Crete - Walmart Dedicated?
 

Anyone running this fleet around here? (Or any current Crete drivers hear anything on it?) Their website shows to be hiring for Walmart dedicated in my area. This would be ideal, but like anything there'd have to be freight. I don't see Walmart hurting any time soon, but I remember running Target freight for Swift and when it would be lean, it would get ugly quickly. I figure I'll give recruiting a call in the morning since I wasn't informed until pretty late today that I need to keep looking for a job.

Not that one but a Wal-Mart dedicated grocery account. Wal-Mart stays pretty busy year round. I started this spring in one of the worst economies you can imagine and they work us a 5 day/70 hour week. Seems pretty steady to me. Wal-Mart opened 5 new Super Centers in my area this summer. My pay has remained fairly constant every week in the $850 - $950 range with a few lower and a couple higher. Lowest was about $700 Highest around $1150. This may not hold true for the dry goods side but I think that the worse the economy is the more people peel off of higher stores like Target/Macys and switch to lower ones like Wal-Mart. All of the parking lots have been pretty full all summer long down here in NC

Hmm... when i use to run out of Gordonsville, VA i use to have brief chats with Wally Drivers and i know he did say that out in the Midwest the General Merchandise side was booming.. It was mainly the Southeast and The Mid-Atlantic that was slow.. I took a load to the Grove City,OH Wal Warehouse and there was about three different carriers pulling out of there from Convent to Paschall (PTL) and i think US Express so i would jump on it...

Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll give Crete a call and see what they have to say on it.

EDIT:

Turns out regardless of what the website said, they're full on the Walmart fleet at the moment but could offer me a Mid-South regional run with a spot on a Walmart Dedicated waiting list. A little longer out on the road than I was really hoping for (8-12), and I'm not in love with the idea of getting a no-inverter policy optimized idle truck back, but it's something to think about.

tndieselgrl, I see you are from Tulsa. If you're talking about the Wal-mart DC in Bartlesville I drove there for a short time. I would still be there if not for unforseen circumstances. The short time I was there everybody seemed to love it, including myself. The terminal manager there is top rate. Her name is Penny if she is still there. I was treated super by everyone at Crete. From the orientation in Lincoln to the yard in B-ville.

Lots of driving/delivering at night. All you do is bump the dock, the employees of the store unload it and you just pull the stickers off of the pallets. When you get to the store their is no waiting because they know you have another Wal-mart to get to. When you get backed in and check in a call goes out for all available people to come unload. Everybody I ran into was super friendly and glad to see you. You might have one stop or 6 or 7. Your radius is pretty much Elk City Ok to the west, Salina Ks to the north, Springfield Mo to the east and Mcalister Ok to the south. It could vary a little. Pretty much 6 day's a week and it was for me just starting, .39 per mile. It's been a couple of years so I don't know what it is now. Trailers are pre-loaded at the DC and you come back empty. I never had a back haul but I'm not saying it couldn't happen.

Their is a guy on here from Tulsa also, I think he goes by Okie on here, but he drove for them for a while and might still be with them but I think he was looking for something else. Their is also a guy on here from Crete, if he is still with them, I haven't seen him in a while, he goes by Blue Beetle, a top notch gentleman. I met him while I was in Lincoln.

Anyway, a little long winded but if you have any questions just ask, I'll answer what I can.

Ugh!!....NO THANKS!!!!!!!!

Isn't that dedicated waiting list a JB Hunt trick?

I filled in down there a couple of years ago and they ran my butt off!! If I had 30min left they would figure a way to use it! but I did make some good money and with a daily guarantee (prolly cause they're hurtin for drivers) I pulled lots of back-hauls and a lot of miles. I also ran a Wal-mart in the NE for JB and darn near starved to death, but that was pulling a reefer I sat allot and getting unloaded in some stores was so that might be the diff.

Believe it or not Mr. Shabadoo, guys was making 60,000 year on those type of accounts... Just saying..

Most companies have that for the best dedicated routes. I was on a Walmart Tire waiting list with Swift while I was running Target Dedicated. On runs that make money AND give you hometime there's usually more drivers than there are open spots.

robertt - good to know. They actually had the Bentonville, AR fleet listed on the website when I called, but the recruiter said that had been filled and she would see about them updating that listing. Bartlesville would be beyond perfect for me, even if it is a lot of nights (ugh, I'm totally solar-powered....but I can deal if I need to!), so I might just see about getting on that Mid-South Regional to see if I can eventually scare up a spot on the Walmart run before I graduate this pain of a community college and get out of trucking at last. :whistle: Though I don't think the words "I'll never go back on the road again," will ever escape my lips again....I always end up back here asking about a company or two.... :banghead:

This is an EVERY COMPANY trick.....at my company it isn't a trick though, I have a waiting list for drivers on a specific dedicated fleet I handle and I've done run out of names. My list was at 6, now the fleet is full and I need more drivers to add in the event I have turnover of some sort.

I worked Wal Mart grocery dedicated for a different company in Southern Illinois. We did pretty good. Sure, you ran a lot of nights, but very little traffic at nights and more store employees are doing nothing on third shift so they will come back and unload you which means unload time is shorter. Only thing I insisted on was going to bead before the sun came up so I could get some sleep.

The 6-7 stops thing sounds bad, but it's really great. I like multi-stop loads, thats what I do now. First of all, it breaks up the monotony of driving all day. By the time you are bored driving, BAM, you are at your next stop. Also most companies pay for these stops so you make lots of additional money from those stops. Best for us was a 3-4 stop in Chicago. 300 miles to Chi, then the stop pay, most the time a drop/hook pickup in Chicago area, and home for the night. This is everything went perfect of course, but I've had it happen.

Oh, and I worked 5 on and 2 off with Tuesday/Wednesday my off days. They had 6/2 (which everyone started at but I hate the rotating days off), 11/3 (yeah some guys did this), 6/34hrs, etc. They had a bunch of different schedules you could get on. Good thing is my company didn't force anyone into a schedule except the 6/2. There were guys who had done 6/2 for 10 years on that account. You don't have to get on another one if you don't want to.

Same guys who say they don't want to haul multi-stop are ones who refuse to go to Canada, haul oversized, or pull a tanker. Little do they realize, these types of loads actually pay good money. I'm leaving my house in a little while on a multi-stop load. When I get empty Tuesday I will have made over $1 a mile. This includes $25 a stop (except first and last) and $100 for lumper fees where I do it myself (only get this where lumper is available and I do it myself. Only two this run, both will get 1-3 skids and there will be no restacking, easy money). So I think I'm doing pretty good doing these "crap" runs.

PA - I'm with you. Running L/O on flatbed, I could make a killing on multi-stop loads. They don't bother me at all so long as the appointments are reasonable.

Totally OT, but I see you're in Powell...I used to live out that way ;)

Wait until the Feds wire an EOBR into your truck...then we'll see how much you like multi-stop.

:hellno:

Recorders won't make a difference on what I'm doing. I can run this 100% legal. Only time I do anything off kilter is I might shave 2-3 hours off my 10 on Sunday night to spend at home. My only "appointment" is Tuesday morning (which I set it myself and it's the first and sometimes only stop on Tuesday). Other are whenever I get there before they close. Usually I'm in the town of my Tuesday delivery by 4-5 pm and they don't even start receiving until 0330 Tuesday morning and I hardly ever st my appointment that early. It depends on what I'm bringing home from the area as to my appt time and if I've got other appointments. The recorders will make me leave a little earlier on Sundays, but nothing else. My entire week I can run 100% legal and not change a thing about my stops.

Plus, if you're talking Wal-Mart dedicated it's a big company who watches their drivers and won't let you get by with much fudging. The stores are quick to unload and you can park at any store to take your 10 without having to worry about getting towed. Plus you get to know every good hole in the wall with truck parking and good food around the DC running area. A guy I knew running out of London, KY Wal Mart grossed $75k one year. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen his pay stub.

:):):thumbsup:

the short multi stop loads are where the money is at. I did two the other day. total mileage for the day was around 250 and I made about $250. took 12 hours. These pay much better than the long 500 mile round trips because you can get home the same day and do it again where in the longer runs you might not make it back and then have to start the next day minus a couple of hours when you get back to the yard and so only get in one short run.

sounds a little like the bait and switch to me. but might work out if you like crete. still, if your settled on the dedicated account you might not be happy otr waiting for you shot at the dedicated whenever it comes open.

Do you log those stops on line 4 or lines 1/2?

Eh, it's possible it was bait and switch, but the regional wasn't a bad deal either - just not as nice as the dedicated. I'm not new to this rodeo, but it's been a little while since I've been back in the ring too - so I'm finding in this market I'm not going to be able to be terribly picky. The time I spent in the office was great, and I don't regret it because it was awesome to make a difference - but it screwed with my OTR clock and therefore I don't have as much "recent experience" a lot of companies can afford to be picky and look for in this economy.

I've got a little one at home to provide for, and the bottom line for me comes down to financial security of the company so I can get loads because they have a strong customer base, and hometime. Can they get me home when they say they can get me home? If I have problem with the window of time they require me to be out before they get me back, then that's my call. I need to know if they hold by their word as much as possible. I'm not anti-OTR, I'm anti 3-4 weeks out. Back in the day I used to run 6 months out at a time...those days are long gone now that I have a family.

Hey TnDieselGrl
 

Have you worked for or are you still with Arrow? I noticed your avatar was that of an arrow truck. Were you a company or lease purchase driver? How did you like it? Are you still with them or have you left and if so why? Would you recommend them? Do they have good health insurance? Their regional fits my needs that's why I'm asking. I'm thinking about a company driver position. Thanks.

I am a former lease purchase contractor with Arrow, yes :p I did very well when I was on the road with them, but I came off the road in October of 2007 to work in the safety department until this past summer when I decided to stay home with my daughter. I loved Arrow the time I spent there, and I really believed in them as a company until just about the time I left for good. I have to say around the time I left they had a small round of layoffs of in-house staff, and I don't really know if they've recovered from it, but I know quite a few of my colleagues and fellow drivers were hurting from it. I don't think I could really slam Arrow at all because they were very, very good to me, but they have gone through some rough times and made some decisions that were not very popular with the fleet, and last I heard the lease program is defunct. I don't know how things are running for them right now to be honest, I've been somewhat out of the loop. Health insurance as of when I left was a sore spot - they changed providers twice while I was there so it was always a headache getting the claims to roll to the correct insurance company. :banghead: Other than that, the plan stayed the same 80/20 coverage most offer these days. I don't know what the driver cost was, but it was pretty steep for those of us on salary (I obviously didn't qualify for insurance as a L/O)

Regional? Since when are they hiring regionals? Last I heard they were pretty much 48-states only after the regional idea bit them in the rear when the economy took a nosedive and the last ad I saw was for OTR the other day. Unless things have changed, expect to be out 21 days before you see the homestead. I stayed out a few months at a time on my lease, but we didn't have a home base, I just took vacation when and were I wanted to.

Talked to a driver the other day and he said he worked out of the Fontana. Ca. terminal and that he ran alot of Phoenix and Vegas and back. He thought that they had an opening or two for that. Said on the Arrow web site that they had southwest regional after talking with that guy to see if what he said might be true. But that could have changed since the website wasn't updated lately. I've been reading alot of blogs on this site about Arrow and I guess I will stay away from them for now. Seeing that you like flatbedding have you heard of Cypress Truck Lines? They are hiring out of Oklahoma and say that they will get you home on weekends. Don't know a whole lot about them but you can get home weekly if not once during the week too.

Hmmm, Arrow's site is down at the moment, so I don't know. I do know that the same jobs for in-house staff have been up there since early 2008. I'd give the gals in recruiting a call to be sure if you're interested in that particular run. Like I said, Arrow is a good outfit, and I really enjoyed working with and for them, but they've been hit pretty hard as of when I'd left with the recession. Perhaps on the other side I'd consider going back, just not right now.

I have seen Cypress before - I want to say down in Florida. I've honestly never seen one of their trucks up in this area, and while their website makes some big promises, I'm a touch on the skeptical side ;) Their health insurance is about $25/wk higher than what other companies are offering as well, and that's important to me. Dunno though, thanks for the lead, I might just give them a call on Monday to see exactly what they are offering. If it's a dedicated account, it wouldn't be bad - if it's a tight regional run....well, Oklahoma and Texas can get really weak in flatbed freight seasonally and I need something stable even if it means pulling a box.

I'll probably get flack for this but I ran flatbed for Swift and ran hard. The few times I didnt have a load, mainly in Fontana during the winter, I hitched to a box and kept going. Averaged about 3,000 miles a week year round. Worked well for me and I dont have anything bad to say about the flatbed side but that was several years ago.

Nah, I ran with Swift to start my career, and they were the first company I called when I decided to go back out to see if they had anything dedicated open. I've done well and I've had crap with them - it all depended on the account and the driver manager I worked with. IIRC though, Swift flatbed only runs out of Phoenix these days, and have a very limited hiring range. They also do not like women on that division - I know, I tried to transfer over from dry vans.

I hear you. I started with them and ran out of Phoenix so I think that was the difference for me as well. Flatbed was great. The vans were something to keep me moving until I could get another flat. The van's were run different and I did have a few problems with the dispatchers and dm I talked to on that side.

I guess what I was getting at was that in this economy going with a company that had flats and vans (and reefers for that matter) might not be a bad choice if that company let you haul the other stuff to keep moving as opposed to a flatbed operation only. I saw many flatbed drivers while at swift sitting and refusing to drive anything other that the flats while I grabbed whatever was available to keep moving. I made money, they didn't.

I hear ya there...it's part of the reason I wasn't looking to go back to pulling skateboards (the other reason being I had a baby last December....I'm so out of shape it's not funny :lol: and the idea of yanking frozen tarps around right now just isn't really appealing...LOL). In any sort of downturn, the company that can diversify is going to outlast the specialized ones generally every time - same as the fact that the larger ones are going to have the market share to generally outlast the smaller operations. I'm not going back out on the road for the fun of it, but to keep my family in a safe house with heat, power and food in the fridge. What name is on the door is the last thing I'm worried about :thumbsup:

That said, just wanted to let y'all know I was cleared by Crete, and I've decided to accept their offer of heading to orientation for the Mid-South Regional and speak to someone about getting on a Walmart waiting list. It's the best offer I've gotten so far, and I like what I see in Crete from their drivers, their SafeStat scores, and their major account presence.

They've reserved me a rental car, and I'll be heading to orientation right before Christmas. The only part I'm NOT looking forward to is the WorkWell exam...I took it with Swift before (and it nearly killed me then), and I was in shape a hell of a lot more than I am now :cry:

Well, figured I'd update this.

Yesterday I ended a very short (1 month), very, very, very painful period of employment with Crete. I never did make it onto the Walmart Dedicated fleet, I was still MidSouth regional.

I've never been screwed over quite so bad as I was with Crete - but it all surrounded one person and a ton of bad luck. The rest of the company I have no ill will towards.

I was issued a tractor with 539,xxx miles on it and due for trade in a few months. All fine and good, I'm not picky if it runs, and it appeared to have been maintained well. I was wrong. I put it in the shop in Lincoln...broke down less than a week later in Memphis...48 hours after getting out there I was down in Columbia, MO. I was broken down more than I ran. No problem - Crete handled it and found me a slightly newer tractor, ran me right up back to Lincoln and I switched out deciding to stay out a few extra days to make some money. And instead I went back into the shop right after getting the truck. 12 hours after leaving Lincoln I had no heat/defrost in the cab and needed the shop again but managed to keep my windows clear enough to make my delivery the next morning. That morning I was told to go to the shop, and by the way...I wasn't allowed to go home this week. I hadn't made my mileage quota and they were not going to "allow" me to go home.

I was a regional driver - I was promised 8-12 out and then home. No mention of "if you have the miles and we approve" will I get home. Not acceptable. I had an appointment to make and a 1 year old daughter at home. I called my Fleet Manager who, according to the folks in orientation, was supposed to have my back on the road when dealing with dispatch. He told me there wasn't anything he could do and all I could do is deal with my dispatcher. Lots of help that was in the end. :thumbsdown:

I asked for a load home to clean the truck out and what terminal would they like it secured at. From Nashville, TN they send me instead to KNOXVILLE - three hours further from home and tell me they'll get me a bus ticket. Thanks guys...like I can carry all my gear on the damn bus. :angryblue: Even Swift routed me by the house to clean my rig out so I could return it. Lucky I used to live out here and have friends who were willing to pick me up and lend me a couch while I arranged a ride. (I should mention Crete has a yard an hour north of my house, or a full service terminal in the Dallas metro which still would have been closer than where I ended up.)

All of this said, I still stand by my belief that MOST people at Crete were honest, dependable, and I enjoyed working with them from Lincoln to Wilmer to Knoxville from the office to the shop crews to breakdown. My dispatch team and fleet manager on this regional board out of Kansas City, MO are a totally different story, however. If you want to be treated like you're a child, have your hometime taken away as a punishment for equipment problems beyond your control, and have no one to stand up for you other than your recruiter (!! - yes, my recruiter did more for me than my fleet manager ever did!), then sign on for this regional board. You have been warned. Guys I talk to on the National fleet haven't had these problems though, but I just didn't want to run the risk after how I'd been treated to start and getting two trucks back to back that couldn't keep on the road. I cut my losses.

Hopefully my ride is getting loaded in NC today and she'll be through this evening to pick me up and take me home. Amazing I can hitch with another truck driver, but my own carrier couldn't get a regional driver home.

Sorry to hear of your bad luck. I have not heard anything particularly bad about Crete but havn't really spoken to too many that keeping you out because of a " mileage quota" is total bs. I've never heard of something like that and if your tractor was broken down its not your fault. I might not have quit quite so fast but sure would have had a few words with everyone up the chain that I could get my hands on before I did. Hope your next go around is a little better.