CRETE - A Year in Review

not running your a/c when there apu is broke, does that earn you brownie points with the bigwigs or what?

 

Unfortunately, when Crete has their trucks equipped with an APU, they shut down opti-idle, and my truck w/all the breaks set, idles 3 minutes(hardly enough time to unhook air hoses, pull pin, retrieve the mega-lock, and wind the landing gear - which are on the wrong side of all our trailers- before it shuts down) If I release the tractor breaks, and keep the trailer brakes applied, I get 15 minutes. I asked them to simply turn on the opti-idle for one night or until they got the APU fixed...they're not allowed w/o permission from the Supreme Commander in Lincoln's Maintenance department, and of course, he goes home at 5. There were other motels in the area that had vacancies (I found out the next day)...but they're not on the 'approved' list that a shop manager has available to use. And since I was under the care of a company shop...breakdown didn't have the authority to give me permission to seek alternate lodging alternatives and I didn't want to have to fight for weeks about getting a reimbursement on a motel stay that wasn't authorized, and go through the argument about whether it was or wasn't needed. Besides, I didn't have the greatest week and couldn't afford the extra cost of a motel that may or may not be paid back...my A/C went out at home as well...plus my daughter is getting married at the end of the month, so we have all that to pay for this month too....

It was also Indy's Friday for the driver appreciation lunch...Other than 1 time that I got to stop in Lincoln...that's the only time I have made it to a free lunch during their 'Driver Appreciation' month in my almost 8 years here...and contrary to rumors...I didn't screw up the free lunch.

It turns out that the idler pulley went bad(or locked up) and tore the belt. My truck went in the shop just before noon on Friday. I had it back, everything fixed right, by 1900. Sent a message back to Op's that I was fixed, and that I was going to bed since I was up until midnight the night before and had been up since 6 am waiting for the shop door to open, but that I could accept a load that p/u the next day, but wasn't planning on leaving until sunrise. Low and behold...a choice... again. ET's former Arkansas dedicated run (N.Vernon IN) to Hot Springs, AR, -or- a load out of Richmond, IN going to Aurora, CO. Picked up Saturday, delivers Monday at 11. I'm going to CO...Another 1246 mile run, that has been timed right...this could be habit forming.

As far as the terminals being locked after hours. It never use to be that way, but according to someone I talked to at the Indy terminal...not all of our drivers are as trustworthy as they use to be...to which I replied... "who's fault is that?".. Which proves to me that Crete's hiring standards have changed...whether or not Lincoln will admit it, but years ago that was never an issue. You take care of the driver like he/she is a trusted partner in the success of the company, and he/she will take care of the company like it means something to them. Don't treat the driver right, many won't care about the company in return, and some take their frustration out on the facilities that we all use.

 

I wish...If they got wind of it, they would expect it every time from that point on. If it had been a bigger week, I would have just got the laptop out and named my own price on that 'un-named' motel reservation site...Hey Captain Kirk....get me a room right away!!

 

i hear ya, your a better man than me.

 

You and me both catfish. I'm not sure a mega carrier really appreciates your sacrifice like a mom and pop would. I can see if your trying for a quarterly bonus though then it would be worth it. But unless the weather is mild I say fix the dam APU or spring for a motel. It's not like they can't afford either.

 

Wow! I'm really sorry that you have that kind of hassle. It would seem that the company could keep an eye on things without disabling the ability to idle by simply reviewing fuel mileage or idle time.

The reason I asked was the experience I shared in this thread just after Memorial Day. My A/C blew the high pressure hose on Sat night of Memorial Day weekend. I will say one thing about the company I drive for, they will put you up in a motel if you're out of commission and can't reasonably live in the truck (like a/c out or can't idle on a cold night).

In the post I shared, I could have parked the truck at the local dealer and told dispatch to get a relay driver to come get the load (and they knew it). However, all I would get out of the deal was 2 nights sitting in a motel room and a loss of income. And they needed the load delivered (obviously). So, the "grand bargin" (popular term of late) that I offered them was I would run the load in record heat without a/c if they would spring for a motel each night. There was some background discussion, but the answer came back "sure!". So, that's what I did. I got a shower and an air conditioned sleep each night, and they got a load delivered on time as promised for a motel room they would have had to pay for anyway.

My company has decided against APUs I'm sorry to say, but I can idle any time and as long as I want, but the company keeps a close eye on driver fuel mileage. So, it's self regulating. I have an incentive to hold my idling to a minimum and keep a close watch on my out of route miles (we get to pick our own route) to keep my fuel mileage up where it's supposed to be. It's sort of an ET-like technical challenge; every 6 miles under route that I can pull off is an hour's worth of free idle time (meaning a/c) for me.

(Just for comparison, all of our terminals are manned (or womaned) by a dispatcher 24/7. We have 24/7 access to all terminal facilities, including showers, etc. Not trying to rub salt in any wound, just comparing notes.)

 

SS,

Best of luck and well wishes to your daughter and future son-in-law. May they find success in marriage and in life. Good luck to you too ...

 

Sorry, I may have missed it in an earlier post ... which company do you work for? Sounds like you have a good deal and a home there.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm shilling for the company I drive for, plus I may erupt from time to time with commentary on how I think things could be better, which might not be appreciated by management. So, I don't mention any company names. I don't drive for Crete, however.

 

Well first of all, I'll annouce I'm new to OTR. I've done some delivery driving over 6 years ago with a soft drink company and recently was a driver in the military for 4 years. I'm in the process to get hired by Crete through the new military program they launched. I'm asking for advice and also what to expect during this 8 weeks of training. Any advice to help out and also what to bring. Its been a while since I've done any stick driving, #### army has gone all automatics which I think is a down fall really, but I see why after seeing the kind of recruits coming in with no driving experience.
I see this thread was started back in 2007 I think, has the company hopefully gotten better since then? Really doesn't matter, I learned a long time ago that you make what it is out of hard work and dedication anyways. It will be tough to be away from my wife and three kids for up to 10 weeks more then likely but short term sacrifices to reach long term goals are ok. Whats a good wireless carrier for my laptop? So I can keep in touch with family and track expenses and pay bills.
Basically a run down of what to expect from a drivers perspective would be nice.
Thank you all for the insight.
I already have my Class A with Hazmat, tanker, double/triple and TWIC card. Should be good to go for anything they hand me. What about supplies to keep things organized and stuff.