Roll off - a general question

So I was throwing my application at numerous companies and one of them responded and asked me if I have ever done roll off,after some conversation a comment was made like "some of the younger guys don't last very long with roll off" .I wasn't really too sure what he was referring to,maybe too much work,or too little pay? not sure,the guy was offering me 27% of the load,I didn't tell him I accepted the job or denied it...the offer is still kind of pending.I wanted to ask you the forum,from a guy who has never done any kind of roll off work what to expect,and what kind of work is done with that particular vehicle? what makes it a difficult job?

 

If it doesn't have an electric tarp, you have to carry a tarp that you roll over the can yourself. It can be a bit of work - you have to get into the can, make sure nails, sharp edges, etc. are pointed downwards so they don't rip your tarps up. You have to be very careful maneuvering that truck, too - you might be picking up and delivering cans into someone's driveway, where they have elaborate landscaping on either side of it, and won't be too amused to have a 22.5 treadmark embedded into it.
You often also have to be meticulous about offloading and onloading those cans, especially if you're on asphalt - get too hasty, and you could very easily end up tearing somebody's asphalt. You have to be able to say no to customers sometimes. For example, someone wants the can right smack up against their house - it's on you as the driver to know that, if you do that, you're going to end up hitting that house with the can the moment you tilt it up to load it back on your truck.
There is more to it than simply driving a truck, dumping off a can, and going about your merry way. If people don't last in it, it's because they're lazy ##### who don't take the time to do the job properly. It's not painfully complicated, though - take the time to do it right, you get faster at it with time, and soon, you've got it down pat.

 

so it's one of those jobs that requires immense attention to detail,but if you take care of the details then it can make your whole career if you want it to.

 

How it pays out really depends on the company and the pay rate. Roll offs were among my duties when I did C&D hauling. You might be pulling for a metal recycling company, trash company... they're used for a number of purposes.

 

I think he implied during the phone interview it was mainly construction trash I would be hauling.In any case 27% as a company employee shouldn't be too bad from what i see.

 

I've never known anyone running roll off who was paid percentage. I've seen it with dump trucks, but I don't see why it couldn't be done for a roll off. Sounds like you'd be doing C&D, as well. So you'd either be taking cans to and from construction projects, and dumping them at the landfill or transfer station, and there's a possibility you might spend time in a boom truck, as well.

 

took my road test earlier this morning for him,he said that right now he doesn't have a roll off available the other truck is in the shop.He's going to put me in a Class B dump to start off with until the other truck gets fixed,but he has to talk to his office worker that's in charge of those.Other than that,I'm pretty confident that I'm in with this guy.

 

Is this a true dump truck, with a Hendrickson/Camel Back/Chalmers suspension, or is it a road tractor with a dump body slapped on the back of it (those are pretty common here in CO)? If it's a road tractor, make sure you dump your air bags before you dump that thing.

 

not too sure,haven't seen the dump trucks yet,i'll get back with you after i've looked at them.