Wisconsin a good state for dump truck drivers?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Zonno, Apr 16, 2022.

  1. Zonno

    Zonno Light Load Member

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    What is the daily commute like during the winter? Does it take longer due to the roads icing over ((especially if I lived somewhere distant like Green Bay or Marinette)? And I thought I read Wisconsin is ranked 10h in the U.S. when it comes to snowfall? Of course, that may still be nowhere near as much snow as some other states.
     
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  3. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    Snow mainly falls to the north of Highway 29.
    Our plow guys do a good job but the brine and salt will take it's toll.
     
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  4. Zonno

    Zonno Light Load Member

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    If I were to make the move to either WI, IN or MI, would it be pretty easy to get hired? A lot of local companies want you to have a license in their state before they’ll hire you on (I believe I posted a thread on this awhile back). You can’t follow the “don’t move til you’ve got a job lined up” principal.
     
  5. Zonno

    Zonno Light Load Member

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    Bumping my thread to say that, a search on Indeed produces very favorable results in WI, IN, and OH (the latter of the 2 I like to think the winters are not quite as brutal as WI, though that’s not saying much…). Assuming I don’t mind the cold (big assumption, I know), could it be a good idea to look for a dump truck job in one of those states?

    While I have a Class A, all of my exp. has been in a tandem truck requiring only Class B (save 4 months of hauling wood chips), with no tri axles, though they do have 10-speeds. I’m currently earning $16.25 hourly and working 50-55 hrs weekly (sometimes closer to 65 hrs depending on if we work Saturdays or extra long weekdays). I started out at $13.50, got an annual raise to $14.50 and then to $16.25 this year. If I thought I would get that kind of raise every year, I’d be doing fairly well in a few years. However, people who have worked here for awhile have said that in the past, drivers typically get a 50 cent and sometimes 25 cent raise. This was to help compensate for inflation, as well as prevent losing drivers.

    So could I do well in one of those states?
     
  6. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    If you can't make here in Wisconsin you cant make it anywhere , Mcraes Mail Service is hurting for driver's here , starting pay is 34 a hour , if you can pass the post office background check.
    And 16.25 is a joke.
    Apartments are in demand , before I'd move anywhere id have a job and housing lined up first that's your biggest obstacle , you could find a job in 3 days with your eyes closed.
    I'd go to the paper mills here if i wasn't retired , a revered job and 10 years ago it took a act of congress to be hired.
     
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  7. Zonno

    Zonno Light Load Member

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    I wondered if they’d let me drive with my CDL from Georgia before buying/renting a place (stay in a motel until I found somewhere). I could also find a cheap apartment to rent for a month or two just to get my drivers license changed over, even if it’s way out of town from where I work (saw a few on Zillow).

    And remember I’m getting overtime, grossing around $1,000-1,100, so that helps (I hardly ever get 40 hrs or below, unless a big storm comes through). I’d assume I’d get plenty OT in a state like Wisconsin, especially as I have some experience with a 10-speed manual. I hope I’m not annoying by bumping this thread and continuously asking, I’m just trying to learn all I can.
     
  8. W923

    W923 Heavy Load Member

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    No idea on the situation around your area but central Illinois you would have to try to not get a job hauling asphalt and associated stuff though the summer bottom line is you can pocket 100k though the summer and goof off all winter or work as you want to make more $
    This is owning your own truck. It’s not that hard if you’re a decent distance from the state line because you can be a intrastate operation and save a lot of dot bs. Again I am talking about my general location but you don’t need a fancy truck just a good bed (mainly the floor) and it needs to run good… asphalt is a little bit time sensative
    Mechanical engines are best in my opinion as they are far less likely to leave you sitting.
    Just some thoughts
    Please do some research about your area
     
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  9. Zonno

    Zonno Light Load Member

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    Is there plenty of OT?

    Also people have mentioned the brutality of Wisconsin winters (and the seasonal dump truck work which is likely why it pays so high hourly), but are Ohio and Indiana winters more tolerable? I realize those states will also have far colder (and snowier) winters than what I’m used to, but how do they compare with WI? And the cost of living is lower in those states than WI or GA (my home state).
     
  10. leviant0107

    leviant0107 Medium Load Member

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    If you move to Michigan you’ll have a job running a dump truck in zero time flat. You’ll make 30+ an hour and a 100k. Cool thing Is we run all year around and most of our dump outfits have winter time hookups.

    A concrete mix company I know of starts at 32 an hour and during the winter you pull vans for universal bumping Chrysler docks for the same pay.
     
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  11. Zonno

    Zonno Light Load Member

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    Is this true for a tandem truck or is it primarily for tractor trailer dumps? While I do have a Class A, most of my experience has been in a tandem truck, save a few months of hauling wood chips. They may not hire me to drive tractor.
     
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