Thank you.

make a goal (to get your own truck) and it will all be worth it in the end

 

The thing is, a person is NEVER TOO OLD to go back to school. But only if they WANT to do it. I remember when I was in high school, we knew a 76 year old man who was long retired, (I believe from a job at the steel mill.) He had a diploma, but no further education. He had always wanted to be a preacher. So, he went to seminary, and AT 76 became an ordained minister. What a joy that man was to be around!

But again, it is only for the people who desire it. Like Dave said, I think we all know people who have some pretty impressive degrees, but are dumb as rocks.

But there is likely to come a time in EVERYBODY'S life, when they will wish they had "MORE EDUCATION!" And it may not even be a wish brought on by financial necessity, but by a need for "personal growth."

 

Hi TCMD, I feel your frustration, I do. It's just where we've come in society today, as there are so many bs'ers now, a piece of paper is required. For example, I'm 60, thinking about doing some part-time work, so I thought of a forklift job. I answered an ad for one, the person on the phone was probably half my age, the 1st thing he asked, "Do you have your forklift certification". I said, "look son, I've been running forklifts when you were in diapers". He said, it didn't matter, without the certification, he couldn't hire me. And I could list several others too, but my point is, as frustrating as it is, you have to play their game, and it's not easy sometimes.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4386027]Hi TCMD, I feel your frustration, I do. It's just where we've come in society today, as there are so many bs'ers now, a piece of paper is required. For example, I'm 60, thinking about doing some part-time work, so I thought of a forklift job. I answered an ad for one, the person on the phone was probably half my age, the 1st thing he asked, "Do you have your forklift certification". I said, "look son, I've been running forklifts when you were in diapers". He said, it didn't matter, without the certification, he couldn't hire me. And I could list several others too, but my point is, as frustrating as it is, you have to play their game, and it's not easy sometimes.[/QUOTE]

I really do not know how that fork lift or any lift situation works, as this IS what I have personally witnessed: The warehouse I work out of, has hired dock workers. They knew nothing at all on how to operate a lift. So after x number of nights, I saw the dock supervisor with a clipboard in his hand, giving a test to the new employee. He later handed him a piece of paper, which I can only surmise was a temporary certificate to operate. So why anyone would not hire a guy with experience and NOT test him right off the bat, is beyond me. As far as I do now, there aren't any schools or testing sites here in this area, and the only way to get lift certified is on the job. The one and ONLY exception to any lift certificate, is actually a state license for hydraulic lifts (I think it is actually called a Hoisting License), like cranes and such, and moffitt rigs, and each piece of equipment falls under a different category, like I think class A-B-C-D??. Which when I did a very short stint at a home improvement store, I was a driver that operated a flatbed/moffitt truck set up. My then boss told me he would give me the books on the details the state needs for testing, all I'd have to do is go to the state labor building and take the written test. But it was ONLY a written test, as the employer certifies one had the training on the job.

 

Amen!! I made it home for Christmas but it's not an easy job by any means. You got to want it and be willing to pay your dues

 

I am guessing that the fork lift operator's license laws vary quite a bit from state to state. And of course they may well have changed since I retired in 2008. But I've operated almost every type of fork lift you will find, in a warehouse, construction site or utility yard, here in Utah. I don't have, and never did have a fork lift operators license, in fact didn't know there was such a thing. I learned about it a couple of months before I retired and asked our safety director about it. His response was, "don't worry about it. You operate a fork lift on our dock, you are licensed." (Whatever the hell that meant. . .)

But I was never shy about hopping on a customer's fork lift and using it, as long as I had their permission. (And maybe a couple of times when I didn't actually say, "may I," but it was the "expedient thing to do."

 

Hi Big Don, things are just so different today. You can imagine my surprise when that kid told me that. It doesn't matter, insurance just calls the shots. Many times on my routes, if a customer had a lift, it was understood you use it. That's what it's there for. Or move pallets around the wagon for the next stop. I'm not sure you can do that anymore.
I may be forced to go back in a truck for a while(ugh) and I'm not doing any refresher course, or schooling, or trainer, I just won't do it. I'm hoping to find a small company, ( 3-4 trucks) where you talk to the owner, he goes for a ride with you and in 5 minutes can tell if you know what you're doing, and fill in couple times a week. It's going to be hard to find.

 

Hey SemiR, While I DO understand the need for certain "certifications", it still baffles me just how much of a PITA it can be to get your foot in the door ANYWHERE, regardless of how much you know. They have certifications for EVERYTHING now it seems like, I'm surprised they don't have a certification for people to question others about their certifications. It's ridiculous.

 

I know, I know, years ago there was a thing called "grandfathered" in. It applied to many things. My CDL is still that way, although it expires in 2018, at that time, I hope to be "fully" retired, I'm going to take a picture of me burning my CDL, and have it transferred onto a coffee cup or t-shirt (or both). Just can't do it yet, will be 60 in Jan. , so I have to play their stupid game, 1 more time. But that's ok, I still like to gear jam and boogy down the boulevard,( in long hood Pete), so we'll see.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4386548]I know, I know, years ago there was a thing called "grandfathered" in. It applied to many things. My CDL is still that way, although it expires in 2018, at that time, I hope to be "fully" retired, I'm going to take a picture of me burning my CDL, and have it transferred onto a coffee cup or t-shirt (or both). Just can't do it yet, will be 60 in Jan. , so I have to play their stupid game, 1 more time. But that's ok, I still like to gear jam and boogy down the boulevard,( in long hood Pete), so we'll see.[/QUOTE]

I dig the t-shirt/coffee mug idea and and I hope it all goes well for you sir. I see you're a fellow January baby like myself. Congrats on coming up on another year on this lovely rock! Keep on keepin on my friend.