Ziggystyles

Join Date 07/2004

Job Offer part 2

HA!

Well I havent posted anything since last week when I got my job offer. Figured I would wait until my physical came and went.

And so I sit here with my DOT medical card, meaning I passed.

Woke up this morning, went to a place for a drug test, then zipped across town for the DOT physical, which took about a half hour or so. Then ended up doing another drug test.

BP was my main concern and that was 120 / 84. No issues there. Im not diabetic as the last test proved so. Didn't check my cholesterol, but that has never been anywhere remotely of an issue.

I did well on all the tests, passed and was on my way to take and pass the permit test for my CDL. I was confused about something so I need to go back in tomorrow and take the rest of the testing.

So I talked to my boss, the guy that runs the account last week. I will be running a dedicated route five days a week to dealerships and auto parts stores in my neck of the woods and northern UT. Wake up...get the truck and swap trailers with someone who comes to drop my trailer off...then go west. Make various stops...transfer my remaining load to another truck waiting for me over there in UT, then I zip back home and call it a night. Rinse and repeat the next day.

As far as the physical demands of the job...I figure it will be more than normal for other drivers as I will be unloading the truck myself, instead of having the reciever do it. I will have a pallet jack and push and pull...etc the load off the truck via a lift gate. Thats no problem...the only issue is getting the thing moving. I should go down to the local truck stop and take a look at the truck and just take a looksie. Did that last week with Marcie, but felt like I was snooping a bit...even though all we did was just drive up and look at it.

I get paid a salary, by the week, not by the mile. Ive been trying to crunch the numbers in my head...because technically I don't get paid much per mile, something around 30 cents or so. However, I only work 40 hours a week compared to the 60-70hours that many truck drivers run. So I figure that in a sense, Im making more too...making the lower end of the average starting salary for inexperienced first year Over The Road drivers and working 20-30 hours less a week ontop of that.

So right now Im just waiting for my birth certificate to get here. I misplaced mine last week and for the life of me, can't find the danged thing. My Mom went to the courthouse over lunch and overnighted me another one....Overnight in Wyoming is 2 days....argh. Then I need to go and get my combination and air brake test taken too before Friday and sometime I will need to take the HazMat as well.

Im not sure where Im going to be taking the test for my CDL...I imagine it's going to have to be up here, but I don't know how they are going to work that out with a truck and all. Hmm. Time will tell.

Locked Post

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

Congrats.

I hope this new career path is a good fit for you and Marcie.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Thanks TW,
I feel silly not using my degree, but there simply isn't anything out here for me to do. I could sub (which the Workforce center thinks is OK..hence their denying me any help for schooling), but we wouldn't get by. So I don't know...Id still like to get back in the profession if possible, but we will see about that. After I get some time in here, I can get a local job with the oil companies and make some pretty good money too, not that I'm all about $$, but there are opportunities out there.

I figure that down the road, I can have some money saved up and maybe start my own Owner Operator gig, Id be happy with that...but from what I've read, that is getting harder and harder to do lately.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Oh ye of little faith.

Successfully updated karma reason!

I feel silly not using my degree, but there simply isn't anything out here for me to do. I could sub (which the Workforce center thinks is OK..hence their denying me any help for schooling),

Ya know, while I support the idea of providing money to help pay schooling, I have to back them on this one, Ziggy. I think once you've got a Bachelor's degree, Workforce shouldn't pay beyond that.

Heck, the workforce center here will only help up to the Associate's degree. I'm glad to have that much.

Successfully updated karma reason!

What is workforce?

Successfully updated karma reason!

texas,

assuming it's the same in Wyoming, state agency that helps with job placement by helping to fund training.

One of those programs that is vastly underutilized.

Successfully updated karma reason!

That is cool. I had never heard of it before. Or I had and didn't pay attention.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Gideon,
I think that you are right in a sense that their ability to help should be limited. However, the answer I got from two different workforce agencies was different from each other. The gal at the center in the town I moved from, had no problem whatsoever helping me and getting my application going because I had a skill, but couldn't use it. And if I can't use that skill...then Im stuck and still unemployed. Her position was that, if I can't get a job in my field, then I could get funding assistance through them to gain another skill, because if anything, its another skill I could fall back on.

Out here, I had to search for two weeks for jobs in my field and document everything. Then I went back and was told to search within a 90 mile radius. I did and went back. They called me last week saying it was turned down and that there were jobs available...subbing. Somehow...they think that my subbing on the off chance I get called will be sufficient. And when I mentioned how unlikely it was for me to get a job during the school year, the slim chance of being called daily to sub and make 50-90 bucks a day subbing (thats the range), the undependability (?) of steady subbing...and the fact that I would be out of luck come next June...that didn't seem to matter.

The gal in the old town told me that this didn't make sense because I would be forced to take a significant reduction in pay, something which they don't expect of their applicants. Plus its not steady or dependable.

My concern is that I couldn't find a job in the area using my skill, and we just simply can't live off of my working a min wage job. There are TONS and a half of jobs out here for the oil industry, but nobody trains for CDLs. Well some do...but driving is a small part of the overall job, and the rest of the work is insanely physically demanding. So Im just stuck in a rut.

Personally, I think that if a person has a skill and can't use it, at least staying within the area of their last wage or salary, they should get help (partial or full) for funding. I know I would have no problem with the old town because we joked about my 'moving' back there to the trailer just to get applied through her because she was certain it would be no problem.

TW,
Out here it's called the Workforce center, or something like that....basically the unemployment office. Help with getting people jobs, funding, making resumes....etc.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Haha. Well that shows how much of a dunce I am.

When the kiddos get older I am sure this is something I will have to look into since I have not worked (well, a paid job, LOL) in many years.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Most bosses are assholes because they want you to do the job they're paying you to do, and you don't want to.

Good luck with the trucking. I'm glad you passed the physical. It seems you weren't worried, though. I recommend reading MasonM's blog about trucking, he seems to have a good idea of the attitude that's needed, and it's usually a good read regardless.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Sabrina, if you faced the facts, you would realize that all you have to base your opinion is what you read from what I selectively write.

There is a shortage of teachers in many parts of the country, not all.
I could spare myself the typing, but you could continue to believe that you are right and that you know more about my job situation last year than I do, which in itself is rather amusing. That and I like to hear you complain about my diatribes. Such a fun word!

Now, I could change who I am, but why. In all my life...I have never met someone so much against me as you are. You are filled with such a negative attitude towards me and have so much hatred and angst against someone you only read about...its amazing to me. All you do is base your thoughts on what you read, fail to take in anything I say when you make judgements, and you continue on, keeping on your own path of destructive ramblings.

Now again, lets look at some facts.
1 there are 48 districts in WY compared to 138 in VA. That means each school district up here covers an area of about 2000 square miles...compared to the 300 sq miles for each VA district. Richmond alone most likely has quite a few in the city and surrounding burbs. With that in mind districts are few and far between out here. In my area alone, there are only two districts, the nearest ones are at least 90 minutes away in any direction.
2. I didnt apply to any WY school district this summer. I applied to MN districts and since my resume and work experience does not stand out because I have the same experiece as many other teachers...it doesnt go to the top of the pile. If I had some graduate courses or coaching or other extra curricular experience, that would help me tremendously.
3. These 2 districts that are in my area are places I applied to AFTER the year started, so my chances of getting a job during the yeare slim to none. Even so, if I did, it would only be a one year position and I would be tossed out into the pool of applicants again (i was told this specifically).
4. By applying to only 2 districts, my chances are very low that I will get a job teaching. Most teachers put out applications to many many districts (my mom always reminds me of how she sent out 50 one time). Most likely if you get a job as a teacher, you will end up moving. Not true in all cases...but many. At the same time, applyin to other districts would require me to move, which simply isnt an option as my wife already hasa job in her field.

Moral of the story? No matter where you go, there you are, and this includes the job market. Why should you be supported by the State while you seek yet another degree or technical training? There is plenty of work in your field. The fact that you can't seem to avail yourself of it indicates a problem with YOU, not your education, training, or skills.

We did move here and yes there is a job market. However in my field, that job market is full and not taking applications (I checked and applied where I could for any potential openings). There is NOT plenty fo work in my field in the area I live. As a matter of fact, there is NO available work whatsoever in my teaching field outside of subbing. And I've already written about that.

The fact that you can't seem to avail yourself of it indicates a problem with YOU, not your education, training, or skills.

This reminds me of something my boss said during one of my meetings with him this past summer. During our 'talks', he mentioned at one time how he felt let down by my previous employers. Apparently, according to him, they were all lying about me when they made their references. There are two options:
1. That is true, that the three administrators (2 principals and one asst. principal) were totally lying when they gave me a reference. Mind you, 2 of them were ones I was going to return for work in Vegas had I not resigned and moved to MN, and the third was my MN administrator who I worked for and my position was cut due to lack of funding and offered me a position that next fall.
2. Those people who I worked with, were telling the truth when they gave me a reference (both written and over the phone with him during his screening process).
You seem to be the person who would lean towards #1.

Most bosses are assholes because they want you to do the job they're paying you to do, and you don't want to.

Some people can be pricks. Just depends. The trucking industry is very hard, depending on what you do. Many companies have huge turnover rates (over 100% each year). It depends on many factors, one of the biggest is your dispatcher and how much they can keep you moving. I've been reading into the biz and following on some forums for the last half year or so and it is surprising how many companies out there work.

Good luck with the trucking. I'm glad you passed the physical. It seems you weren't worried, though. I recommend reading MasonM's blog about trucking, he seems to have a good idea of the attitude that's needed, and it's usually a good read regardless.

I was worried about my BP because I hadn't taken it all summer as Im no longer teaching (was the reason I took it). Not a good idea, but the drugs cost $$ which I dont have. Although under our plan with the new district....2 bucks! cant go wrong with that. I do read Masons blog almost daily, good stuff. Although we are sort of opposites too. I think he works for a smaller company (I think...not sure, dont think he has mentioned it), where I will be working for a national comp. He probably gets paid per mile or a percentage of the load where Im getting paid weekly. Hes out a lot...Im home daily with two days off a week. He kind of runs up down and here and there, where I will be doing a 450 mile run each day. Still have lots of things in common.

Good luck with truckin'. And do blog about it often and honestly. It will be interesting to see how well it suits you...or doesn't.

I think I will enjoy it...always something I have been interested in and there hasn't been one job I have hated because as long as Im learning something...Im having a blast. Ive been smiling alot more this past week with that job offer, even with the fact that I will be running a dedicated account too and this will be a unique position compared to many other trucking jobs out there.

Only hurdle I have now is my motor vehicle record. I got a ticket in NV with my MN license for failure to obey a signal. NV shows up clear (when I talked to them on the phone today) and so is WY. MN however is showing that NV ticket as pending still so Im stuck in a rut until MN fixes it, or NV comes back with no issues. On top of that, MN is showing Im clear when I talk to them on the phone, but not according to my DACs report. Jeeze.

I was thinking of doing a daily blog like Mason does...but I figure it would be rather bland as Im running the same route every day. Time will tell though.

Successfully updated karma reason!

cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

I have to say your claim that you couldn't support your family with a minimum wage struck me as odd. Doesn't Marcie work full-time? Do you really have to DINK it to live in the US?

My mum worked full-time as a teacher while my dad was doing his PhD (and a little from the family trust, but not a lot really - not even as much as Maccas would have paid him). And they had three kids under 6.

It can be done. If you really want to get your Masters or PhD and get into academia, go for it. In 20 years time do you want to be sitting back in your professor's office doing something you love or do you want to be sweating over a dead-end trucking job?

Successfully updated karma reason!

I have to say your claim that you couldn't support your family with a minimum wage struck me as odd. Doesn't Marcie work full-time? Do you really have to DINK it to live in the US?

Cacto,

The problem is with their preferred standard of living. They bought a brand spanking new 4 bedroom double wide trailer they're still making payments on because they wouldn't have anything less, Ziggy drives an expensive Honda Goldwing motorcycle, and is eyeing another for his wife, all of their appliances have to be brand new and right now.

If you saw the extravagant "gimme and gimme now!" lifestyles of the lower class in this country, you'd know why some of us are exasperated. To be poor around the world means to be underfed, undernourished, and without adequate clothing and shelter. To be poor in America means big screen TV's, X-Boxes, new clothes, new cars, and most certainly, cable TV and the Internet. Marcie and Ziggy are hardly unique in their inability to stretch a budget that is WELL in excess of the median income of this country.

The point is, you're right, it CAN be done. But Marcie and Ziggy have demonstrated repeatedly that they WILL NOT sacrifice their standard of living for long term goals.

Successfully updated karma reason!

If I had someone working for me that I couldn't stand, but could find no legitimate reason to get rid of, you can bet your sweet bippy I'd give them a glowing reference if they were seeking work elswhere. However, once that was accomplished, and they no longer worked for me, any further references would be brutally honest.

Well, lol I dont even know what to say there. Of all the places I've worked, all the good evaluations and praise I have recieved for my work, work ethic, and overall attitude....every single one of them must have been lying straight to my face. Ill be damned.

I have to say your claim that you couldn't support your family with a minimum wage struck me as odd. Doesn't Marcie work full-time? Do you really have to DINK it to live in the US?My mum worked full-time as a teacher while my dad was doing his PhD (and a little from the family trust, but not a lot really - not even as much as Maccas would have paid him). And they had three kids under 6.It can be done. If you really want to get your Masters or PhD and get into academia, go for it. In 20 years time do you want to be sitting back in your professor's office doing something you love or do you want to be sweating over a dead-end trucking job?

Min wage out here in WY is about 5.15 / hr. Granted, there are lots of good paying jobs out here in the oil, and other industries. However, I have no experience in those areas. While I have worked in various jobs in my years, I don't feel that I have enough experience for many of the jobs out there either. We also have lots of expenses that we have to take care of so its a bit on the rough side at the moment.

I would like to go for my masters, but I don't have much experience and I think that if I did, it would actually hurt my chances of getting a job in the future if I went after it. I will have to make some phone calls and see what some higher ups in the field say about it.

As far as the trucking thing...who knows. Like I said before...if I down the road can have enough saved up...I could very well start my own thing...just need to find a niche though.

The problem is with their preferred standard of living. They bought a brand spanking new 4 bedroom double wide trailer they're still making payments on because they wouldn't have anything less, Ziggy drives an expensive Honda Goldwing motorcycle, and is eyeing another for his wife, all of their appliances have to be brand new and right now.

Lets see, a year ago when we moved here, we had to sleep in the car and rental truck for the first night because the hotels fill up so quickly. The 15-20 motels in town. The second day, we reserved the room early in the morning and that was the only way we could get a room. Since then, its the same thing 5 out of seven nights a week as oil field workers stay in hotels overnight.
For those that are more long term, they buy homes. There arent many homes in the area for sale, at least not at the time, and because of the huge housing shortage, the prices are very high for what the homes are worth. The only option I see you probably recommending is renting an apartment. 3 bedrooms go for quite a bit more than we are paying for our trailer and lot rent. So, we got our own place, and because of that, you bitch. Time to get over it Gideon.

Oh yeah, also...never once said I was going to buy my wife a Goldwing. Might help if at least you had your facts straight.
And yes, I do own a motorcycle. Its been three years now. lol, three years and you still bring it up.
All of our appliances? You mean...the washer and dryer we bought? Is that 'all' of them? Because 'all' of the other ones came with the trailer. Don't count the microwave, as I have had that for about five years.

Thanks for the morning laugh though.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Min wage out here in WY is about 5.15 / hr.

Umm, wrong. They're not allowed to break federal law and set the wage below the federal mandate of $5.85. Seeing how that was HUGE news, especially on JU, I cant forgive your feigned ignorance on this one.

Show me a place in WY that's paying $5.15. You'll have a major lawsuit.

Oh yeah, also...never once said I was going to buy my wife a Goldwing. Might help if at least you had your facts straight.

Uh, yeah. You did.

Now I just need to save up and get the wife a bike....muwaahaaa

First comment in the following article:

WWW Link

(OK, technically a Silverwing. But you WERE discussing getting your wife a new bike. Next time you call me a liar, get YOUR facts straight first!)

So, we got our own place, and because of that, you bitch. Time to get over it Gideon.

No, it's no sweat off my back, really. I am just stating the FACT that the only thing keeping you from continuing education is your insistence on an insane standard of living. I'm not the only one who's noticed it, ziggy.

Time to stop making excuses and fekkin' grow up, man!

Note to Gid-- are you interested in running a pool in which we bet on how long it takes Ziggy to start looking to buy his own truck, taking on at least another 100k or so in debt?

hmm, sure...Daddy needs a new iPod!

Successfully updated karma reason!

By the way, ziggy.

I find it pretty danged disgusting that you TWO make as much as you do, yet you're whining because the government won't pay for ANOTHER degree for you.

The only thing about being a professional victim, ziggy, is there's a lot of competition for the jobs!

Successfully updated karma reason!

Why does a couple with no children need three bedrooms? Or four, in the case of that brand-new doublewide?

Simon and I rent a two-bedroom house, no basement or attic and only one bathroom. We share this space with 2 large (inside) dogs and 3 cats. Our combined income is close to 50k.

Two-bedroom flat, close to Dublin city centre, expensive.

No pets, just myself and my flat mate (who is a student from a third world country and only allowed to work half time). My income is well above average, our "combined income" (in the sense that we can base rent payments on how much we have is also still above average.

We occasionally add a third or fourth flat mate, when a friend of mine wants to work in Dublin for a few months, or when my flatmate's cousins need a place to stay for a few weeks.

I am thinking about buying a house. But I could not justify more bed rooms than I could actually use.

LW, if you are close to 50K, your rented house seems all right and not too much for two people with pets. I am making a mistake by living in an expensive part of the city, but I just want SOME luxury (and I can afford it).

Successfully updated karma reason!

Why does a couple with no children need three bedrooms? Or four, in the case of that brand-new doublewide?

The design of the trailer appealed to us. Seemed more homely. Not a good reason, but I guess we wanted to live in a place that felt like a house / home.

Note to Gid-- are you interested in running a pool in which we bet on how long it takes Ziggy to start looking to buy his own truck, taking on at least another 100k or so in debt?

Yeah Id like to be in on this too. I don't see it happening for quite a long time.

I thought you guys rented a place in the new town, did I miss something? You bought another trailer?Hahah.

My comments were towards Gid in regards to last year. We do live in a 2 bedroom apt right now.

Umm, wrong. They're not allowed to break federal law and set the wage below the federal mandate of $5.85. Seeing how that was HUGE news, especially on JU, I cant forgive your feigned ignorance on this one.Show me a place in WY that's paying $5.15. You'll have a major lawsuit.

Link

(OK, technically a Silverwing. But you WERE discussing getting your wife a new bike. Next time you call me a liar, get YOUR facts straight first!)

I did...you said I was getting her a Goldwing.
"Ziggy drives an expensive Honda Goldwing motorcycle, and is eyeing another for his wife"
Second...the Silverwing is the silverwing is a scooter. Semantics I know...
Third...I mentioned how I need to save up for it. got something wrong with paying cash?

I find it pretty danged disgusting that you TWO make as much as you do, yet you're whining because the government won't pay for ANOTHER degree for you.

1. Im not employed. So our income is less than we made last year, even though Marcie got a raise.
2. A CDL course at a tech school is not degree course.

Successfully updated karma reason!

I am _very_ bad with budgeting.

But it turns out that most things I want are not really that expensive. I have no car, no bike, no really expensive toys (my iMacs and my Macbook are not that expensive), and nobody that depends on me.

I do spend a ridiculous amount on food, because I eat in restaurants a lot. My summers tend to be very expensive because I spend the summers in Israel to study Hebrew. And I like buying geek toys like cameras (1), PDAs (one from HP), and Nintendos (1, with new Super Mario Brothers) and books and DVDs.

That's it.

But I have always found that it is easier to make money than to save it. That's one problem. I have never learned to stop wasting money, because I always managed to make up for it.

(I was unemployed for six weeks a few years ago but didn't collect any welfare or anything. Didn't seem right.)

Successfully updated karma reason!

and is eyeing another for his wife"

Ziggy,

I would expect someone with a teaching degree to have reading comprehension skills. Since apparently this wasn't taught at your college, let me explain. "Eyeing" isn't "getting".

Now, your semantics because I misstated the MODEL of the TOY you are considering are largely irrelevant. But I'll let you stay in your little delusionary world.

1. Im not employed. So our income is less than we made last year, even though Marcie got a raise.
2. A CDL course at a tech school is not degree course.

1. You are not employed because of mistakes YOU made in your teaching career. It's time you take responsibility and stop blaming everyone else for your failure.
2. I am quite sure the government paid the lion's share of your teaching degree. And I agree with that. But the FACT is that you are not incapable of doing the job for which you've received the degree, you just choose not to take employment options available to you.

How many degrees should the state pay for, ziggy? Nine? Ten? Twenty? And why should the taxpayers have to pay for YOUR identity crisis?

You're a feckkin' adult already. ACT LIKE IT!

Successfully updated karma reason!

LW, if you are close to 50K, your rented house seems all right and not too much for two people with pets. I am making a mistake by living in an expensive part of the city, but I just want SOME luxury (and I can afford it).

but see, there's the difference. You can afford it, Ziggy and Marcie cannot.

They feel that fresh out of college they deserve all the trappings of middle aged professionals. And they're gonna get it, by golly!

Successfully updated karma reason!

Gid-

There's a huge difference between a Goldwing and a Silverwing. The color for one.

Also, a family with no children and working two jobs should be able to choose their own standard of living, and the government should kick in for the needs. I mean, who can afford food these days? Get on food stamps and WIC! Who can afford education? Have the government pay you for it! After all, you can't get a job with just a 4 year degree these days.

Ziggy-

You should look into subsidized housing. You could probably afford 5 bedrooms then! 2 for you, 2 for Marcie, and 1 for sleeping.

One day you wake up and YOU are the poor person with TVs, every channel, including HBO and Showtime, a new car, own home, DVD players up the wazoo, motor cycles, and everything else an unreasonable human being could possibly want, while syphoning off government benefits to help pay for anything else.

I honestly thought people were exaggerating when they said the American poor had all that, but I was wrong.

Successfully updated karma reason!

its not really semantics considering the retail of the Goldwing is about 19k and the silverwing is a scooter at 6k...completley different bikes all together.

1. You are not employed because of mistakes YOU made in your teaching career. It's time you take responsibility and stop blaming everyone else for your failure.

Right, and eveyrthing you get that from is from what has been posted on here. Lets just make it perfectly clear that you don't know the entire story. To sit here and assume that you know the entire realm of what happened based on my posting a few things, really makes you look like an ass beyond words.

2. I am quite sure the government paid the lion's share of your teaching degree. And I agree with that. But the FACT is that you are not incapable of doing the job for which you've received the degree, you just choose not to take employment options available to you.

The government did not pay for my degree. I paid for it mostly myself and have a few loans out. What are my options? Subbing? I don't consider subbing to be a career. Maybe you consider to work part time sub as a compter tech a career, but being a sub teacher is far from steady, dependable, and decent money.
What are my other options? Forcing my wife to quit her job as a teacher so I can get a job elsewhere? Then she will be in the same boat.

How many degrees should the state pay for, ziggy? Nine? Ten? Twenty? And why should the taxpayers have to pay for YOUR identity crisis?

Considering that they havent paid for my first two degrees, and the CDL training course is not a degree program...

Successfully updated karma reason!

My bad. It's *only* a $7,500 bike. Cheap enough that we can put all the bells and whistles on to bring it up over $10G. Nothing but the best for Ziggy and Marcie!

Successfully updated karma reason!

It's all good, Leauki, you aren't in here bitching because the government wont pay for your continued education while you lay about on your ass because the first education they bought for you did not result in you obtaining the people skills necessary to maintain employment in that field.

Another difference is that my "some luxury" is a slightly higher rent and an unecessary HP iPAQ that I never use. It's not a bike or a four-bedroom home (of any kind).

I am "fresh out of college" since I went to college in the evenings for two years until last year (wanted an Irish diploma with English writing on it) and since I continue studying in the summers (at my own expense, although the state of Israel might be subsidizing summer programs, I don't know).

Successfully updated karma reason!