Trucking job vs.factory job ??

I say this and with a point. Stick with driving. Trust me. I just got out from under a company called AI-Shreveport which did work for GM to stop bad part's from getting to the GM plant in Shreveport to save them from shuting down. It is and I mean it is not worth the time nor effort. I'm 21 and I worked that job sense Nov. 24 06' and as hard as they make you work it's not worth it. I made $11.25 an hour working the assembly line building the 4 and 6 cyl. for the Colarado's Caynon's and hummer's. That was the assembly line. The rest of the plant only makes $9.50 an hour. That was the biggest joke and waste of time I have ever................... *cuss* Plus staying on top of thing's pumping out 2 motor's ever 11/4 minutes. No. This is why I am going into truck driving. It the job with the most freedom and most money for that freedom.

For someone as young as me, I feel like I'm your age. I have a slipped disc in my back along with other back and neck pain and it's really not worth the time nor effort. I like to work but I've done so much of it sense I was 14 that I can't hardly handle it anymore. Plus you have to add on that GM is not doing so good. They are supposed to put a V-8 on the line and with gas the way it is, GM is going down so that will leave you out of a job later on. Please take my word and stick with driving. With 20 year's driving behind you, you would have a better chance anyway. In no way would I steer anyone wrong in this kind of situation because I've done been through it and I got an early start at it.

Take Sportsoutlaw's look at it. That concret and standing on it for 8-10+ hours a day will make you hurt. I did it for a while and I couldn't take no more. These are the kinda people that won't rotate you while your training until you get your station down. So I was on the go trying to learn all my stations as fast as I could. One I couldn't get up to par because of what they call takt time. It's an alotted amount of time you have to do the same thing over and over. Our's was 43 second's which inlcuded fro mthe time the motor started motoving from the station infront of you to your station, getting your part's and hitting the green button before your time limit was up. Trust me bud, it's nothing you want to do.

As far as over time. You still won't make as much. I worked at least 5 1/2 hour's a week's OT and didn't even clear $350 to 375. I got tired of working myself to the bone and not getting much of anything for it. Even though your not home much, I'll take a driving job over any manuel labor job any day

 

The only problem I see here is the advice you are giving on trucking. You have not even been to trucking school yet, and are not even old enough to drive for most companies. As far as the factory wage I make far more than what you claim he will make. Not trying to come down on you here, but this guy is wanting info to decide on which to do. Hard to give advise when you know nothing about trucking. After you go to school and start driving your opinions about driving might change. You got me cracking up about how long you have been working and you have done it so long you can hardly handle it anymore! You are only 21. What are you going to do when you get old?

 

do not always believe everything any trucking tells you. that particualr company you speak of may have you home "most weekends", so expect some weekend running at times.

now, look too at your "general health". do you have any physical health "situations" now like, high blood pressure, or urinary disfunction, or constant headaches, or allergies, or back aches. if you have any health "concerns" now, then trucking brings them up to the forefront real quick. the stress/strain of the life on the road will catch up to you, and don't forget, you said you are 50 now.

another poster asked a question like, "if you had to do it again, would you still get into trucking, knowing all that you know now"? i said NO, i should have stayed in the repair business. less stress, and a "regular" life. you are already "admitting" to leaving your grandkids "tears you up"..........it don't get any better in trucking, as you will miss many things like the kindergarten graduation, or the school play, or the school sports....................


it is indeed a tough decsion that i don't envy, but given your age (as well as mine), i wouldn't do this crap shoot ever again..........(trucking).

 

Well, I guess I did't give the full story. I have been in a truck and have so for some 6 year's with my step dad where I also got plenty of hand's on training including driving. No pun intended bud but I know what it's like. I've grown up around truck's as most of my family has had something to do with them in some form or another weather it be mechanicing to driving. I dunno, I guess even though I'm still young, labor has added a lot to the back problems I already have. Don't get me wrong now, I love to work and I'd rather be working than sitting on my duff at home posted up in front of the TV. I was just making the suggestion of saving him on wear and tear. Ya know. But hey, I'm just a youngin'.... What do they know, right? Sorry guy's.

 

I understand what you are trying to say, but you are 21. Your 6 years of training with your stepdad put you at 15 years old when your training started. You might have a little insight on driving, but it is not the same. I have a cousin who is an eye surgeon. I grew up around him, but I don't advise people how to perform eye surgeries. There is a difference in knowing something and knowing about something.:smt023 Time does a lot for a person. Twenty five years from now you will understand what I am saying. As far as the wear and tear; a life in a truck will do that as well, but you have not found that out yet.

 

Here is a thread about that on here. This is the link. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ucking-jobs/18049-driving-garbage-trucks.html

You might want to read up on it.

 

Another thing to consider as a sub-contractor you will not have a company matching your taxes. You will pay their half and your half filed quarterly. Check is getting smaller all the time.

 

I read this post last night and was thinking I have to have something to add. I have worked at the same factory for 31 years now. I have wanted to quit and drive truck for most of those years. I don't think working in a factory is as healthy as prodriver thinks. We have temps from 10 to 20 below 0 to 120 and hoter. We breath coal dust,lime dust,sawdust,asbestos. We have greenliquor, blackliquor, boilergas and all kinds of nasty stuff that can and does kill. WE work on concrete all day long. I work all 3 shifts, weekends and have one day off a week. But I make pretty good money. That is why I stay. I wanted to do something else for the last 10 or 12 years I am going to work yet so 3 years ago I took some time off and trained with a company and got my CDL and started driving. I loved it. But I went back to my old job before my vacation time ran out. I think it was the money. My first couple years I would be making about half the money I make now. And working twice the hours. But that would be ok because like I said I loved driving. My wife wanted me to do it because she saw how much I liked it. Maybe I was just afraid to do it. I have been reading posts here for a year now and come to the web site just about everyday to see what is new. There are many good people here that will give you their opinion about just about anything. I think you just have to do what is in your heart to do. I am going to do it someday.