Well I finnally fond a better paying job than what i have. I am going to be driving truck and the company is going to pay for the training, as long as I work for them for a year after words. This will finnally allow us to start climbing out of the hole that our sawmill put us into. I'll start my training on the 30th of this month. I think some parts of the job I will really will like but other parts of it I already don't care for. Like being away from family and farm, but I have done jobs before where I was gone for months at a time. It all comes down to when your backs against the wall you fight like #&!! or you die, and I ain't dead yet. OGM
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I did seven years of traveling all over the country for 35 weeks per year. Fly out on a Sunday evening and back home late Friday/early Saturday. I hated it, but didn't have a choice, that was where the jobs were and I had a family to feed.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /> Just like you said- "when your backs against the wall you fight like #&!! or you die". That's the difference between a man and a sheeple.
Thanks guys. I turned in my notice tonight, my boss said she was happy for me but hates to lose me. We have been under a wage freeze since the end of last year, even though the company is making money and exspanding. I think corprate just figures there aren't many jobs so stick it to them. What they don't think about is that if the econamy picks up there will be a mad dash out the door and they will be left holding the bag. Most everyone there is looking for a new job. The production manager told me tonight he thought I was doing the right thing becasue he doesn't think that the company will last till the end of the year. Our plant is making money but we are keeping the other 3 afloat. Which I didn't know untill he told me. OGM
Martin Transport used to do that. THat is how my step dad got his CDL. If I didn't have a new wife and a newborn I would be up for it. Just can't bear to be away from them right now, jobless or not.
Congrats on the newborn. I went on my first out of state job when my daughter was about 7 months old. It sucked but sometimes you just have to do what you got to do. When we bought our farm our daughter was 2 and still in diapers. The house hadn't been lived in in over 2 years, and looked it to. We had cows, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, and several pets to boot. 10 days after we moved in I went out of state to work for 4 months. I hated to leave my wife with the mess but I had to, we were broke and had to have money. When I got home she had the barn cleaned out, with a good milk room for the goats set up, the house was cleaned out, carpeting riped out, walls painted, fence was put up. She did a whole lot of other stuff that would take all night to list, all with a 2 y/o in tow. I couldn't beleave she got all the stuff done that she did, but then again I have got one tough cookie for a wife. Magnus sometimes in life you just have to suck it up and do what you have to do. A freind of mine pointed out after I told him what I was going to do. If B.O.does start rebuilding the infastrucure, theres only one way steel for brigdes and other supplies are getting there and that is with trucks. For me I will go to #&!! and back if thats what it takes to provide for my family. No disrespect ment what so ever by this post, it's just the way I see things. OGM
Thanks Tracy. It's amazing but from what I have seen most large trucking companies are still begging for drivers. The company that I am going to work for says the only thing that is keeping them from exspanding is having enough drivers. They also say there are 80,000 new drivers needed per year nation wide to keep up with demand. OGM
Congratulations, driving is a pain, yes I'm a trucker, but it does pay the bill's. Words of advice. Keep your cab in pristine condition, all of the time, even if they give you a POS, you live and work there. Do a thorough check up on your rig and trailer, you'll probably have to give them a good looking at after washing to find any defaults, then check that the inspections are all up to date. Always keep your distance to the truck in front of you unless you plan on overtaking him, and stick to the speed limit, and always make sure that your load is secured, nothing quite like bringing the rig to a stop to have your load break a strap and give you that little knock on normaly while you are fighting to catch your breath and thanking your lucky stars. The cops really enjoy taking your money, and I'm a stingy git, don't part with my money easily. Other than that, have a safe journey. Tony
Thanks Toemag The company that I'm going to work for says the average age of their tractors is 1 1/2 years so I wouldn't think they are that bad of shape. OGM
It is a whole lot more interesting to know the operating hours than the age in years. Much better to know how well they are maintained.
As an update I start my CDL training on Monday. 3 weeks of that then I go out on the road with a trainer for 4 to 6 weeks. After that I'll get my own truck. The biggest complaint I have found about the company that I'll be driving for is that their trucks are set at 60-63 mph. Other than that it sounds like they are a good company to start with and that they maintain their equipment. OGM
Congrats and good luck man! On a side note: I agree that sucks, but that is actually faster than many states "allow" trucks and people pulling trailers to drive, and yes that includes people with those little camping trailers!
Yuppers,yupperrooni... best of luck, drive safe, What are you hauling flatbed/box/reefer? My Dad drove a peterbilt( owner operator) and a flatbed hauling rebar and drill pipe for for many years
Thanks everyone. I made it through the first week with flying colors. I've got my permit to drive now and have all the endorsments that you can get. Alot of the regulations are B.S. but I try to keep my mouth shut. A guy that is a former student at the school showed up, he works for the company I'm going to and he said that he never goes without freight, but sees other drivers for other companies sitting for 2-3 days at a time. Tango I'll be driving dry box for at least the first year because thats all the company does. OGM
