Thinking of hanging up the keys for good ( warning: long post)

Just get a cash job while you’re on unemployment enjoyment.

 

Just my .02 cents . . . . I have a degree in Public Health. I have 20+ years active duty. I have no transferable job skills. This job (CDL) provides me the opportunity to provide excellent income for my family.

My thought is keep the goal in mind. I have found nothing. Nothing.. that compares with the opportunity this provides.
But, you do you. Maybe you can find a better gig. I hope you find the best answer for you and your family.

 

I would look long and hard at that construction equipment hauling gig. If it is something you like, and the hourly pay is something you can live with it may be the deal you have wanted all your life.
As far as starting over with a new company, you may be # 1 driver after the first day, you never know and it does happen.

 

I worked in a cube farm for 15 years. I prefer to be outside the building. Good luck.

 

I do not know where you are located, or how much they slow down in he winter,but I ran a lowboy in the houston area for a smallish construction co. It rains there about as much as anywhere, and it sure never got me any time off. I started early and worked late, at least 6 days a week.
Finally about 6 months in, my boss called me in and griped about my overtime, and told me, that things were slow, so when I got my 40 in to go home. I had my 40 in around noon on wensday and left, made a stop at the first pay phone and told my wife to not answer the phone if anybody calls, and start getting stuff ready to go up to the hill country and the lake. lol
I showed up monday morning and was told to never do that again. lol
To be fair, I did help out in the shop some during the day, if there was nothing to haul, but that was just a few hours most weeks.

 

I worked for road construction outfits and considered heavy haul, but you're right, those guys work pretty hard, in all weather, even if the crew isn't working, always something to be moved. Be careful with that electrical, scary stuff, I don't trust it. Maintenance is a tough job too, " and see that bearing down in the pit, that goes out every month and the new guy (you) gets to go down in there",,just sayin', I've been there during my trucking lapses, and I always went back to trucking.

 

The boss is winding down because he is probably tiring of it too and his finances allow less income, if he has shared deeper info with you than with others it is out of trust.

Step up and run the company for him. You will both win. He will get the monnths off he wants with full pay. You will get the stability you want and youll get to make things right around the shop as to burdens and bennies and dues paying.

This march i was the new CDL that my boss [the owner] was reluctantly taking a chance on out of desperation, he had 2 drivers for 6 trucks. By late june rock got slow and instead of everyones check suffering, i went otr so they could stay busy. I self dispatched off my own DAT account and by july had beaten his best ever 1 week gross. When i came back there was a real problem in one of the quarries and i got sent to get a load. Stayed 12 hours, made a bunch of room, got my load and staged 2 more. In 2 more days i will have that quarry turned around, he was going to sell it and i think soon well have sold a bunch of rock and be ready to shoot it again. we are talking about me managing the whole gig so boss can have his life back.

I worked at a scrap yard before this, starting as a customer and finishing as a sales and export guy. 2 months ago i got offered to run it for more than i have ever made in my life x2. But im not moving back up north for any sum.

Anyhow, I am just a normal guy of average intelligence. Nothing special about me. I share these things to encourage others. Normal guys can win.

You are sitting on opportunity. Dont ask permission, just do what needs done a few times. Then say joe, youve been great to me, i think the world of ya and i wanna run this place for you, and if i cant im going to have to resign.

Thats about the best you can do.

 

Go to work for the company that hauls const equipment. Hourly pay and home at night. Because you got wife and kids, Avoid anything that puts you out on the road and away from them.