Thinking of turning down Conway Freight

Hey all Im in need of advice. Got a call from the local Conway terminal and the manager is very interested in bringing me on as an apprentice. I filled out the app months ago and never thought I would actually get a call back. Its not set in stone but the manager seemed very interested. However, I currently have a job and although its a Class B vehicle, I like the company. I am one of 4 drivers and we have about 20 people employed-its a small construction company and we are ALL names NOT numbers. We help eachother out and I have the greatest boss and coworkers. My issue is that Conway is offering $3 more an hour to start and I already know from this board that over time I could make some SERIOUS money doing linehaul work. The money and the experience driving a Class A vehicle are very attractive. But, I have also seem on the board that it is a company based on seniority and hours are not guaranteed. At my current job I never work less than 40 and often work 60 with overtime pay. I worked at UPS as a cover and seasonal driver and I know what its like in the union when you dont have your name on that bid list. We have a transfer dump truck that I havent been able to drive yet and thats my only way to get Class A experience down the line. This company gave me a chance out of school and I havent forgotten that. Its a tough call to make. The thought of pulling triples down the highway making the big bucks sounds like a dream but I cant afford to starve until I get seniority. Living on the California coast or anywhere here for that matter digs deep into your cost of living...Decisions...

 

Construction is a bit of an iffy thing.... the economy goes further down the crapper, they start laying off. But freight still has to be moved.

 

well its septic construction lol and we are very very busy

 

Well it doesn't sound like you want to move to C/F? If it was me just out of school I presume you are young? Probably single and all the things that go with that, But if I had to do it over again, I would certainly take this hook line and sinker, I would talk to the boss at the Crapper Construction Company and see what he has to say, lay it out to him, He should be unbiased and have your best interest in mind, Tell him you want to meet with him when he has a very slow minute as you need to talk to him about a few things and you need his undivided attention, If you tell it to him this way he will be thinking till the time of the meeting about what you have in mind, You will be able to spell it out to him as to where and what you want to do, He will know of C/F and this opportunity, I when I was the Owner of My Business I would have these meetings with the young guns, They would share their goals and desires and I would tell them what I would do, I think if you have a good relationship with him he will give his gut felt response and that would probably be "Go for it" Then he will ask, "You are going to give him a notice right?" If you want to tell him yes, If C/F wants you they will respect the 2 week notice, I would check back with thwm to be sure the position is still available. Just my 2 Cents worth!! Take It for what it is worth!

 

I dont even know where to start..Ill get around to posting an honest review of con-way freight eventually.. And if you're in Cali, cant run triples there.

 

Well doubles isn't bad either

 

the idea of having an inconsistent schedule worries me. i dealt with that at ups and i cannot afford it now living on my own. if i was guaranteed the hours i may hop right on it. how was it when you started at cf?

 

I worked Line Haul 1/2012 to 6./2012 at the East Brunswick,NJ terminal. I was number 24 out of 24 and I lost 27 days of work because I wasn't needed. I changed to P&D 6/1/12, hope things get better because I'M so far behind on bills it's going totake me a long time to catch up.

 

If you are happy where you are and it's working for you...stay there. I started at UPS (Parcel). Started in the "sort" and over 32 years worked my way up the ladder to one of those "dream" feeder gigs. The IBT has a lot less power now, than it did back then and UPS is just not the same company. Nor are any of the "nons" (non union freight companies) much better. All are fighting over a limited amount of freight in a bad economy. At Con Way (and I do know some long time friends who do work there), you will work the dock primarily when you DO work and the first of many years will not be great either. Another economic down turn and your out the door. If you like the people you work with and the hours suit you AND you don't have the added stress of the trucking business in general, then stay. When I retired from UPS I was well into the six figures plus annual income. My Western Conference of Teamsters pension check is quite good too. But, money is not everything. I had to learn that the hard way. There is no "glamour" or respect anymore left in trucking and #### little money. And for those that knock the septic business....it's a quite necessary stable business. The OP at least can have a life, something many people on these boards do not..