Is it time to move on?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by doireann, Apr 16, 2018.

  1. doireann

    doireann Light Load Member

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    Hi there,
    Long story short ; my hubby is a great guy, started working for a local union company in 2015, wasn't getting the hours, moved to a different part of the state with the same company and has been there for 2 years. He is still on call and as the company is in union negotiations, it seems that business is slow. I don't want to name the company. He had a bid last winter and it was good as he worked overnight (n the dock) but he had a regular paycheck. There are three guys ahead of him on the list.
    When he is called in daily, the paycheck is great. But the last three months have been not brilliant. Some weeks he works 60 hours, others he works 2 days. He is in his mid '50's, clean license good medical etc.
    My questions are ; do all companies start out this way, if he changed now, would it be worth his while or would he be back at the start again? We are hoping to do team driving, but I need to get experience and am moving to live with him full time in a few weeks. Strange situation ; he moved for more work, and I stayed to let our youngest finish high school.
    We are in North East PA. I also wanted to add that he has not had a paid vacation in 2 years due to the previous union contract. This on call gig really sucks as you cannot plan anything at all. Is all trucking like this? Or will we have some say in time off at some stage?

    This on call crap is just horrible.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
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  3. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    California.
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    I agree. On call or extra board can drive you nuts. But it's where almost everybody with a union job starts.
    It takes time to build up seniority but the wait is usually worth it.
    If he leaves for another company he'll be basically starting all over again. If the new company can offer him wages and benefits that meet or exceed what he has now and what he can reasonably expect in the future it would be worth looking at.
    At his age it might be better to stay where he is. In the ten or so years until he retires he can move up the board quite a ways.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
    rolls canardly Thanks this.
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Calex Logistics hires new cdl grads and runs teams to California. I've seen their trucks in Las Vegas; they have freight going there from PA:
    Calex Logistics
    58 Pittston Ave.
    Pittston,PA 18640
    If you want to check their website, you have to type in the website address. If you click on the website address that's on Google, you get a Chinese pump factory; their website address has been hijacked!
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
  5. RSB34

    RSB34 Light Load Member

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    I remember those days they are not fun at all that's how most union jobs start. I used to go to bed and tell my wife to set the alarm after she got the call for a hr before my dispatch time. I never knew what I was doing when I went to bed half the time. It's worth the wait if you can deal with it.
     
  6. doireann

    doireann Light Load Member

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    Nov 13, 2016
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    Thanks. Its good to know that its not us ; its the industry. Its just been a rotten few years and while things are coming together soon, we don't know which way to go ; team driving now, or get settled into our new lives and then do team driving in a year or so. I would start in a heartbeat, but I think my hubby is nervous about starting again. He dosnt mind the job, its just the on call stuff that is killing him.
     
  7. doireann

    doireann Light Load Member

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    Thank you so much. Yes, we are near Pittston and I think there is also an ODFL near us. Do most teams go by seniority also with their work schedules? Would being the last in, give us the hours and money we need?
     
    Bob Dobalina Thanks this.
  8. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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    ABF is brutal on new road drivers. Their road drivers near me live like that for nearly 10 years before getting regular schedules. If you want to team, check out OD. You will not sit.
    @blairandgretchen can elaborate. If I were him, I'd run there immediately. Later, you can join him and both make insane money.
     
    blairandgretchen and tow614 Thank this.
  9. doireann

    doireann Light Load Member

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    OMG there is no way we can live like this for 10 years. I think the fear of jumping is scary, but it maybe something we need to do sooner than later. With the kids in college this summer, there is nothing holding us back. I don't know how these companies expect their staff to live like this. If he knew at the beginning that there was no paid vacation time for 2 years, he would not have taken the job.
     
    Bob Dobalina Thanks this.
  10. Brickwall

    Brickwall Light Load Member

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    Try a non-union position. :)
     
    tow614 and Chinatown Thank this.
  11. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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    And under that contract, you only get 1 week after those 2 years of none. I started off with 2 weeks at my company (which is in the same business) and have not been laid off for a single day since I started in '15.

    I've heard the new contract is supposed to improve on the vacation deal and get the pay back up where it's supposed to be, but it won't affect the on-call stuff. I'd suggest he find out how much seniority the bottom man with a schedule run has at his terminal. That will be your rough guide to how long he'll live like that.

    I really don't want to encourage jumping without gathering all the info first. All terminals are different and Dayton, OH could be worse than yours. But I do know of bottom drivers at OD running 500-600 miles per night consistently. When things get slow, they are offered to either "bag out" (keep working, but stay in hotels the rest of the week) or stay home that night. From what I hear, it's not that common and at least they have that choice. They also start out in the middle of OD's pay scale.
     
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
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