Trucking job vs.factory job ??

Your welcome and I hope it all works out for you. You sound like a very smart person. You have a plan and a back up plan. Nothing wrong with that. It is good to have a contingency plan. At least you are looking at all the factors in play. I think you will do well and if you don't get what you want to begin with I would think that you have what it takes to get it. Hang in there!

 

your particular factory job may have had all those health hazards. working in any factory has its ups and downs. why then if you knew it to be so hazardous did you stay at the same factory for all those years...??

not all factories are dirty, stark, dank, and un-healthy enviroments. not all factories run 2 shifts, let alone 3 all day long. not all factories "require" an employee to stand up in the smae spot for the full shift. you gave only one example of a stark factory job, they ain't all like that. its still (i say) a much healthier and less stressfull working enviroment than breathing exhaust fumes much of the day when you are at the toll plaza's, or walking through the truckstop parking lots, or stuck in un-movable traffic, and those health concerns grow more evident during the summer months given the high temperatures, and the stiffling humidity.

 

Hey You are right, I only wrote about the place I work.

 

I once worked in a factory and i liked it but the supervisor was a jerk. I only worked there when i was young about 17 years old and the money was good enough for a person my age. That place i worked at was very clean as it was a place that made medical devices so cleanniess was a top priority. So its true that not all factorys are dirty but the bosses can be jerks just the same.

 

I understand you said you will be starting at a "New" plastics factory. I`ve been in plastics for years and there is a HUGE differnce between new and old plants in Plastics. I am a Lead Process Tech on 3rd shift. A new state of the art Plastic Plant is by far better. More than likely it would have a central loading system for material making material much easier. New Machines do for the most part what they are programed to do. I work on 15 to 30 year old machines that are worn out. My job is to get these ### to run within qualty standards with as fast of cycle time as posible. Robots will more than likely bring you the part and it will keep bringing it over and over and over. When I program a Robot I`m told to get it in and out as fast as I can and speed the Clamp up and speed the conveyer up and....you get the idea. I had it out last night with my Supervisior because he wanted to take advantage of an operator and have her do a two operator Press by herself. I finially let out some technical mumbo jumbo and told him I couldent do it.
Plastics for the Auto industry is all about the supply and demand. YOU DO NOT BANK PARTS. Big no no. Its all lean manufacturing. Run only this amout of this color and this amout of that. Its very stressful for me when an operator working their butt off ask me to slow a machine down. I have to say I cant. I can speed them up all night long but if I slow one down it has to be for a good reason. Factory work is ok for some people but not for all. Honestly my feet are shot from the steel toe boots 8 to 12 hours a day on concrete. My back hurts. In the winter I`m cold and in the Summer its 10 to 15 degrees hotter in the plant than outside. Second shift is the hottest by the way.
I`m looking forward to being on the road. I know its hard work out there to but I can do it. I`m feed up with the Factory and can sit and type all day long about it. Whatever Job one has, it has its ups and downs. Whatever you choose to do I wish you well. Your a Family man and I do respect that....I`m not. Good Luck

 

if the plastic factory thing doesnt work out, you can always go back to driving. The trucking industry isnt going anywhere.

 

I currently work at a factory. We make electric motors. The pay is good, started out at 14.40 p/h now up to 15.42 p/h. Supervisor is good, a bit snooty at times but good. The factory is clean for the most part however due to the CNC job I do I leave filthy every night. The hours are not the best, my shift works 3:30pm to 12am. (Basically I only get to see my family on the weekend. They're asleep when I get home and when I get up they're at school or work.) All workers start out on this shift; it usually takes about 10-13 years of seniority to move to 1st shift. The work quota is a bit high, which makes it unsafe. I've broken 4 fingers since September and last week my work partner broke his hand.

Gossip is rampant, whether true or not it spreads as the gospel. Drug use is common. If you like the people that work next to you then it's tolerable, however if you don't and they don't like you then prepare for a rough time. My work partner is basically a good person but arrogant, loud and redneck. There are social herds just like anywhere else and if the predominant group doesn't like you they make sure to give you trouble. There have been complaints of cars being broke into, sugar poured down gas tanks etc. Joke stink bombs are a constant hassle. Having to fix someone else's mistakes in order to continue your job is common. When the "big layoff" was announced many many people basically took a sour mood and let their work performance drop in order to "teach management a lesson." The production lines were backed up for about 2 weeks before being cleared up. The seniority people there work first shift from 6am to 2:30p. It is common to come in and finish up their work or have to fix problems they leave for 2nd.

The factory normally had an annual layoff in the spring when sales drop. However they have built a new factory in Mexico and are basically moving 2/3 of the work there. They are going to permanently layoff around 200 of us between March and June. Word has it that the workers in Mexico are earning 1.80 p/h.

I can say, aside from the layoff & high part quota, that as far as the company itself goes I've been impressed with and that they are a good company with good pay & benefits. However due to the "extra" crap that goes on with those who work there, coupled with the work hours I will do my utmost to avoid factory work in the future.

I read a post here from another TTR user that said "My worst day trucking beats my best day in a factory." I believe him.

 

and this brings up something else. you could be very sick, or dead, in your truck and no one would ever know. you could be in your truck for several days to several weeks before anyone gets "smart enough" to check out whay your truck hasn't moved.

now, at least in a factory, should you (god forbid) collapse and fall to the ground, there should always be someone around to either see that, or at least see you laying on the floor, in need of help.

given your recent health concerns, i think that you ought to stay put and give up any notions of driving, and being found dead several weeks later. think about what your family will go through if they cannot contact you for that lenght of time............................

i think i said enough.................don't you........???