CRETE - A Year in Review

Thanks OneShot. I noticed a while back that you were doing well there. Unfortunately, I am Central Florida. I actually attempted to sell furniture for them in late 2007 for 3 months out of their Lakeland store. This was just as the media was predicting the worst so people weren't spending. I didn't really care for Retail Sales much either. Maybe cause I wasn't making any money.

 

I here ya, I was a Driver MGR for and Oversize Load Company in Clearwater, Moving one piece Fiber-Glass pools all over the Eastern US and I exported out of the ports here in FL, then the jobs went away and we were sold and shut down.

As you can see went back to driving with only half the head-aches (LOL).

I work out of the Brandon (Tampa Ashley Warehouse), there is only 4 of us that do the PTP here, and about 6 LTL guys.

They are tight lipped about what they are going to do here, but I do know that they are putting in a new trl yard here in Oct of this yr, they are going to make it about 4 times the size, the owner lives over in Pinellas County were I do, so I do not think Its going to move, It was in Orlando frm what they told me at one time.

 

Went to check on my truck this morning. Looks like a DPF pressure sensor may be the culprit. I got some brownie points while there. I guess they had some new drivers come in and they had a couple of rental cars to return so I drove one for them. They said they would pay me like a recovery so I'm guessing that's $25. I should be back on the road tomorrow.

 

what happened to Earl. I thought he did that? That guy loves his Texas football... like the majority of Texans, I guess.

 

I don't know Earl but it was Julio, a mechanic guy and myself. Since Da' 'Boys won last night I'm a Cowboy's fan today

 

What are you going back out onto the road in? Did T change her mind about you changing trucks?

 

kept my same truck after all. looks like this mechanic actually looked for the cause instead of just treating the symptoms..we'll see

 

Ashley is a terrific outfit....none near me though....

 

Fast comment about Crete.
Being a company driver doesn't lend itself to being terribly independent despite the mouthy drivers one encounters who are constantly bragging "so I told him where do you want me to park it". The reality is you are at their bidding - it is the way of the world.
HOWEVER
If you really must be a company driver then Crete is probably as good as it is going to get. Pay miles etc. Kinda top of the tree.
I did 3.5 years there and soon as I bought a truck I was off. Company is better than OO there. In fact why anybody in their right mind would work for that kind of money baffles me.
I am not saying it is wonderful and you should walk towards the light! Far from it! If I could sum Crete up in one word it would be inflexible. They are incapable of bending! All the usual stuff that truckers suffer from at the hands of a company apply but it is about as good as it is going to get.
Bottom line advice for those with ambition is save your money, buy a truck and maybe get your own authority. Best wishes.

 

Dang, I read everything in that post with great interest and even went to the Ashley site to look at the job listings. I would love a job like that too because I like a mix of unloading as well as driving. Then I read the last part ... ugggh. Of course FL is only my mailing address. In order to switch addresses again I would have to quit Crete first and get all my affairs in order. But that would probably look bad on an application.