windsor ontario

Look into the "skilled|" construction trades. Better pay, pension and benefits than you'll see in 99% of the trucking jobs offered to you.

 

I took my training in Windsor. The company I learned from has since closed, but one of the instructors there opened his own school and I would recommend going there. If you want the info PM me. Perhaps you should look at it the way I looked at it when I was 19. Do it for a while for something to do, you will make enough for food and shelter and spending money, but you won't get rich. It turned out I loved it and now I have my own truck, trailer, authority. I am 25. You can do it for a while and look for something else maybe more local, more suiting to your needs at the time. The long haul road isn't for everyone, it is VERY difficult on relationships and is stressful as hell. You can jump into it, make good coin, jump out of it for something else, later on jump back in when you need to, that is the beauty of it. I know a few good companies I'd recommend starting with in the Windsor area if you do decide to do it. You will never have to be worried about being laid off due to shortage of work. The only way you won't be able to work as a truck driver is if you put too many tickets on your record, then insurance companies won't insure you.

 

I would stay away from Trucking,especially because you are young.
There is no future in this industry and YES people will tell you "that it is what you make of it"..........that is just another way of saying "How much you endear yourself to your employer will reflect in how they ultimately treat you".

Ralph is right. A young guy today should be looking at a trade.
Driving has become a dumping ground for people who have been "downsized" and the government needs to get them back to work ASAP. The market is flooded with drivers and wages are headed backwards.

The post above states among other things....."You will never have to be worried about being laid off due to shortage of work".
Drivers are now entering into an "employers market" which they haven't seen in over 60 years. Freight volume is down across the board and there are more than enough drivers to cover what feight there is. NEVER assume that you cannot be laid off by a trucking company especially in this economy and market.

The biggest problem drivers have is their complacency that the demand for them will not wane.

 

You are right. However I believe we are talking about two different things. The demand for GOOD drivers will never slow down. Ever wonder why some companies put their drivers in 379s when they could be saving money by putting them in a freightliner? Believe it or not, there are drivers that you can give them a 379, wide open, and they actually won't drive triple digits everywhere. They will also take care of the truck. Sure, they are far between, but they are out there.

Point being- if you give a good service you'll have work. And you will be paid accordingly.

 

Yeah, things suck in Windsor, there's nothing going on.

Get your butt down to the local union hall for the "Operating Engineers" and get signed up for the new highway job. Failing that there's concrete contractors doing pillars, there'll be more iron workers than Windsor has gas staions as quick as the new bridge project starts.

IF you don't like those choice then dust off your resume and look in the Western Provinces. They're begging for workers, young strong guys that are willing to work.

Enough of this "woe is me ####">Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go out there and get a skill!

 

Amen!

Listen to what ralph has said. You're 22 yrs old, you don't need to be at home with mommy cooking dinner for you and holding your hand any more. Go west young man...that's where the money and most of the good paying work is for someone like yourself, just starting out. You'll make more out there in 6 months than you would working for the likes of the cheap ### mega carriers. Not to mention learn more..

 

That 18-22/hr is double (or more!) than what you'll earn OTR.

 

$20 to $25 an hour is very likely as a swamper (general labourer) out west. If I knew what I know now at your age, I would have left yesterday.

I am from Cambridge, Ontario. I know how hard it is there.