any ex construction workers here?

I don't believe in teaching kids that either. I've always told my kids to 'work smarter not harder'. They know they are going to have to work their way up, but to use those lumps three feet above their backsides for something besides a hat rack. I have also made sure that they understand that no matter what trade they go into, they need to protect their bodies, even if they are doing work that uses those bodies.

 

Good luck trying to get into trucking!! Plan on going to school, whether you have experience or not, you have to have recent verifiable experience.
I have been trying for two weeks to find a company that will hire me based on my 20 years driving 13years OTR, with no accidents or violations. Without experience in the last year, they will not talk to you.
I'll be ###### if I will pay $3-4000.00 to get a job and make $300.00 a week for the first year or so. I'm making $275.00 a week(unemployment) now, so why bother.
Hopefully the construction will pick up again, and when the trucking companies are really hurting for drivers with experience, I'll tell them to kiss my #%%!!
Good Luck in your pursuits!!

 

Keep trying. There are some out there that will pick you up as long as you can pass a road test. I know one person that did that last year. It was a smaller company.

 

Iam currently in consruction right now, an have been for the last 17 yrs, and have been in the union all this time mostly all big schools an big comercial jobs money an benefits are good, but Im getting tired of it an all the bs that goes with it.My plans are to take early retirement at 55 draw my pension an get back on the road except I dont plan on running as hard as I did back in the days.

 

I was a contractor in MI and there is nothing here. its real bad. and now getting worse with what the auto industry is going through. I went to school back in sep. and now am driving for USA Truck. I am going to pick up a truck tomorrow and i have not missed construction for one second since I put my hammer down 3 months ago.

 

I have always encourage kids to consider college over working a Blue-collar job. Some kids aren't made for college so it's either Voc-Tech, the military, Construction, or God forbid...TRUCKING.....

 

Can't comment on the transition yet, have about 3 more weeks of school to get my license. I got my Fl. Building Contractors license right at the beginning of the slow down, my timing couldn't have been worse but I still have it and will use the knowledge for personal projects/investments as I have in the past if not for anything else. Anyway I am looking forward to this new adventure and as with anything else I believe we control our destiny and that the quality of the transition is up to the individual. I don't think we will be able to categorize a general transition from construction to trucking in any meaningful way.

I wish you the very best, a newbie from Florida.
HappyTrails

 

Hey Maverick

Can't you do a refresher course that would be alot cheaper? I know when I was in school a couple of the students came and done a 1 week refresher course. that entitled them to go to work.

 

Thanx DaltonGang, I am checking into a refresher course now. Somethin'
has to work.

 

I was in the Low Voltage industry for 15 years and I was getting tired of being laid off and getting thrown under the bus. Going to hit the road. I really don't see the Construction Trade turning around any time soon. This is in all catagories. Industrial, Commercial and Esp. In the Residential. I fugured that buy the time the Economy turns around in the trade. I will be making about the same if not more and the dues as a rookie will be over.

Good luck in your new career.