On my way!

Work history isn't a problem, thanks!

 

Well, I got a local job as a cabbie, to help make ends while I wait to see what happens regarding WIA funding or whatever else...

Start my "training" today, as soon as the trainer gets here...When I interviewed, the interviewer said the trainer would be here at 0600; yesterday when I got "the call", *that guy* said the trainer would be here at 0700; when the trainer called, at about 0645 this morning, he said he'd be here at 0800...

Guess this is good "training" for going into trucking!

 

Ok, so it was actually about 0810 by the time he got there (I had been out-called and let know about the change to 0800), and apparently, the guy who picked me up, wasn't even the guy who was supposed to. However, he was just fantastic! Even though he has only been driving for this company about a month, he has previous (and seemingly extensive) experience as both a CDL and cab driver. Lots of good insights and tips.

Unfortunately, for the 4 hours we spent together, we only had one call--but it was a doozy. Sitting at the Metra station in Villa Park got the order to run out to Aurora for pickup then run flat rate to O'Hare Airport. The customer was even really cool!

After that I got dropped at the cab stand right by O'Hare to meet up with my assigned trainer.

He was pretty cool too, but not only claimed to be sick (w/sore throat) making me feel as if I was a burden to ask questions, but then also spent half his time on the phone, prohibiting questions.

Ok, I'll take the good with the bad, that's fair. I did get some "more of the same" instruction from him, and also he got told by dispatch to have me back at the office by 1430 (instead of the 1600 I'd been originally told) Of course, once that happened, we got a call, and no sooner did we drop that guy off, but then got another! By then, I was already late, but the 2nd call routed just right so that he could drop me off on the way.

When I got back to the office, I filled out a bunch of paper work for different areas' applications for chauffeur licenses (knew I should have followed my gut and brought all my same docs with me today, instead of just my little clipboard/notepad--my 15 year job/residence history and professional references would've come in handy!) and then I got my Cab!

It's number 333, which serves to reenforce that I'm only half the man my father is, and it's a 2003 Impala which, despite it's age, still seems to run well, the seat are very comfortable, and the radio and AC work fine, so obviously, that's not the problem...

How do I explain this?

I've rented enough cars in my life so as not to have any grand expectations, as to the contents of the gas tank, when taking possession...however, it's usually around a ¼ tank or so.

They give me my cab, and it's on freaking vapors, and as I'm talking to the guy, I tell him I don't have two nickles to rub together and he says "How could you come here with no money?" I told him "Because I haven't been working, that's how!" (I didn't bother mentioning that it was *their* pop machine that ripped me off for the last of my change after that long trip on Friday)

So he had the dispatcher (or front office--whoever) front me $10, which will come out of tomorrow's envelope and that got me up to ¼ tank. By the time I got back home however...

I've got a couple of "hopes" here however: One, I can hope that I get my UI benefits tomorrow (don't know because I still haven't heard the results of that phone interview, even though I still went ahead and certified on Monday), or two, I can hope to catch a couple of walk up/flag down, cash-paying fares locally, so I can gas the car up properly, then I'll be rolling from there.

Another problem is that, despite being only 10 minutes from O'Hare, I'm not going to be able to do pick ups at the airport right off, as this necessitates having these Chicago-required tax stamps, which are $4 a piece (sold in books of 10) and until I get some cash flow...

The hard part about this is that, for obvious reasons, we're not allowed to turn down a dispatch and although I'd know, going in, if it's to the airport or not, I wouldn't know method of payment...Don't really care about myself--I know how to get around, but I definitely DO NOT want to run out of gas with a customer in the car!

I may have to call them in the morning and ask what is the best way to handle this...

 

Ok, been a while since I posted, but I've been doing 16-18 hour days in the cab...

All of a sudden, my security company is showing interest in putting me to work! If this all happens, I won't be on unemployment anymore, but I also won't be eligible for WIA funding.

Because I despise them, no matter what, and because I truly want to get into trucking, I have no intention of letting this drop. What I need to start doing is looking into "company-sponsored" training, as it would take me too long to save up the money to pay for school on my own.

I know I've been referred (here) to Prime, but I've only had the time to barely browse their website, and I'd like some other options as well.

A few caveats: Although I wouldn't mind riding a bus for 40-some hours to attend training, I absolutely cannot afford to have to "relocate & establish residency" just to go through someone's training. I would need to get paid at least *something* while in training (I can live on remarkably little) and need housing covered for the duration.

Any thoughts/advice?