Crete Bit Off More Than They Could Chew

I'm not a Crete driver but the fact that you are open minded about it is the first step in making a good decision. I've done a lot of homework on carriers that I might want to drive for and from what I can see Crete is right up at the top. You might have a list of things you want to know. Don't be shy about asking what you want to know, the carriers want to know all about you before you're hired, so ask whatever you think you want to know. Find out about the companies stability financial status, this is very important in this economy. Ask about driver longivity, that says a lot about the company. Drivers don't stay where they aren't treated well. From what I can find out driver longivity is good and the age of drivers isn't just kids. Old hands too. Find out about the equipment, salary, benefits, training, time at home, where are their terminals. Also ask what they expect of you. Good luck and let me know what you think.

 

good morning, thanks for the input, luvtheroad,,, after many years of doing this i know about the always negative driver that works at a company and complains but somehow always stays there and the ones that dont do the job get fired and complain most of the carriers i have driven for had no more than 20 or so trucks and it was all a family sorta opp. Largest had 165 and the recruiter told you what you wanted to hear, and promises were out the window, which was a shame because i would have still driven there if not for med prolems and now the economy i would still be there an excellent company, just streched the truth a little ok will let you know how this turns out thanks again " stickhauler"

 

sad to say, but some recruiters either say what they think the applicant wants to hear or what they think it will take to recruit the person. i for one would rather hear the truth and then make up my mind. probably a lot of people quit jobs that they would have stayed at if they had known everything in the beginning. Regardless if you look at the driver longivity at Crete it's impressive. Everyone needs to do their homework before making a decision.

 

crete os wonderful

 

a positive remark. thank you

 

Economy sucks, but I wouldnt trade Crete for any other carrier.

 

Good for you! Why anyone would change to begin with is beyond me. No one has any business to speak of. Right now there is no green grass, but hopefully that will change soon.
I don't work for Crete but hope to when I get my CDL. Having been in this industry for so many years I can't believe it, I think that I've been very objective in my selection of carriers that I am going to approach. Crete is in the top three. The longivity of their drivers, the average age, rate of pay, they have remained profitable in the worst times that the trucking industry has seen since the 1930's and many other factors make them a sound choice. Crete has also changed with the industry when a lot of carriers haven't. Most of those carriers are suffering or aren't in business at this time. Decent equipment is also a factor. Lots of other reasons too. I would imagine I'll get a lot of flak for this post but it's my opinion and I'll stick to it. Good luck in 2009 and be safe.

 

You better becareful, refusing to work for low pay is why were losing jobs to mexicans, they dont care if you will do it or not. Theres always someone out there who will do it, so might as well be you. I know it sucks doing that sterling ####, I got stuck on it twice too. I ran out of the Columbus terminal and they made me do it, twice. But I just shut up and did my job, cause thats what I am there to do. Unfortunately they are my boss and the ones who sign the checks. Until its the other way around, I have to do what they want, or theres the door. I dont see any problem with that. My only problem was they give you this crash course on the #### reefers, which I had never run before, and my first trip out I am totally lost on Cicerro Ave. in the ghetto in Chicago, and the #### little light thing starts flashing red, and Im just like FREAKIN GREAT! Called them up in sterling told them what was going on, and they wanted me to pull over, open it up, and try to fix it. They ended up sending someone from the shop all they way out to Cicerro ave. to put more oil int he #### thing. I ran for Crete, not Shaffer, which is a dry van, so i will do what they tell me with a dry trailer, but I aint messing with no reefer! To bad you quit, Cretes a good company, Ive worked there twice!

 

they had you do what? either you arent being clear or i didnt understand. from what i understand there is a lot of switching of dry and reefer to keep people working. did you win the lottery? LOL

 

Usually the only time a Crete driver see's a reefer is when he is filling in at either the Bartlesville or North Platte Walmart fleet. It is not Crete's policy to have Crete drivers pulling Shaffer trailers unless there is some vital need to do so.

They tried to get me to run the Sterling fleet when we still had it. I just laughed at them. They tried to tell me I had no choice and I told them I always have a choice. I called my terminal manager and had him put me in for home time asap. That ended up getting me out of going to Sterling. When they use to guarantee a minimum of $150/day it wasn't too bad but when they dropped that policy it became nearly impossible for a driver to make more than $300-$400 a week. Pure BS in my opinion. Best thing they ever did was give up that contract.