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

the only way you won't make $$ on elogs is if the company doesn't know how to load plan properly...I still avg 3200+ mi/wk on elogs.

 

Because they don't pay as well. Crete has never made any bones about why they harp on idle time. Part of the money saved goes back to the drivers.

I've seen Crete drivers idle on days where the temp never got higher than 70. I got my windows wide open taking advantage of the nice breeze and they are idling. Go figure.

 

They pay well and you get less Big Brother. Win Win for the Driver.

 

Freightwhipper, they could care less about safety, it's about profits, through avoiding fines, lower csa scores and insurance reductions.

I don't have sleep apnea, or at least, this machine doesn't help me a bit. I was tested for about an hour before being diagnosed by a nurse, had a video chat with a" doctor" 2 days later. Sleep Pointe has offices in our terminals, I'm convinced crete is in bed with them.

These companies do not care abut your safety, it's just expensive to not pretend.

 

Well yeah you're right, this company is owned by lawyers isn't it?
I'm not saying they care about me.. like will bring me flowers if I get sick.
They care about safety and covering their butts.. if you wanna put it that way I agree.

 

I'm brokedown again too. Down in Deland, FL. FYI, these guys get labor day off... Back for a coolant leak, just like Thursday. I'm starting to think I'm just not lucky enough for OTR driving. This is my 5th breakdown in 2 or 3 months. I'm getting super lazy, haven't had a full week of driving in over a month.

One more breakdown, and I'm gonna keep making calls until I get a freightliner. I love the prostar, but the maxxforce engine has been nothing but trouble. What an abomination. I miss having a jake break too, A LOT.

 

Can anyone tell me about orientation for crete

 

Pretty much the same with all large carriers. Physical, Drug test, Driving test, and application confirmation/adjustments on day 1. Paperwork, videos, boredom, verifications Days 2 and 3. Defensive driving and/or Truck Assignment on day 4 or sent elsewhere for truck.

 

I find it interesting that 2 years of experience in trucking equates to ZERO (zero) experience. Seems like faulty math but hey let's go with it then.

Secondly, these trucking companies have absolutely no problem telling drivers that they must stay out (on average) 3-4 weeks OTR to earn a few short days at home. In those weeks we live in an almost constantly rolling tiny metal box on wheels and sacrifice the creature comforts that we all take for granted before we enter this industry.

Using your own bathroom and showering everyday, cooking or eating out wherever you want, social life, relationships, sleeping in your own bed, seeing a doctor/dentist whenever you need to, etc. We give up all of these things willingly in exchange for a paycheck and getting to travel the country.

If a company allows their drivers to idle whenever or at most times why not take advantage of that? We already sacrifice any semblance of a normal life. Should we really have to sacrifice the comfort of a temperature controlled environment simply to "look better" to our companies?

As for keeping the windows rolled down.... well if i'm at a truck stop or at a packed rest area surrounded by others that are idling i'd rather not allow an unending stream of carcinogens flow into my truck when I could just roll 'em up and idle so that my wife and pups are not subjected to that. (and let's not even think about the shall we say... aroma of these places. let alone the risk of some creeper coming up to the window to shoot the breeze)

XLSDRAW - You and I were having a spirited discussion a month or so ago. I never took it personally.

I've gone through this thread and what is interesting is that all most of you ever do is talk about all the bad things you are feeling about Crete but when an outsider comes in to give some perspective you guys take out your knives to defend your lady to the death.

 

That's not 100% true. You don't have a commode in your truck..?