I have about had it at Crete

[headborg]

Well, it just keeps getting better and better. Even though my del in Wintersville was for tomorrow I went ahead and delivered today. Had no problem finding an mt. Now I'm being told that most likely I won't get a load till Mon. Even though half of the loads coming here were already on their way when I picked up, I managed to be the first to arrive. I think everybody else pretty much assumed there would be no freight and didn't see any reason to hurry. I knew I should have stopped at Cabela's to pick up some things! Now I'm stuck at this rathole of a truckstop.

And how many times did you attack another poster at the drop of a hat whenever he/she had anything negative to post about the almighty Crete? Talk about eating crow...enjoy this weekend's festivities at the truckslop. I'll be thinking about you as I'm kicked back in my recliner watching the NBA playoffs on my 65'' Samsung HDTV.

I think you should have turned loose another $1,000 and gone with a better brand HDTV-- Samsung is same as Emerson -- you could have gone to a Best Buy or somewhere and got 6months no Interest on a better brand.

[Mackman]

Well, it just keeps getting better and better. Even though my del in Wintersville was for tomorrow I went ahead and delivered today. Had no problem finding an mt. Now I'm being told that most likely I won't get a load till Mon. Even though half of the loads coming here were already on their way when I picked up, I managed to be the first to arrive. I think everybody else pretty much assumed there would be no freight and didn't see any reason to hurry. I knew I should have stopped at Cabela's to pick up some things! Now I'm stuck at this rathole of a truckstop.

And how many times did you attack another poster at the drop of a hat whenever he/she had anything negative to post about the almighty Crete? Talk about eating crow...enjoy this weekend's festivities at the truckslop. I'll be thinking about you as I'm kicked back in my recliner watching the NBA playoffs on my 65'' Samsung HDTV.

Too funny...but I got to agree with Leb. OTR Sucks, They all Suck.

I have to agree also. :wink:

[Evinrude]

There were 46 trucks sitting empty in NY and I have never had a problem getting loads up there before. I have two weeks vacation coming in June and I think when I get back I'm going to tell Crete they can have their truck back. They just don't give a damn about us anymore.

[/quote]


They never did...divers were in demand 15 months back.

Maybe you can thank evertrucker for attracting newbies. Simple supply and demand of drivers, the eaiser the company has to the driver pool the more they abuse.

[headborg]

There were 46 trucks sitting empty in NY and I have never had a problem getting loads up there before. I have two weeks vacation coming in June and I think when I get back I'm going to tell Crete they can have their truck back. They just don't give a damn about us anymore.

They never did...divers were in demand 15 months back.

Maybe you can thank evertrucker for attracting newbies. Simple supply and demand of drivers, the eaiser the company has to the driver pool the more they abuse.[/quote]


no...it's really just a simple common problem with ZONE DISPATCH-- see unlike CFI which has a big screen map of the US-- showing all the dispatchers up-to-date figures on INBOUND and OUTBOUND PROJECTIONS into the various zones---- dispatchers in Lincoln are disconnected-- and simply cover loads--- then Suddenly One of them stands up and screams---- STOP--- you've got 165 in bounds to my ZONE for tomorrow and I only have 80 loads going out bound!
Then since no one's actually Managing Trucks-- they are managing "loads"--- like Brokers---- they just set back and say "o well" better you than me!--- no, YOU can't set that load down in MY ZONE-- then I'll have more "work" to do-- I'dl have to find someone to cover that!" Where as --- If someone was a real fleet manager/dispatcher--- accountable for Productivity of THEIR 80 trucks---- someone would give a damn.

Just let 'em set back a do the "easiest" way to get to quiting time-- push a button and forget it-- so what if that truck hasn't gotten ANY MILES this week--- it MADE A LOT of revenue for the company on those 3-4 short hauls-- now if only we can get him to set without any layover pay & not idle the truck.

[repete]

Been with them 3 years. Never had to sit more than 24 hours between loads, much less 48, but one time and that was over a year ago. I have been doing extremely well this year ( 53,000 so far) but its like they just dont care anymore. I called Lincoln and left a message with a fleet manager to get back to me and all I got was " you've had some good trips lately so now you have to take the bad". How do I explain to my family 700 miles in 5 days?
I'm gone 4-5 weeks at a time and this is what I get?!?! I dont know what I'm going to do. I tend to make quick decisions, usually to my later regret, so I just dont know.

yes sitting sucks, but don't forget there are other driver's out the for 4 wks at a time also. It's slow right now but hang in there don't jump ship for some hollow promise that you might regret later

[Karnajj]

Like I figured after dropping my load in Wintersville Sat I didn't get a load till Mon morn. At least this was a pretty good one. 112 miles of DH to Cleveland then 809 miles to Omaha. Wasn't supposed to del till Wed but I knew the consignee would take it early so I del this morning a 0730 just to get a message that there was no freight and I was 11th in line. Same old BS. Called my term manager and requested home time ASAP. Usually there are some good loads in this town. Tracy, Ca., Phoenix etc. Bobtailed out of the consignee and met another Crete bobtailing in. He's been here since Sat and just now got a load.

[evertruckerr]

Like I figured after dropping my load in Wintersville Sat I didn't get a load till Mon morn. At least this was a pretty good one. 112 miles of DH to Cleveland then 809 miles to Omaha. Wasn't supposed to del till Wed but I knew the consignee would take it early so I del this morning a 0730 just to get a message that there was no freight and I was 11th in line. Same old BS. Called my term manager and requested home time ASAP. Usually there are some good loads in this town. Tracy, Ca., Phoenix etc. Bobtailed out of the consignee and met another Crete bobtailing in. He's been here since Sat and just now got a load.

Damn Karnajj, you're scaring me. I've had to do a little sitting and been getting some less than productive loads, but if you're having trouble getting miles these are some dark days indeed. I was hung up in Pittsburgh and Dunkirk, NY, but nothing like what you're seeing (yet). I'm afraid there may be some very slow times ahead for the industry as a whole. I don't think we've come anywhere near the worst of it yet.

I have home time scheduled for PHX too and am having a hell of a time getting that way.

Best of luck to you.

[evertruckerr]

Evinrude wrote:

They never did...divers were in demand 15 months back.

Maybe you can thank evertrucker for attracting newbies. Simple supply and demand of drivers, the eaiser the company has to the driver pool the more they abuse.

Goodness, what did I ever do to you. I'm thinking I should feel insulted. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive.

[ZMDWEBE]

Hello fellow truckers,
I am sorry that freight is slow for you all.
I am still driving for knight and it was very slow doing western 11. My dispatcher of 2.5 months wasn't well versed in load planning. So last Friday, May 5th I called my Div/Manager and told her that I would consider going 48, but only if I could have another driver manager.
She said oky doky and now my miles are smiles.
I came back on Monday the 12 with a total of about 2500 mile run with 4 drops. I just made my first drop earlier for 45 dollars. When this run is complete I could get anothern 1000-1500 miles before Sunday. My manager knows that I am willing to run hard. I told him that I would work as many hours each day as needed and take my 34 when needed so I can run hard again. Since he gets a bonus for anything over 12000 per month, it will work well for both of us.
I will keep you updated.
Also I had to get proactive since my app for crete was turned down. May isn't hiring in my area either.

[Jimbpard]

Damn they brought the mop & bucket out quick for that one...

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Damn they brought the mop & bucket out quick for that one...

Are you saying that a post would be put up by someone posing as a driver ?

[Jimbpard]

No, I'm saying that if you say something that they dont like around here, they sure take it off quickly...Depending what your name is of course.

[Twilight Flyer]

Did something get removed that shouldn't have? :?: As far as I know, mods don't delete or edit out posts unless they violate the T.O.S. If it showed up and then disappeared right away, the original poster may have deleted it. You can do that up until someone posts a followup.

[bigtimba]

With all due respect to the OP and at the risk of hijacking the thread, I have to acknowledge Lebron's wisdom and the brilliance of his post . .

The problem with coolie OTR trucking is the dysfunctional layover policies. You only rate detention pay AFTER 2 hours of sitting at a dock. What makes the first two hours worth less than the rest?

I USED to think it should have been retroactive, as in "You can't do it in 2, pay for all"

Then you only get layover pay AFTER 24 hours. Companies like Heartless, JB, etc make an art form out of sitting you just long enough so you can't collect layover.

Count Swift with that group. Remember, our managers network, meet frequently, attend trade functions, job hop, etc. Sooner or later, all the tricks make the rounds.

At least Crete is honest and flat-out tell you that you won't rate any.

Although they neglect to tell you there is no economic incentive (or consequence) for the company to deploy it's assets more efficiently.

You should go on the clock at a good hourly rate when you have hours to run, are available for work, and dispatch can't get you moving. You should also rate hourly pay for breakdowns, safety meetings, PM's, etc. And yes, pay for sleeper-berth time on your 10-hour DOT break as well.

As wise as that appears, there is a perfectly good reason why it can't happen . . HOS. You can't be paid around the clock simply because you can't legally work around the clock.

We don't need to change _______ (insert carrier), we need to change the law. To begin with, the Truck Drivers exemption to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1936 needs to be rescinded and restore overtime at a minimum. There needs to be an accomodation for a flat day rate minimum for all sleeper drivers. HOS should be eliminated all together unless they are rewritten to accomodate the needs of the driver.

I could go on and on . . but I don't want to hijack the thread.

Your company isn't doing to you anything that any other company isn't doing to their Drivers. Our companies are all operating within the constraints of an obsurd and ridiculously outdated set of laws which benefit them and their customers while completely ignoring the health, safety and economic well being of it's Drivers and the public which we serve.

[bigtimba]

OOOPs . .

That didn't post exactly as I had intended . . my comments are interspersed within Lebron's original post. Go back and read his post to seperate them . .

Sorry, Lebron . . you had a great post . . appreciate it!