If You Are A Rookie Looking For A Job

I was being sarcastic. I know where to go for good paying local jobs.

Problem is that I dont want to live in any of those places. So I do the next best thing. I work for myself.

Hurst:smt111

 

I figured, no one "wants" to live here. Even those who are here...

 

Why would anyone drive a truck for $10 an hour, that's crazy. You can make that much at Walmart here. I made more than that working in a carwash when I was 17.

 

There's a mentality of some of the southern (and apparently western too) trucking companies that if you need more than $500 a week, you must be living above your means. They have no problem not paying people. Guy in GA pays drivers $60 a day and that's it because he thinks if he pays them more, they won't come to work the next day.

 

the drivers must be desperate for work.

 

Yup. And they take advantage of the situation too.

 

Why do all OTR jobs think $1,000/wk is GREAT pay?? It's not terrible, maybe around $20/hr before taxes if you don't count all the time spent doing those things you don't count (copy?). Been out here a couple of years now and I'm just amazed at what people are happy with and what employers think you should just accept as normal, missed days off, lost nights with family, late pay, under pay... Etc. sorry not hijacking your thread, just feeling the frustration tonight when I told the boss last week her plan was not gonna work. It didn't... Which let me sit and think, the death of most trucking jobs! Lol.

 

I agree with you. I grew up in Wash DC. I made more money at 25 then when I first moved here to Fla. They say you have to pay for the weather here.

Out on the road when people ask where I am from, they think I am so lucky to live in Fla and they want to move here. I tell them all to come with enough money to hold them over. Dont come here looking for work. Yes there is work here,.. and yes you CAN find well paying work. But for the most part,.. most jobs pay somewhere between Min wage and $14hr.

People here have no problem taking advantage of desperate people under hard times. For them $10 or $12hr is better than $0.00hr. They do it until they find something better just like I did when I first got here.

Then you have companies that wont hire full time work. 15 - 20 hrs is all you get. My son is working his way through college,.. he works 15 - 20hrs at Target and then evenings as a waiter at an Outback. That way they dont have to pay for health benefits. Thank you Obama.

Rural places are not like living in a metro area. When I was 17 - 18 jobs were plentiful. I could fill out 10 - 15 applications and my phone would ring off the hook. I used to just not show up for work and go party knowing I could find another job in a day or two. I used to joke,.. "Where do I want to work this week"?

I worked for this company for 12 yrs here in Fla. I was making ok money. I hustled on the side when I needed more. When the housing market crashed they closed up shop. Sold everything. My IRA was gone, no vacation pay,.. just heres your past paycheck,.. have a nice life. I went looking for work. I figured with my experience I would have a job the same week. Nope,.. I got the same story from everyone. Sorry,.. I have 100 guys with just as much experience in line for work. Nothing for you right now. Or the ones that would hire me only wanted to pay $9 or $10hr. By the time I paid for gas to get to and from work I might have $200 a week left. Are you kidding? My kids and disabled brother were eating $200 - $250 a week just in groceries. They would tell me,.. well times are tough all over. This is what we have. I could make $300 a week going door to door with my mowers and still collecting unemployment. So naah,.. I know how to hustle. I'm not afraid of work. My family will eat.

So yeah,.. why would they work for such low pay? Well,.. some guys work just enough to go back on unemployment. They have no real ambition in life. Others are just having hard times and will eventually work their way out of the rut like I did.

Hurst:smt111

 

Naah,.. unrolling frozen stiff tarps or living in an area where you have to flip your wipers open to keep them from freezing to your windshield,.. thats not a place I want to call home. I've had my fair share of frozen water pipes, ice storms taking out the power and huddling around the pot belly stove or kerosine heater,.. 30 mins scraping ice off the windshield and pouring warm water to melt the ice off my door handles so I can drive to work. Watching my windshield crack up the middle and cursing myself because I had the defrost cranked up too high. Been there,.. done that.

I have mad respect for you guys that like it and choose to live in those places. More power to you. Give me my palm trees, sandy beaches, sunny days, green vegetation, rednecks, hicks and country folks,.. I prefer to live out here away from the hustle and bustle. Peace and serenity. And to think,.. I grew up taking the subway and city bus to school.

I run I80 during the winter months while everyone else goes south. I own a carhart suit that would make an Eskimo proud. Heck,..my load tomorrow is heading to Mills NC. Then I have a load taking me to Jersey. From there I could end up anywhere,.. PA, upstate Ny, Chicago, Gary, Salt Lake. I dont like it,.. but I run the frozen belt more than I like to admit.

But true,.. Fla ruined me from ever living in cold weather again. I know folks that love the cold. Not me. They complain about the heat. I have my usual reply,.. "I'd rather sweat in 90 than freeze in 19". For me anything under 50 is uncomfortable. 55 - 70 is good sleeping weather. Windows open. Its funny,.. I crank the A/C at night. I cant sleep in sweat soaked sheets. But during the day I am perfectly fine in 90 - 95 deg weather.

Hurst:smt111