Re: Waste of Time or Career Start?


<trucker.19@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1156649013.778418.119690@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I turned 19 this month. I graduated from high school in June 2005. I
don't have to tell you its not easy to find a good job. I don't have
any real skills or education, so I can only blame myself.
Since graduation, I've yet to find a job that was more than 35 hours a
week on a steady basis. Most jobs average around $9 per hour. Some as
much as $10, but they were less hours. Some people might agree with my
parents, I'm a bum. I have 50 weeks before they kick me out, on my 20th
birthday. Presently, I make about $315 a week before taxes. Its hard to
pay rent on that kind of money, if you like to eat and drive a car too.
I'm not expecting to live a wealthy life. At my local vo-tec they have
a CDL course where I can get my Class B with Air Brakes for $1,500.
Haz-Mat, Tank, Metal Coil, Tow Truck or Passenger endorsement is
another $250 each. A Class A is $3,000 for the training. Then they bag
you for another 10% for the road-test. I could do this with a student
loan, but I don't know.
I interviewed for a new job with some driver training. The company
delivers furniture, mostly mattresses. They have a 2004 GMC Isuzu
W-4500 box truck with a 14' box. They have several 2005-2007 Mitsubish
Fuso FE145's. None of the 14,500 lbs trucks require a CDL. They do have
a Mitsubishi Fuso FM260 which requires a CDL because of air over
hydraulic brakes. Because the truck is under 26,000 it will be a Class
C unfortunately.
They told me the pay for the driver was $10.25 per hour ($410), plus
1/2 the tips. One will work Tuesday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday. Most
drivers don't want to drive the bigger truck. It pays $11.25 per hour,
but there's no tips. This job is down to the warehouse and back daily.
The part that sucks the most is six days a week, six hours a day
($405). No benefits, just like the job I have now.
My dad says it is "experience" and I should do it, at least until
winter. My mom says keep my job and go to driving school, I can be
finished in 1 month with the Class B and get myself a better job than
$11.25 an hour.
Who's right? Take the money and the limited experience? Go to school
and take a huge chance?
Thanks for your help.


If you look around you might find a trucking company that will train you and
get you your license. Usually they pay for the school and you agree to stay
with their company for a certain amount of time. I know Schneider and Roehl
do that. I'm sure their are plenty of others.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Waste of Time or Career Start?
    ... I graduated from high school in June 2005. ... Since graduation, I've yet to find a job that was more than 35 hours a ... I interviewed for a new job with some driver training. ... W-4500 box truck with a 14' box. ...
    (misc.transport.trucking)
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  • Re: Waste of Time or Career Start?
    ... pay rent on that kind of money, if you like to eat and drive a car too. ... I interviewed for a new job with some driver training. ... W-4500 box truck with a 14' box. ... My mom says keep my job and go to driving school, ...
    (misc.transport.trucking)
  • Re: Questions about being an owner operator..
    ... But an O-O is someone that owns the truck and uses or pays someone to use it ... Think truck driver, but you have to pay all the bills ... but he will otherwise pay someone to drive the truck. ...
    (misc.transport.trucking)
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