Questions About Crete/Shaffer/Hunt

Hi All, I’ve got a few questions about Crete. First off, I see a lot of Crete trucks pulling Shaffer trailers and vice versa. I’m wondering do you have to pull both reefers and vans to work there? I want to just pull dry vans to start out, but I want to go to a company with the option to try reefer or flatbed. Also, are you allowed to take those stupid looking wheel covers off the drives? (I know theyre for aerodynamics, but I just can’t get over the way they look!) and lastly, what’s their idle policy?

To add, I’m also considering CFI and Werner, but my only concern with CFI is having to leave the company completely to try Flatbed or Reefer. And my concern with Werner is all the typical stuff you see online about Werner

Sean, don't go by the color of the tractor. Plenty of Crete trucks are blue, while some Shaffer drivers Pilot a red tractor. I have had the choice to pull refer trailers at times.

As far as switching to Hunt, you would first need to resign from Crete/Shaffer. It's a completely separate entity; another company altogether.

Idling is usually discouraged. However, we have Opti-Idle, which will keep a tractor running when you want to be cool. If that doesn't work out, run the engine normally.

Wheel covers are installed equipment, with the goal of fuel savings. If the company can reduce costs by only a tenth of a penny per mile, one wonders if it makes any sense. Multiply this by several thousand trucks, and it adds up to tens of thousands of dollars per year.

Also, on the wheel covers: when I am sitting in the driver's seat, these cannot be seen. Most every truck looks the same from the inside.

The money saved in fuel savings comes back to company drivers at the end of a year via a company sponsored dividend payment bonus.

Thanks PackRat. When you say the engine will run normally, does that mean there’s no auto-shutdown? For example the engine will idle above or below a certain temperature?

The motor will idle for three minutes before shutdown. If the outside temp is below 30, or above 90, it will idle.

If the Optimized Idle is engaged, it will normally run to maintain a fairly comfortable interior temperature.