Crete - What's the catch?
 

So I've been lurking for a couple of weeks, and want to go OTR (wife is of the 'ex' variety, kid lives w/her 300 miles away, no girlfriend, etc). And nearly unanimously, Crete is suggested. They pay 41 cpm, compared to many of the places that pay 30-35. I only found one 'horror' story here, compared with dozens about Werner, CRE, USX, etc. So what's the catch? Why are they paying more, and why are they in need of drivers? It doesn't look like they have a school, is that it? They don't have the big shiny ads in the magazines? Am I missing something?

Should be testing on Friday for my CDL. Tomorrow I'll be at school all day practicing range stuff.

Don't quote me on this, but I believe a new student starts out at about 34-35/mile, not 41. And they will only take recent grads from one of their approved schools, which I believe has to be PTDI certified. As for a catch, I really don't think there is one. I know somebody who drives for them, and he's kept busy and seems happy.

It's .41 cpm after one year on the national fleet . Also the hometime isn't something that Crete is known for if you are on the national fleet , they do have dedicated fleets which get you home quite a bit .

No catch. Most of the above is right on. Students start at around $.34 and Crete does not have their own school. They take students out of PDTI accredited schools. Crete pays more because they can...they are one of the few debt-free companies out there with money in the bank. If you want the straight scoop, call Bill at 800-998-9980, then dial 98731. He's their student recruiter. Tell him Mike from the ClassA board steered you in that direction and that he owes me a steak dinner the next time he's through Iowa.

Thanks for the replies, especially the 34 cpm figure. I couldn't find it on their site.

My school is PTDI certified so no problems there.

TF, I'll call tomorrow or Friday.

Boy, that new-hire trainee that just hired on, that I had lunch with the other day Columbus, Oh---is gonna be real mad then-- when he see's his first pay settlement--he told me he was going to get $500.00 a week while training, then .41cpm when he gets cut loose from his trainer. Maybe, I shouldn't have told him what I make first.
You think he was just bumping up the numbers?
So they go from .34-.41 in just a year....that's still pretty darn good incentive to stick around.

Possibly, but I suspect it is more to do with him hearing only what he wanted to hear. A very common occurance among drivers when looking for a company, and it does not matter if the driver is a 30 day wonder or has 20 years.

Well, I meant "bumping" up the number--told to me" during our conversation.

I'd hate to think a recruiter would have told him a Lie, that's one number that
has to be made real clear from the get-go. I mean, recruiters will often "figure" in bonus money, etc Then rattle off lots of $$$ figures that you "could" make. But you should always ask for base pay figure.

Does anyone here know, for future recruiting efforts--- is this .34cpm "fixed" for 1 year, then at 1 yr anniversary it Jumps to .41cpm, or is there
some kind of graduated increase during those first 12 solo months?

I'm not sure about the per mile rate, but I think he's right about the $500 weekly while training.

I don't know if they would be considered "catches," but here are a few of the knocks that are mentioned often on this board:

[Disclaimer: I believe everything I read on the internet :lol: , so I have made no effort to vet this information. It is just some of what people here have said.]

Pretty generic trucks
No pets
Logs audited against Qualcomms
Opti-idle
65mph
Paperwork required for pay/TRANSFLO

Some of that might matter to you. Some of it might not. As with any company, it's a matter of balancing what you like against what you don't like. .41cpm at one year of experience is not bad at all, so that would likely count as a positive. For some people, one or more of the things listed above would count as negatives. For others, perhaps none of those things sound bad.

Just take your time and figure out what works for you before you get swept up in a cpm figure that you might not ever see if you hate your job and quit in six months.

Vito; the only 2 there on your list that I would disagree on
is the pet policy & transflow.

(1)Here at Shaffer(division of crete)
drivers are allowed pets in truck(pay a deposit)
I don't have a pet--and dislike being assigned to a truck that HAD a pet in it( crete/shaffer does not employ professional detailers to clean these trucks after someone moves out) They once tried assigning me to a truck that still had white dog/cat hair all over the inside of the truck.

(2) transflow is a plus; don't see how anyone could call it a minus.

Thanks for the response. Most of the items don't bother me, but I'm not sure what this 'TRANSFLO' is. What exactly do you mean here?

As far as the cpm, to me, given the number of recommendations and the few negative posts about them, that was sorta the icing on the cake.

My biggest thing is that I actually get to go to all 48. And I'm hoping to spend the winter north of the Mason-Dixon.

I would call it a minus. Some companies pay on dispatch, meaning that a load dispatched on the last day of a pay period is paid on that check, even if it's delivered three or four days later. You can't scan signed bills until you've delivered, at least to the best of my understanding.

It's certainly not always the case, but on plenty of occasions I've seen lines of people ten deep waiting to scan those damn things while I just want to pay for a soda and be on my way. Considering the aforementioned pay on dispatch policy, it's quite a bit easier to drop an envelope in a box and be done with it.

Ok, my observation on that is over the last 15years the only companies that pay even close to like that:
1. Are paying lease/ Owner/Operators: an ADVANCE against a trip, OR
2. Paying at the completion of said trip(each trip) you settle up at the end.
3. Company like JBHUNT which pays on the "honor" system---where what
ever you complete and send a "empty" call in before mid-nite payroll cut-off/ or as you stated at time of dispatch. But they all want the PROOF OF DELIVERY within a couple of business days.

#3. Is very hard to find companies that will do this; 90% want PROOF OF DELIVERY

In the good ole days--companies would hold your pay until they received the Bills, all we had was "snail mail" US POST--and you considered yourself lucky if the company provided Postage Paid envelopes.
Then there was FedEX--and companies provided pre-paid envelopes
then came along ------TripPak
now there's Transflow & TripScan????( by the same company that gave up TripPak)

I currently have the TRANSFLOW NOW! software here on my laptop--so I can scan bills from my cab now( which is great if I get caught somewhere on a Friday night close to payroll cut-off)

Over 15 years, I'm sure you've seen a lot more than I have. I've worked for exactly one trucking company, but we do get paid immediately on dispatch. That's not an advance (which is also available upon dispatch through the Comdata card), but rather the full rate of pay applied to the driver's paycheck immediately. The time and date of the delivery is entirely irrelevant in terms of our pay schedule. The only date that matters is the date of the dispatch. If the dispatch is within the pay period, the money is on the paycheck. Again not very frequently, but a few times I've been paid for long runs before I delivered said long runs.

I don't mean to imply that anyone should make a big deal out of one thing like this or the other, rather that each little thing should be seen in context. Would I wait a few extra days to get paid if there was enough extra money in it for me? Of course I would. However, in the specific case of how we get paid - compared to how I get paid now, using TRANSFLO and getting paid on delivery would be a step backward.

I would agree completely; in YOUR case....whom do you drive for again?

because a company like that must be pretty hard to get on with? since, they Trust their drivers so much.

Now imagine, how fast many OTR companies would loose money----trusting many of these "fly-by-night" drivers....a guy could come
to work--fake delivery of several loads then collect the pay for NOT doing his Job.

Well, I work for CFI and they hire recent graduates. I have no idea if they've ever lost money paying that way, but it is what it is. At the start of '08 we're switching to weekly pay but keeping the pay on dispatch, so that should be pretty nice.

Faking delivery - well I guess there's someone in this world who will try anything, but that one would be pretty tough. You would need an empty to get the next load, so you would have to manage to snag one from a customer while stashing the loaded trailer somewhere else. I guess nothing is outside the realm of the criminally insane, but I've never heard of anything like that.

If I had to guess, I'd say that part of the mountain of CYA documentation I signed in orientation said that they can take back money if I quit before a load is delivered, or something to that effect. My eyes glazed over after about the 80th page of crap, so I would be lying if I said I knew everything I signed.

In any case, we'll be joining you guys in the ranks of the 65mph club soon enough, so that's one more thing on the 'con' list in my little end of the world.

So as I understand you correctly, "godfather"
CFI, pays based on dispatch date? instead of delivery date?
sounds like this is another style of the"honor" system--like JBHunt

or;
they cut you a check/ wire the money to the bank at time of dispatch?

how far behind on submitting paperwork does CFI allow you to get? before they put a "hold" on your check?
how does CFI do the paperwork turn-in? trippak? transflow?
do they require the Logs for that particular trip to be submitted With it?
by law, they have to have your logs current in their possession within 13days.
Are you allowed to turn in logs by themselves?

It's not just the "honesty" issue (drivers might not report OS&D) issues too.
The company in many cases can't collect on the freight bill until they can
submit that "proof of delivery" to their customer. So, you make them wait
for their money ..they'd make you wait for yours.

Yeah, it's like the honor system without having to deliver first. They don't pay us six times a week or anything like that. Just whatever miles are dispatched by 11:59pm on the closing date for the pay period, will be on the paycheck a few days later. I've never had any money held back and I'm about as lazy as they get when it comes to following procedures.

We are "expected" to turn in TripPaks within 24 hours of delivery for the reason you mentioned. The company needs the bills in order to get paid. I don't go out of my way to send them in, so if I'm stopping at a rest area for the night the TripPak waits an extra day. If I stop for fuel or stay the night at a truck stop, then they get sent in quickly. I dropped one under my seat and forgot about it once. They called me about three weeks later. I told them I must have already sent it in. Then, after a search of the truck, the envelope turned up. I called them back and explained. "Sorry about that," was about the extent of the conversation.

We have to turn in logs every three days, with or without bills. Fuel receipts every ten days, with or without bills. They're pretty touchy about the logs, but for the rest of the stuff they really should hassle guys like me more than they do.

Maybe they don't want to wake up with their horse's head in bed with them?

LOL...that was a good one....sorry, gmh for taking your thread slightly off topic....just comparing company proceedures with a peer.

It's basically the same payroll proceedure here at Crete/Shaffer only without the honor system- Payroll cut-off is midnight Friday night- based on what we empty out(get the unloaded call done in computer before midnight) but we also have to have the trip(bills) scanned into transflow by midnight(central time) the same night.

Logs in every three dayss!

:asta: that's just stupid

You got to turn in fuel receipts? we just throw ours in the trash.

The fuel receipts from the big chains don't matter as it's all electronic, but they want the ones from the hole-in-the-wall places.

Take it wherever. I've been online since the early 80's; threads go where they'll go. Also, as a newbie, I learn a heckuva lot about stuff by reading this diversions.

Re: Crete - What's the catch?
 

.41 cents a mile would be exellent :!:

GMH, transflo is a system that is found at some truckstops that allows you to send in your bills instantly rather than having to wait for trip pak. Its essentially a fax machine. At Crete any trips that have been transflowed by midnight on Fri are on the check you get next Thurs.

Where might we find Transflow Now software?

well i got mine while we were doing a "test" of the system.......Crete provided us with a link where we could download the software. It still works. Your company would need to have an account with transflow- and you'd need there company code--so you could "route" it properly.

I'd have to look up the link.

there is no catch
 

crete hired me back in june 07, gave me the title of limited experience driver and assigned me to a trainer for 3 weeks before turning me loose on my own. i had been with werner for a total of 8 months and crete actually started me at .40 per mile and after completing my 6th month i was bumped up to .41 per mile which is the starting rate for experienced
drivers on the national fleet. so far it has been very good with crete, plenty of miles, home when requested, mostly drop/hook loads and treated with respect. :D

Hi Haze. I was happy to read your post. I sent in my application to Crete the other day. Waiting to hear back from them now.

I live in Tampa and it's always an issue but I'm told 2-3 weeks out which is more than I want to be out but I'll live with it I guess. How long are you out at a time?

You say you're getting good miles. Care to elaborate on that? I'm hoping for 2800/week or more.

Have you had any runs up to NYC? I really don't wanna drive through that neck of the woods. Can you refuse to do NYC if you don't want to do it?

Are you able to route your own trip or are you assigned a specific route to follow?

Thanks
Dok

hey dok, i usually stay out at least 4weeks sometimes little longer, but thats what i find works for me as far as being productive and making a paycheck, i dont have a pressing reason to have to get home sooner. on average my miles are 2800 per week sometimes i have those really great
weeks 3500 miles. i dont mess around while out here, my main goal is to make a decent paycheck so i keep the left door shut and the pedal to the floor. as far as new york, i havent had any new york city loads but i have been to upper new york state, conn, mass, and new hampshire. crete normally sends you 3 load offers and you choose the one that fits your needs, but sometimes you have to accept the bad along with the good if you know what i mean. i have never outright refused a load but if i need to be more productive with more miles i have asked for a better load and found that most all the dispatchers will work with you. crete gives you a suggested route and would rather you stick with it, if you make an adjustment to the route they wont scream as long as you dont get to far out of route, but they are very strict on their fuel solutions keeping you fueling at mainly pilots and loves.
welcome aboard and hope everything works out for you.

haze2

Howdy
 

Howdy Dok. I been with Crete now for 6 years and can answer a few questions.

Quite a few drivers are out of Florida and get home bugt I always hear complaints of never when they want so don't make any pressing plans. It is that way with many drivers. I get home when asked a majority of the time but it is frustrating sometimes when you need to be there and they can't seem to do so. Many times I refuse a load as it is not getting me home and voila.....Magic I get one soon after. Crete does not care or try to get one home except at their convenience. They will do so eventually.

The miles can be very good and sometimes I will approach what the other guy said especially when I hold a trip back from the week before. Right niow is the slow period for most companies so the freight will pick up soon hopefully. I did just sit in Orgon for 4 days as there was no freight and when asked for sittting pay was told that Crete company policy was no sitting pay if there is no freight so I have to make diddly this week.

Every once on a blue moon a load will go the NYC area and if yoy get more than one choice then you can pick one of the others but if not then refuse it and then they will just make you sit. I have found many times I have gotten a choice and this has been real big with Crete for the years I have been with them is they will send a crappy load either on miles or to a crappy place like NYC that can be made on time. Then the other two choices are impossible to make legally. This it seems is a standard company policy as it has been going on for many years.

They have assigned routes. Sometimes I shake my head at them but usually it is what I would have taken anyway. They will do anything to avoid paying tolls though and will route you through the woods. It has been funny when they started to pay miles closer to the actual trip and even started putting it on their ads. Then they will route you their way and the out of route miles are the same as before. Many times though the miles and trips are close or somewhat close.

Any other questions then feel free to ask and I will come in here and try to answer truthfully.

I am starting to maybe look at another outfit myself but know there are no other companies that treat their drivers better. They all could care less about the drivers and care more about the truck also like Crete. They have a new deal starting and even though I doubt the rumours are true I may leave them because of them.

Well i don't see no catch with Crete, just haul the freight they assign me and get it there when its due. Only been there since April and i like it. I'm on a regional fleet and get home or by the house even when i'm not ready,lol. I get less miles being on a regional fleet but chose that cause of my priority in life with two kids, others want to stay out and thats fine.

I really enjoy it so far, i personally have had no problems with them at all, the checks all add up each week, the people in the office have always been polite and helped me when i have needed it and have NEVER been pushed to do somthing illeagal with them, ever.

bol

Ok
 

Well I live a little south of Houston and they always have had probs getting me home. It is like a huge ordeal to do so. I also have been with them 6 years and I hear different from most drivers that live anywhere in the U.S.

Been with Crete for 2.5yrs and have never gotten home late. Never, not once. Usually I get home a day or two early. The thing I see with some drivers is they'll take a trip to Cali 5 days before they need to be home in Pa and wonder why Crete can't get them home on time. :roll: If I'm far from the house I might send in my request 7-9 days early. If I'm within 1000 miles I usually don't send it in till ~ 5 days early. Miles are good, had nearly 134,000 for the last calender year.

I planned a cruise with my s.o. and told them 3 months in advance.

I kept telling them and sure enough, the day before the ship sailed from Long Beach California, I was in Columbus Ohio being offered loads to New Jersey and North Carolina.

That was the beginning of the end of my time with Crete. With the s.o. too I might add.....:(

That's partially your fault for letting them put you in that position. The week before I needed to be home I would be constantly reminding dispatch of your commitment and if they were not obliging enough I would be on the phone with my terminal manager. And if I got no satisfaction from him I would call Lincoln. Sometimes you have to be pushy to get things done.

Karnajj ...


Is that 'Cali' as in California :?:

I did and I did. and when I was a week out I dropped my load in South Carolina and again reminded them that I needed to be home in a week and they sent me to Ohio.

I know you love Crete, but they really do have their problems....

Hell, after I quit and volunteered to take my truck to the closest terminal and rent a car and drive home, they wanted me to return the truck to Phoenix and it still took them over a week to get me there.

Every 2-3 weeks I get a letter from Shafer wanted to know if I would come back and drive for them.

Im happy with my local part time job now. I work when I want and dont when I dont.

I hear ya Bumper. Of course it is always our fault you know. I have been with Crete 6 years and know the ropes well but of course it is always my fault.
Did all that said before and then some. Give way more notice then needed and even weeks if I really need to be home. Just never make sure you let them know you have something really important then it is impossible. The times I do get home early is when I just ask to go home after many weeks away. Call the manager and then Lincol and what happens. Nothing except we will do our best.

Of course I am not recruiting so willing to tell the truth.

Re: Howdy
 

If THEY sent you to Oregan,,,then made you sit 4-days,,THEY should have made sure the HAD freight to get out of there BEFORE again BEFORE they accepted that load!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Its not your fault,,You should have been PAID!
piss poor planning by CRETE.......DRIVERS!! GET WITH A COMPANY
that has ther act together.....IF YOU ARE NOT AT YOUR HOME,,
You ARE WORKING...YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO GET PAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!