Career Trajectory and advice

Came in here to share my little relm of success in finding good paying work. Struggling for most of my young life up to 35 jumping around job to job.
Until I was able to get into a cryogenic driving job in Albany, NY area thru a family friend he recommended me. This corporation headquarters located in Allentown, PA a worldwide company. His boss was very warey of the amount of jobs I went through. But John Denton stuck his neck out for me and 30 years later in Dec of 2024 I was able to retire.
From early on I did all the flavors of trucking trying to find what I liked, finally landed in cryogenics in 1995, and back in 1985 I thought the same thoughts but didn't persue then. I honestly don't think I, was mature enough for that position at that particular time in my life. Local satellite terminal ackually in Glenmont, NY outside Albany hired me, hauling nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen liquid trailers. Luckily I was hired
(thank you Herold McC) in may 1995.
Reason for my posting is in reading so much uncertainty and struggling for so many I thought I would encourage a small sector of driver to apply and improve your lives. The money is fabulous the work is clean, benefits are good, they supply all the supplies and tools. It all depends upon whether as a man or woman you can accept the requirements asked of you. Most can't because they are stringent, cryogenics are dangerous but knowledge is safety. Learning cryogenics is alot at first but sticking with it pays off. Normal training lasts around 4 weeks. Our company gave us uniforms, winter fire safety coats among many different supplies needed to do the job. Also you have computer work to be done in a timely manner. Those are mandatory. They were very liberal on your hair or beards, but be fore warned go to a customer that requires clean shaven face they will hand you a razer I mean sitting at the customer's site security will hand you razer and point you towards the bathroom. As a mature adult you would do as expected. The last 12 years was running team with my friend Scott O, we did hydrogen and then split off into argon with short bursts of oxgen/nitrogen thrown in to help out when needed. The money to be made in cryogenics is astonishing, we did team and each of us in the $150K doing hydrogen, doing argon was in the $135 to $140K. Regular day driving local was 100K to $120K depending upon how hard you work. There's a few local drivers that are extra hard workers in the $130 range. Load the trailers empty the trailers thats what's expected. Hooking up a hose isn't all that bad. Yes they have driver facing cameras forward as well. No phone use while truck is rolling. Any phone use while rolling and on camera is termination.
One thing I stipulated to management when the cameras arrived, "I will not change the way I drive, I have driven safe for all my career this far I don't intend to change.
I use my mug and eat behind the wheel listen to xm at night with earbuds. My driving within their requirements included my 100 Oz mug with ice and some snacks and foods in our refrigerator /freezer. We installed a microwave for food preparation. We as drivers also supplied xm for listening entertainment.
Why more men and woman interested in a life long career they can retire from don't have the will to inquire in these cryogenic driving jobs boggles my mind.
Good luck in your future endeavors

 

Thank you for the kind words.
Some history.
AP was the absolute best job I ever had and loved going to work. Got so much satisfaction working saving seeing an end coming in retirement. I was one of the regular guys short hair, no jewelry, no tattoos, wore company issued clothes every single day, pen protectors in both shirt pockets, two lights on belt, a real working geek. I realized very quickly that I was living the dream job lottery.
Early on starting working at AP I tried teaming on occasion helping out when other men on vacation. Being brand new trying to fit in, giving in to all situations was waring at times while on probation.
Teamed one other time with another work friend short time couple months. At 2013 position opened up on hydrogen I had hydrogen experience for couple months but not officially qualified, Scott was junior to me but ran team for many years with different guys along the years. We decided to team up because he had years and plenty of experience to help me get my qualification, sounds selfish, but wasn't my mindset.
I agreed to Scott if he helped me qualify I would repay the help by running the night shift. We talked about me trying day shift, tried couple times but couldn't stay awake. So I was the nite guy, oh my huge mug and some snacks and good to go. Scott worked days. We had so much fun, good talks, discussions, arguments, trivia, personal, worries, 70 hours a week really gives time for communication. Worked out great, a good partnership and a fantastic friendship.
Again, I thank you for your kind words.

 

Yes I completely agree, I did say this kind of work for select few. But yes this was my niche and when people find their particular job life is so much happier. I did frozen food was good multi stop from Brattleboro into NY over into CT, and MA and home.
NYC, Baltimore, Washington DC with paper products. Floor loads, am radio 100 electrical cord listen to talk shows while unloading. Do you have an idea how many people I angered listening to WABC 770 in Manhattan in the morning? Many. I had a beautiful wooden table top radio rich deep sound and an angry fork lift driver decided to make it thinner. After that I when to see receiver to put a claim in. That was a joke. He laughed. It was my fault for not putting radio in a place where it couldn't be touched so I own that zinger. But I do agree cryogenics isn't for everybody, but when people are up against it not knowing which way to go to find happiness I thought I would introduce this narrow slice of trucking to all that would listen.