CRETE - A Year in Review

Still in the shop. I was told to leave my key on the dipstick so they could get to my truck (by breakdown). Like a newbie I trusted breakdown, thinking that they would have made contact with the shop that was suppose to be working on my truck. I slept in a bit, ate a good breakfast, brewed a fresh pot of coffee and took my sweet time getting over to the dealership. But, upon my arrival I discovered that no one in Lincoln had said a word to them and they were wondering why another Crete truck arrived unannounced. They took a quick look at my truck and believe that it is the clutch slave cylinder, and don't have one, so it was over-nighted and will be here today. So, I hope they get it up and running. The Ramada Inn next door is a decent place (better than a Motel6(sex)). Plus they have a better breakfast than most, an in-room coffee maker, fridge, microwave and flat panel tv. But I have had enough of sitting around with no transportation and nothing to do but surf the internet and watch tv.

 

Makes you wonder what account did they loose that its not needed anymore.

 

Most of the Hazmat that I ever hauled was for Coca-Cola.

 

You are quite welcome. Something that has impressed me is that Crete/Shaffer drivers are still a great group. Granted, you meet good and bad from all walks, but I chose to stay as a company driver. The industry is heading where it is targeted; largely due to government regulations, lawyers, accountants, and insurance regulations. Drivers are largely at the funnel end of the BS flow. When I was in the Navy there was a saying, "BOHICA" i.e., Bend Over Here It Comes Again. We are an extremely flexible group, or we could not handle the position.
Best of luck and above all, stay safe.

 

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Pray tell! What reefer load is Hazmat? Come to think of it (I used to drive reefer), some of those meat by products were probably hazardous material.......I know where corndogs come from........

 

coke and pepsi concentrates... can not freeze, flammable and corrosive.
flavoring for monster drinks, flammable, can not freeze...
Plastic pellets that give off benzine gas, that must be frozen while shipped.

 

can some one tell me if I have a chance to work for this company (crete) if my past employment for the last 6 years is in and out. I worked for one company 18 years but after I left them I have not found a home yet. Worked for a lot of seasonal company then went back to hauling gas. I worked for one company and while under the loading racks I was aproched by a driver / recrutier and offered more money. So I went to work for them, then worked 10 months for them and then I got an ok to go on vacation booked flight then told to cancel , I was not going to lose 500 $ in plane fair went on vacation and they said good by. Next company had old equipment and started to break down once a week it would take 4hours for mechanic to reach me +1hour for repair and would extend my work day to 18 hours. After to many times I had to refuse to run 1 gas load to keep under my hours. After refusing to run about 4 loads I was givin some one to train then let go. Now I would like to try over the road. So what do you think, do I have a chance. Sounds like no prob if going to work for werner but does not sound like a good idea

 

Had to get it off of page 666..

 

Feeling kind of stupid. I had a load that delivered yesterday, but was delayed because the shipper messed up the bol and it took 4 hours to fix the problem. I got to the consignee at 10pm the night before, but nowhere to park. I drive all over looking for a truckstop, rest area, any place I could park. This burned up an additional 2.5 hours. Now I have to message night dispatch that I can't make the 9am appt. time legally. Yesterday I get to the consignee, and while sitting at the dock realize that the Romeoville drop yard is like 5 miles away. I could have just stopped there for the night. I spent the night there twice when I was with my trainer.

 

I'm at Marietta...deliver 6 miles from here at 0500 Fri, then off to Social Circle to p/u a load to Pageland, SC.

When that is done, I'll have back-to-back 3000+mile weeks for the first time since I came back to driving 5 years ago this month. 3200 and 3100, respectively (with some detention thrown into that 3200 miler). I told my AM yesterday that I would deliver in Beech Island this morning by 0500, but really didn't need home until Friday evening (Beech Island is about 85 miles from home). So, if they could find a shorty or two, I'd do it, as long as I could still be home by Friday night. '

Viola! Two shorties, totaling about 800 miles. However, the monthly total is another story.

I've been saying I've yet to have a 10K month here at Crete. I still won't have one, because this month I'll pull 11k.

So far, so very good with the new Asset Manager.