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A New Opportunity, should I take it, or will I be a "job hopper"?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019.

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  1. Jan 23, 2019 #1
    BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

    947
    1,214
    Nov 4, 2018
    0
    Hey all,

    So I'm still a fairly new cdl driver. Got out of the military April 2018, went to work for ups freight right away doing p&d. Schedule got old after a while with the 10:15am start time and not gettting done til 9, 10, sometimes 11pm each night. Plus the whole contract negotiation didnt sit right with me. So I left there on good terms right after Thanksgiving and took a job with a beverage company delivering wine and liquor. The job is OK but I feel its not going to really broaden my skill set. Which brings me to my question. I have a job offer to run dump trucks, drop decks, possibly pump trucks, for a concrete construction company. I have no experience with the lo boys, chaining, running pump trucks, or dump trucks for that matter, but these guys are cool and have faith I will learn it. You guys think I should take the opportunity and run with it? I just worry about being classified as a 'job hopper'. Dont want that stigma following me around. I really feel that I can get on with these guys, get some great experience under my belt, then maybe catch on with a large construction outfit that does state work and all that. What do you guys think?
     
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    #1
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  3. Jan 23, 2019 #2
    ExOTR

    ExOTR Windshield Chipper Extraordinaire

    1,706
    1,893
    Jan 23, 2013
    Fort Worth, Tx
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    Do they offer a winter pay guarantee? What about rain pay?
    Lowboy experience is always a plus imo, but it also comes down to the money/benefits.
     
    ExOTR, Jan 23, 2019
    ExOTR, Jan 23, 2019
    #2
    bottomdumpin Thanks this.
  4. Jan 23, 2019 #3
    BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

    947
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    Nov 4, 2018
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    Not sure on the winter pay guarantee. The owner did say the guys are AT LEAST getting 40hrs a week right now. Summer time, they dont knock off work til 6 or 7. Not sure on the benefits. Dont think they really offer any. But I ave an eye on the experience Id gain.
     
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    #3
  5. Jan 23, 2019 #4
    Dick Danger

    Dick Danger Medium Load Member

    545
    766
    Dec 19, 2014
    Seattle
    0
    If my math is correct you're on your second job in less than a year. That's job hopping. You didn't say which brand, but if you weren't Air Force you should already be accustomed to be miserable, so I'd say look at Halliburton if you really want to broaden your skill set.
     
    Dick Danger, Jan 23, 2019
    Dick Danger, Jan 23, 2019
    #4
    stwik and BigDog Trucker Thank this.
  7. Jan 23, 2019 #5
    x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

    34,016
    42,139
    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
    0
    Overtime you will get.

    If its too hot or too cold etc or too wet etc you will sit a while. It's not you or company it's the concrete, blacktop etc that dictates it.

    Sometimes in our ready mix company we hibernated until sundown in the high summer 130 in shade before going to work pouring all night in the 80's when you have 20 people trying to sleep in the rock pile during the day without air condioning on the clock...
     
    x1Heavy, Jan 23, 2019
    x1Heavy, Jan 23, 2019
    #5
    bottomdumpin and BigDog Trucker Thank this.
  8. Jan 23, 2019 #6
    BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

    947
    1,214
    Nov 4, 2018
    0
    I'm in Jersey and am stuck here for at least another 10 years until my daughter is 18. If I was in TX, I'd be all over those oil fields right now.
     
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    #6
  9. Jan 23, 2019 #7
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,060
    180,038
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Find a job you can be content with and go for it. Construction jobs are ok, for the most part, but in the Northeast the unions can break your spirit real fast. If construction is what you really want, then go for it and have a tough skin.
    This company may have something to offer; they've been hiring drivers with less than 12 mos. experience:
    National Retail Systems - Official Site
    https://www.nationalretailsystems.com

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Chinatown, Jan 23, 2019
    Chinatown, Jan 23, 2019
    #7
  10. Jan 23, 2019 #8
    Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

    4,266
    7,381
    Aug 2, 2012
    Connecticut
    0
    From one veteran to another, thank you for your service.
     
    Puppage, Jan 23, 2019
    Puppage, Jan 23, 2019
    #8
    ElijahJohn1, McCauley and BigDog Trucker Thank this.
  11. Jan 23, 2019 #9
    Tombstone69

    Tombstone69 Road Train Member

    1,010
    1,346
    Dec 20, 2018
    Jersey shore
    0
    Driving a dump truck in Jersey is not going to help you much in the way of A experience,and 80k on 4axles is not fun.The low boy work usually goes to the top driver.If your not afraid of being a suicide jockey,there's a lot of fuel companies looking for gas haulers.Your home every night and the money is good.You'll need a tanker and hazmat endorsement.The company I spoke to was Torrissi.
     
    Tombstone69, Jan 23, 2019
    Tombstone69, Jan 23, 2019
    #9
  12. Jan 23, 2019 #10
    BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

    947
    1,214
    Nov 4, 2018
    0
    Thank you for the info. I had actually applied to a gas hauler job right before I got off active duty. But then that job came open with upsf so I jumped on that instead. This new job opp I have is running dump trucks, but also getting into step deck and low boy. Plus I can learn the concrete pump truck, too. Its not an overly big operation and theyre really hurting for guys with a cdl, so I think the opportunity to learn is definitely there if I want it.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2019
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    BigDog Trucker, Jan 23, 2019
    #10
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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