It's between Crete and Marten

[Scoe]

The edit button in the upper right hand corner of your post.

[Wolfhound]

I am a current Marten driver, and I am ready to park their truck..

I have been with them about 2 years and they are getting steadily worse.

Half the time your lucky to get 1700 miles a week, maybe every once in a while you may get around 2,700 and very rarely 3,000.

They are putting in apu's in their fleet, you just get to wait in Mondovi for 2-3 days while they do it..

$25.00 a day..Good times..

They 600-700 mile you to death, and communication sucks..

Don't even think about getting mixed up in the lease purchase program..typical scam..

All in all, I would avoid them...They were a great company at one time..

No more, just your typical dirtbag outfit these days..

They don't pay for scales or washouts, and the guarenteed hometime $50.00 is iffy...

Better read the fine print on that...Not 3 days before or after a holiday..

On a lighter note..

The equipment isn't bad, freightliner columbia's ,lots of mid roofs, t-600 and 389? petes..

They don't want you chaining up , thats ok with me..

I know the Marten fans will rip me to pieces ...So be it..

If they are making money there...More power to them

I sure as heck ain't...

And don't even start,about how it must be me...It's not..

I've been out here going on 10 years and I know what I'm doing..

I deliver on time, and send in my macros, etc...

I am just trying to tell you my experience with them, and I know my situation is not unique..

I speak with many Marten drivers who are packing it in..

Their story is not too different, miles suck, communication...Just tired of sitting in between 600 mile trips..

It's up to you, I would speak to other Marten drivers, and make an informed decision...

Good Luck...

[Wolfhound]

Oh, and one other thing..The trucks are governed at 65 mph..

Hammer Down!!!!

[brian griffin]

Oh no! say it isn't so? And i was banking on them as my next move.

Well, let me ask you this: How often do you come home? Would that have any effect on weekly mileage?

[Wolfhound]

Sorry Brian, but it's all true...I swear on my mother's heart..

Don't waste your time..

It really bothers me to hear the "Marten"commercials on sirius every 5 minutes talking about their driver freindly freight...Yeah..Whatever..

Again,I've read of some people that seem to really enjoy the company..

I used to too, a long time ago...Not anymore though..

I'm out here to make money, not play silly games or loiter in truckstops..You'll get plenty of both with them..

As I've said, I've been with them a couple of years now, and I bailing REAL soon..

I've heard some guys have good dispatchers, I didn't luck out like that..

Again, I have NEVER been late..

Sorry to P on your parade, but it is what it is..

Look elsewhere...

Good luck Brian..

[Wolfhound]

Sorry, forgot to answer one of your questions..

Marten has a hometime policy that is better than most..

One day home for five days out..Not bad..

I typically stay out for several weeks, up to a month and a half before taking about 5 days at the house..

I don't belive that has an effect on my weekly miles.

The 1,700 to 2,500 average I mentioned earlier was based on weeks on the road..Miles I ran while I was on the road..

They are quickly turning into a "meatgrinder " outfit..

These are my opinions based on my two years running for them..

I wish I could say it's been a great experience, but why lie?

If you have other options, I would persue them before wasting your time at Marten...

Best Wishes..

[WildK9]

Sorry, forgot to answer one of your questions..

Marten has a hometime policy that is better than most..

One day home for five days out..Not bad..

I typically stay out for several weeks, up to a month and a half before taking about 5 days at the house..

I don't belive that has an effect on my weekly miles.

The 1,700 to 2,500 average I mentioned earlier was based on weeks on the road..Miles I ran while I was on the road..

They are quickly turning into a "meatgrinder " outfit..

These are my opinions based on my two years running for them..

I wish I could say it's been a great experience, but why lie?

If you have other options, I would persue them before wasting your time at Marten...

Best Wishes..

Sorry to hear this. It's still good for me. As with most companies, I'm still waiting for the miles to drop. But I have to disagree with them not paying for scales or washouts. I've never had a problem with washouts. I simply send a message that I need a PO and a T-chek for however much the washout is and I get it. Also, I keep meticulous track of everything, and they don't take it out of my pay. As for scales, they automatically pay $1.50 on every load, whether you scale it or not. With all the lighter than 40,000# loads I get and the on board scales, I almost never scale. Never had a problem.

Hope things get better for you no matter what you do. :wink:

BOL!

[lucky13]

[ As a former Marten driver I can second that I was with them for ten years the miles are not there at all anymore,Marten has been putting its longer mile trips on the trains all of the new trailers Marten gets in are rail trailers,and the otr drivers are stuck delivering loads out of the rail yards and they were all short (100-200) miles trips.

Don't see how you got trips like that? I'm on a Shelbyville,IN to Houston,TX, then a preplan going to Tracy,CA. I get 2700 on a hometime week, and usually between 3300-3500 on other weeks, and I don't really like to run too hard. :?

Yes there were weeks like that but they were too far and few between and when you would get two lomg ones in a row they would overnight you to death,cant blame it on my dm had the same one for 8 out of my 10 years there. Marten is now focusing on the short to medium haul go to Mondovi and all the new trailers are rail trailers,when I started in May of 97 it was very rare to see a trip under 900 miles and if you got a short one your next one would be a long one,Marten is becoming Swift with reefers almost all their drivers are rookies and their saftey rating is in the toilet!

[all18wheels]

Why not go back to gordon?

Did you not really like em? or just need a change?

I'd like to try something new with a company that can get me east instead of running up and down I-5 all the time.

im curious. WHY would you wanna go east??

[brian griffin]

Because he needs his head checked.

No really, running east is not all bad; For instance one route between Boston and DC----I-90, I-84,I-95. If you know how to pace yourself, I.e., not trying to pass every tom, dick and harry (or Jane, sally, and edna) and time yourself (missing the rush hours) it's actually a pretty relaxing and productive drive.

Plus, you'll pass through 6-7 major metropolitan cities in the course of 8 hours. You can't say that about running west. Although admitedly, running west beats the pants off running east, generally.

But anyways, i'm very sorry to hear about martian. They were/are one of my prospects.

VAN HALEN SUCKS

[WildK9]

Yes there were weeks like that but they were too far and few between and when you would get two lomg ones in a row they would overnight you to death,cant blame it on my dm had the same one for 8 out of my 10 years there. Marten is now focusing on the short to medium haul go to Mondovi and all the new trailers are rail trailers,when I started in May of 97 it was very rare to see a trip under 900 miles and if you got a short one your next one would be a long one,Marten is becoming Swift with reefers almost all their drivers are rookies and their saftey rating is in the toilet!

If that starts to happen to me, then I'll leave! :wink:

[cmegobye]

I drove for Crete for 6 years. I've been away from Crete for 16 months. I am returning in September. Does anyone have any information concerning the 'rumored' pay raise that is inthe works. I have spoken with a couple of drivers but they only know of the rumor. It would benefit me to schedule my start date after the pay raise goes into effect. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[WildK9]

Sitting here in Mondovi while they install my APU. Just found out some good news. Along with the APUs, they are also installing 1800 watt inverters.

[Karnajj]

I drove for Crete for 6 years. I've been away from Crete for 16 months. I am returning in September. Does anyone have any information concerning the 'rumored' pay raise that is inthe works. I have spoken with a couple of drivers but they only know of the rumor. It would benefit me to schedule my start date after the pay raise goes into effect. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Talked to my terminal manager about it 5 or 6 weeks ago and he said it's just that, a rumor.

[Wolfhound]

Sitting here in Mondovi while they install my APU. Just found out some good news. Along with the APUs, they are also installing 1800 watt inverters.

Yeah....I forgot to mention that...Sure is nice, but I wish I had better miles...

Don't get me wrong, the equipment is better than most...Miles, though are what pays the bills...

This week wasn't too bad,I manged to scrape together 2,800 miles with 3 trips ..

[WildK9]

Yeah....I forgot to mention that...Sure is nice, but I wish I had better miles...

Don't get me wrong, the equipment is better than most...Miles, though are what pays the bills...

This week wasn't too bad,I manged to scrape together 2,800 miles with 3 trips ..

Glad to hear you had a 1/2 way decent week. When I get to Atlanta on Saturday night, I'll have 3,274 miles, even wasting yesterday in Mondovi. So, I'm still happy. Thank God!

[Wolfhound]

Back at you driver...I got another trip today that delivers tommorow , making a total of 3,200 miles for the week..

If they can keep that up,I'll stick around..

It's the 3,000 miles one week, than 1700 miles the next week that has got me talking to recruiters..

[WildK9]

Back at you driver...I got another trip today that delivers tommorow , making a total of 3,200 miles for the week..

If they can keep that up,I'll stick around..

It's the 3,000 miles one week, than 1700 miles the next week that has got me talking to recruiters..

Can't blame ya there. :wink:

[BuffaloWingz]

Wolfhound and WildK9,

I'm here in WI, about an hour from Mondovi, and 1/2 hour from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

How has Marten been for you? What kinds of freight? I'll be a newbie here soon, and would like to hit it hard when I'm out and R&R when I am back. I seen how you've mentioned miles Wolfhound, is that still the case? How's freight in the corridor of I-94 between Chi and Minneapolis?
Any advice on why to consider them?

Oh, and as a newbie, will they even consider me?

Thanks!

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Simply put:

A OTR National Crete driver with one years experience will make 41cpm and can expect to make $65,000+ if you are willing to work.


A Marten driver with one year experience will be payed 36cpm(according to their web site) and will make in the neighborhood of $10,000 less.

Sorry to post to such an old thread ,but I highly doubt many Crete drivers are pulling in 65K +...That's 160+k miles at .41 cpm . And many of the Crete drivers I spoke with were doing the typical industry standard of 1800-2500 mile weeks ...If you are going 2 CHEER for a company make the numbers realistic for SOLO drivers earnings .