Sanitation driver

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Chifte, Mar 22, 2011.

  1. Chifte

    Chifte Bobtail Member

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    Hello, I'm soon going to be going to a Sage school to earn my CDL A. I plan to find a half decent OTR company(preferably something local but no biggie, I'm single), earn my stripes for 1-2 years and attempt to get a sanitation driver job as it seems to have the pay and hours I'm looking for.

    I'm looking for some ideas on how the job market is when getting a job like that. Do these companies tend to hire from within? I'm thinking I should get my CDL A, apply for a driver position and a labor position and express my future plans with the company.

    I used the search for this type of question and it doesn't seem to be a popular question, that could be a good thing or a bad thing :biggrin_2556:


    I'm also contemplating working with Sygma, food service company I believe. I know 3 people that work for them, you get paid for the miles traveled than an hour rate because you load and unload. They tend to hire rookies too, any further opinion would be nice.
     
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  3. U4EA

    U4EA Road Train Member

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    By sanitation, do you mean garbage trucks?
     
  4. walleye

    walleye Road Train Member

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    I would skip the otr and apply for the local stuff,...

    Some local companies will even train newbies,....
     
    Freebird135 Thanks this.
  5. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    It's good to get your class A's and see the country. Then find a local job like you said. No matter how bad the economy get's, there's always a job in food and garbage.

    I ran a rolloff for a couple years and was one of the funnest jobs I had. There's all kinds of fringe benefits to them jobs. People throw away good things everyday. I worked 7-3 M-F for the county gov't. Those jobs are who you know, but private companies pretty much hire anyone. Waste Management has a big corner of the market and is probably where you are at. I had several friends that worked for them and they seemed to be happy. (www.wm.com). There are many smaller companies too. You just need to find out what runs into your local landfill.

    Places like Sygma, Coke, Pepsi are mainly for younger drivers because you have to hustle 2-wheeling everything with multiple stops. But a young person can make decent money and move up within the company.

    UPS or other LTL companies you can make real good living as they pay well.
     
  6. Freebird135

    Freebird135 Road Train Member

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    no way walleye.....you need atleast 30 years otr before local companies will even look at you...
     
  7. Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    there will ALWAYS be a need for garbage hauling..wither the local residential routes, roll off's, transfer stations..the thing here though, is many companies now have a set up where the trucks have "arms" that reach for the garbage cans, pick them up and dump them, requiring LESS manpower these days.

    as for OTR, once you get your license, i'd still recommend you got OTR if only for a mere 6 months. just about any garbage hauling job i have seen is advertised in the papers. from there, if you want to do a different type of hauling, they promote of transfer from with-in....

    it's regular work, regular pay, benefits....the downside is the holidays....you GIT to work the day before and day after holidays....

    try getting a 3 or 4 day thanksgiving day weekend.....or christmas eve, off as well....get it...???

    6 days, a week you will probably work in most instances, as the garbage never stops....

    but then again, maybe some will say "it's job security"...????
     
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  8. walleye

    walleye Road Train Member

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    Lol,................

    It's your story, Tell it any way yous want!!,..............:biggrin_2559:
     
  9. Lilbit

    Lilbit Road Train Member

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    Yep, that 30 years experience is stretching it a bit isn't it?:biggrin_2556::biggrin_25523:
     
  10. walleye

    walleye Road Train Member

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    I think Freebird is being a bit sarcastic,....

    Being as he started at UPS Freight at the age of 20,.....:yes2557:
     
    Lilbit Thanks this.
  11. Lilbit

    Lilbit Road Train Member

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    Sarcastic? A trucker? Never!:biggrin_25522::biggrin_2559:
     
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