CRETE - A Year in Review

Evertrukerr,

I have been reading your post with enthusiam for the past week. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to give us "4 wheelers" a snap shot into your day to day activities and challenges.

And for all who drive.... I want to say thanks for keeping this great nation at speed... you are truely the backbone of this country.

For those that are wondering... I am a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy... 18 years in.

I am still trying to grasp the 11/14 hour clock and the 34 hour reset..... of course I can tell ya anything you want to know about a Ticonderoga Class Crusier....as long as its not classified....LOL....

Thanks again and drive safe.

R/

Frat

 

Well, I was forced to take in my truck in and have it turned down via a mildly threatening Q-com Message without a name attached to it. ( i seem to only get messages without names when things aren't going well) I had to wait 2 hours at the new kingstown terminal for someone to hook it up to a computer for all of 5 minutes.

My truck now runs terrible. When pulling a grade as I start to lose speed while still keeping it floored in 10th gear, at 60mph the engine completely cuts out for a spilt second, then snaps back to full throttle. It cuts out just long enough that all the pressure is relieved from the driveline and 5th wheel, so when it surges back to life i get a nasty jerk. I'm sure it's not good for the equipment, and most of all it's extremely annoying. These are the kinds of problems that usually never get fixed, because it is not throwing a flash code, so i know i'm going to be stuck with this problem. They also finally turned down my 9th gear to 53mph or 1600rpm, which is far worse to me than the 62mph policy.

Is anybody else having this problem now? This truck has been a great runner, and it is disheartening knowing that it could still be running strong, but has now been rendered gutless with a clunk.

 

I was accepted by Crete in May and I've been waiting for a trainer to become available since the second week of June. I've been driving for 9yrs and I'm feeling like Crete is giving me the run around. I know that there aren't as many women trainers as men, but how long does it really take for one to become available??? Heartland Express has been callin me and offering me a job asap. I don't want to go with another company, but Crete isn't giving me much hope. Any advice? Thanx!

 

Just a question, if you have been driving for 9 years, then why do you need a trainer? If Crete puts a 9 year veteran with a trainer, then they are the only company that does this--The only time that I had a trainer was when I first started driving.

 

They said they want me with a trainer because I've been with a small co. for the past 5 yrs and those companies usually aren't strict with their logs. Which is true. The only reason I'm holding on right now is because I've heard many good things about them.

 

I have still never heard of that, if you know how to drive and you have been driving for 9 years--why would you settle for the peanuts pay that you will get with the trainer, when you can get real pay on your own. The only times that I have ever heard of an experienced driver going out with a trainer, is when they have had limited driving experience--such as only local city type stuff and very limited highway driving or OTR, but then again you have been drivnig for 9 years. I have only been driving for about 7, but I have never been forced to go back out with a trainer. Or you have problems backing or some such reason as that that they picked up on during your roadtest. If you were switching from van to say flatbed, then I can see going with a trainer for a bit, but other than that, I cant see it. I have never heard of a company saying that you dont know how to log(which is what they are telling you) and then sending you with a trainer, why dont they just send you through a log class? If I were you I would try a different company, one who trusts you to drive for them and do it right instead of a company like this who doesnt even trust a 9 year veteran with a log book(unless there is some kind of gender discrimination going on here). Crete does not have a real good reputation among the driving community--I dont know about Heartland, but they might be a better shot for you, plus they pay a lot better.

 

WELL WELL WELL, SLC finally did my B service and yes they turned my truck down to 62mph. But now my truck hickups, chokes and coughs in 10th gear going through 60 mph.... When they hooked up that computer to turn down 65 to 62 mph, did they change other stuff? Hhmm. Time will tell... Crete still pays more, and has better customers, but please dont put us in the ditch! DRIVE SAFE

 

Timtruck,
Do you drive for Crete? My husband worked OTR for a couple of years before going with Crete. He went with a trainer when he obviously didn't need it. He was supposed to be with a trainer for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks, they called him in, did road test, and gave him his truck. Said that he knew his stuff.

I've heard that long time drivers had to go on the road at least 4-6 weeks with a trainer when hired with Crete. However, my husband's trainer didn't have a trainer when he was hired. Though, he said that they started doing this a couple years after he was hired.

My husband got with a trainer as soon as he was done with Orientation...(Within a few days) Surprised they haven't got with the other lady. Not sure if it is because she is a female as there are plenty female drivers.... I'm sure the turnover rate could possibly be behind it since people are quitting over the new idle and pet policy.

We are no longer working for them! We don't regret the decision and doing very well.

 

No, I dont drive for Crete. I had a buddy that tried driving for Crete, he did one load and quit--he says that they are not cracked up to what they say. BTW, he drove for Schneider for 17 years, so that should tell you something about him. He has a freind that drove for Shaeffer for 8 years, and he left them about 2 years ago for something more local--he said that Crete says on the official that they are safety conscious, but when it comes right down to it, their equipment is not that well maintained--but that was just his opinion. Like I said--I cant see going with a trainer, unless you are say switching from van to flatbed or something like that. But making $1000 the week before driving a truck by myself and then going to work with somebody and busting my butt while I make $500 and the first seat driver is making all the money, that's not gonna happen. At least not with me, unless of course they treat us like a team and there is an even split--which I dont know, but I doubt it. Or you would be considered "teaming" and not "out with a trainer". If they are that untrustful of their drivers, then they are definitely not for me--of course that is also my opinion.

 

Dont feel bad, back in November of '07 our trucks were turned down from 74 to 60--I feel your pain.