out of the shop than I did at home in my own bed.

 

Evertruckerr - I met another crete driver in Nashville who puts in early empty calls and says alot of drivers do it (I was surprised) and he did get bit one time! The reciever stopped unloading him with a few pallets left to go unload a different trailer that was needed right away, it turned out that he was delayed 2 more hours. He had to call dispatch and he didnt tell me the results, so be careful doing that...

I got a nice 2500 mile load today running me over the holiday, I was worried about getting stuck somewhere with no loads. Heading for WA.

As far as empty trailers go, I was told that if you put a lock on them and someone needs it, the shop can take the lock off and give it to the driver that needs it. I dont know that for sure, Ive never had to leave an empty in our yards. Anyway, DRIVE SAFE and keep those Itineraries going, I compare mine to yours weekly!

 

Company policy is one day off for every 6 days worked. I had stayed out 6 weeks and put in my desired Hometime dates two weeks in Advance.

About 6 days before my Hometime starts in Ontario,California, I find myself in Alabama. Much of the freight out of Alabama goes to Texas. And much of the freight out of Texas goes to California.

I notified dispatch of my close HT date and was surprised when they gave me a load offering of Chicago. I politely informed dispatch that a mistake had been made. They told me to wait........

After about 3 hours they gave me a load to Ottawa Kansas. Perplexed I messaged dispatch to ask them about it and Paul told me " take the load, I can get you home from Kansas easier than Alabama". so I took the load and made delivery a day early.

Now It is Saturday and I again inform dispatch of my concern of getting to California on time. Dispatch sends me a load offer going back to Alabama. I protest and start getting a bit steamed. Same dispatcher says to me. " I can get you home from Alabama easier than from Kansas". I can't believe it and refuse the load. They tell me to sit.

Night dispatch comes along and sends me a message asking why I am not on a load. I tell them of my need to get home ontime. They send me a new load offer New York or PA.

Ryan, the dispatcher says he is doing me a favor to get me rolling. Problem is, Wrong direction.

I go to bed and about 3am, I get a new load offer. Pennsylvania.

This is becoming a bad joke.

finally at 6 am they give me a load offer of New Mexico....Perfect. I take it and then discover that it had been ready and only a few miles away since yesterday morning.

I am on my way to deliver in the morning in Deming New Mexico. Only 650 miles from home and I am anxious to see if they actually send me without a fight.

In what world would a dispatcher tell someone in Kansas that he is trying to get him home to California by sending him to New York or PA.

No driver should have to fight like this to get home. Crete is far from perfect.

One more thing. I have already drafted a letter concerning this treatment to my terminal manager, the dispatch manager and the CEO or crete. Along with my letter of termination.

 

One more thing. I have already drafted a letter concerning this treatment to my terminal manager, the dispatch manager and the CEO or crete. Along with my letter of termination

Perhaps you should think about a letter of resignation rather than a letter of termination? Future employers might like that better.

Deep breath...in...now out...repeat...

No company is going to be perfect all the time. Just ask TIP...he will tell you about his great time at Swift.

 

Well we survived our first tornado, we were at Windsor, Colorado when a tornado came through, I took some pictures of it as it hit the ground, it was at least a mile wide. All the employees at company disapeared when the siren went off , to go to shelter I'm sure, all eight drivers waiting to unload was left to fend for ourselves outside. HA! Go figure, it would have been nice for an employee to let us know where the shelter was. Well, no drivers were hurt, just very shook up, after six hours we were unloaded and on our way, the town of Windsor was pretty much destroyed and I think we were the last truck out of there the National Guard closed the roads about 630.