Crete Carrier - A Year In Review - Fall 2013 Going Forward

I’m not in any way comparing my experience with you because you’ve been doin this longer and I can tell by your posts you’re way smarter than I, but I agree with you. When I was shopping around jobs I called a recruiter I don’t remember what company now, he asked me how long I been driving I told him 16 years, and he let slip “oh.. ok my usual pitch isn’t gonna work you’re gonna be a tough sell.” So going with what you said, you’re right, they prey on the naive and inexperienced. It’s a shame really. On the flip side I have talked to some pretty cool recruiters. The chick at Monson was awesome and just flat out laid it on the line. But some of the others… yeesh. Somewhere between used car salesman and lawyer comes to mind.

 

Whats that saying? If it sounds to good to be true, it’s to good to be true?

But I’ll give the recruiter chick at Crete/Shaffer I spoke to last November credit, she told me straight up that because of where I live, I’d have to be out 6 weeks. I thanked her profusely and explained to her there’s not a trucking job in this country that will require me to be out 6 weeks at a time. The real reason? My body can’t take it anymore.

 

I hear that. I was back out two days, tweaked my back, and now I am back home again......at least it was on the job.

 

Feel better.

 

Do dispatchers care about finding drivers routes we actually like?

Is there any avoiding going over the Rockies? I came down Donner Pass in a blizzard a couple months into my career and am happy to just never do that again.

 

@ConsciousTrucker

I don’t work for the Crete/Shaffer but if you go to their website you can select your state and options will show up. They have a bunch of dedicated and regional opportunities, depending on location of course.

 

Dispatchers only care about you getting the load picked up and delivered on time, safely. Plus, at least at this company, they try to get you home as close as possible to the date you request. They're not travel agents or tour guides.

 

Woke up to a “new document” message and find I have a point letter for a violation on an audit. 0 points. Second month in a row. Apparently I’m doing something they don’t like but the letters never say what and I don’t call because every time I talk to the “safety” young lady I have to talk myself out of quitting, getting too old for this.
Along the same lines, I picked up a load of eggs at a place in Iowa. Was told to get a truck and trailer wash and a washout for the trailer within 24 hours and a hundred miles of pick up because of the Avian flue. Went to the Blue Beacon in Altoona and had my tractor wash denied because it hadn’t been more than 45 days since my last.

 

They want to see the 15 minute pre trip,and more on duty time.
I’ve gotten a few of those letters.

 

I’ve been showing a lot of on duty time and always show a pretrip but not 15 minutes. Just wish they would say instead of sending a point (less) letter once a month, or be a little less infuriating if I called and asked.