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

So what's the feedback on the new FL's with the opti-idle? Does it still suck or have they made improvements over the old opti-idle?

 

Mine worked for a week then crapped out. It now only works in engine mode. Thus far, it's been bunk heater weather, so I haven't worried about it. Guess where I'm going tomorrow? Georgia. Guess where I'm probably going after that, if I know Crete's habits? Florida. Helloooooo hotel room...

 

The jury is still out, I'll let you know as soon as I find out the answer. So far I've only been in winter weather, but I'm very curious myself. I like working for Crete, but if I have to sacrifice by sweating, while other drivers are cool and also so the office personnel can work in AC and get to go home to an AC cooled house, I won't be working for them very long. But nevertheless let's not jump the gun.

 

Gonna be a sucky way to end the year. Last week, 700 miles due to breakdown. This week, 1600 because my Friday delivery very likely won't be done until Monday. As often as I've missed ice storms over the years, I'm right in the middle of this one. Frustrating right before Christmas, but I have to see the bright side....I've been pretty lucky overall.

Stay safe everyone!

 

In my very short two years I have driven on ice once. i bobtailed from my house to the yard in Wilmer, TX...about 30 miles. I have never been more worried. I mean I drove all the way across WI from South Beloit to Minny-Paul in a darn near blizzard but snow is different.

Stay safe man!


Oh and as far as mileage, the last 8 weeks has been zero...haha But I do get my first short term dis. check soon

 

I was planning to be at Huck's in Mt Vernon around 20:15 tonight, which is now a Flying J. Then I was going to do some shopping at the Wal-Mart next door, but I never made it there. Instead, I ended up at the rest area on I-64 about 11 miles away. I made it here at 21:30. Currently, although I'm parked OK, I can't move because I'm bogged down in the snow, so I hope I can somehow make my 09:00 AM delivery at Walgreens tomorrow morning.

Earlier I had to stop on a bridge after sliding about fifty yards on black ice. There was a wreck on the far end of the bridge. A couple of four wheelers were totaled out after hitting the same patch of black ice. Then shortly after I stopped, a big truck on the opposite side of Interstate entered the bridge and immediately lost control. He careened back and forth hitting both sides of the bridge before spinning completely around facing the other side. He was pulling a short container, but somehow it jackknifed enough to allow him to do a 180. It was surreal. He subsequently climbed out of the truck and went tell an Ambulance EMT that arrived shortly afterwards that he was OK. It was a very scary night indeed.

 

So how did it go?

I keep watching the news casts here in Dallas. They're showing numerous trucks stuck on elevated up-grades. I'm glad I'm home

 

Well this morning I got up early, but I couldn't start my clock till after 07:30. So I watched several trucks try to leave, but they couldn't because they were bogged down. Then finally a van and then a flat bed made it out, but I know the van couldn't go very far because he was dragging his frozen tandems. Anyway, I did my PTI between 7:45 and 08:00 AM and then tried my luck, and I was lucky. Although I had to go back and forth a few times, I was able to begin moving and once I started moving I never stopped again. Anyway, I-64 didn't look like I-64, it looked like a shot from Ice Road Truckers, and to make a long story short, I made it to Walgreens 13 miles away in Mt Vernon, IL and checked in at 08:45 for my 09:00 AM appointment and here I still sit at 12:45 backed up to a door. I was supposed to fuel up at the Pilot, but if I would have tried that, I'd still be in a massive traffic jam at the Pilot, as all three truck stops were massive cluster you know what's over there. Not to mention the Wal-Mart and Tractor Supply place were also full of trucks as well. Meanwhile, Mt. Vernon doesn't look like Mt Vernon, it looks like some place in Canada. Don't know where I'll go when I'll get empty, but it won't be to one of those truck stops. I'm hoping that Crete will just let me go find a place to park and sit it out until conditions improve. By the way, according to the weatherchannel.com, Mt Vernon has received 19.1 inches of snow in the past 24 hours.

 

Good luck driver....im stuck in columbus terminal.

 

I am sitting on my porch in NC in a T-shirt drinking a Michelob light. It may have been almost 70 degrees today.
But I do have firewood ready to go. I think the cold is gonna get here soon.