Making Life Decisions Over Here!

Rod, I live not too far from ya and understand how ya feel about not being able to afford rent. I work at the Sysco Foods just outside palmetto (just off 275 and highway 41). If your willing to do manual labor they're hiring part time order pickers (selectors) for 17 an hr and you'll make more depending how hard you work (incentive pay), be full time (WITH BENEFITS!) if you prove your hard worker. You should be able to go through the "dock to driver"program after 9 months which pays even better than warehouse. Drivers make 23 an hour, PLUS extra for each stop, per mile, as well as each case. In warehouse my first full year i made just under 60k, most drivers are now making 80k after recent raise.

Steve L. mentioned looking into beverage companies and supermarkets, maybe starting as a warehouse worker. That might be a great idea for you. I currently live in the northeast but want to eventually move to Sarasota. I checked in to Publix. They don't hire drivers directly, they promote from within. You start as a warehouse worker and progress from there. From what I read, it is an 8-10 year process to get to driver. BUT, they pay for your training when the time comes, you have a job with benefits while you're learning, you can stay local with your son, and you have a company that offers many other options besides driving. If getting out on the road is your main goal, that won't work for you, but if you're goal is to find a way to provide for and spend time with your son and driving is just something that you may or may not eventually be interested in, this might help. I don't know what they pay or what the benefits are, but I believe that Forbes has them ranked in Top 100 companies to work for. Can't be too bad and probably worth checking in to. Good luck!

Funny you say that, while i was at work i drove past Sysco in palmetto and stopped in to ask questions, really liked what i heard and figured i get 1 year experience and try to get hired there. They are at the top of my list.

Rod, I live not too far from ya and understand how ya feel about not being able to afford rent. I work at the Sysco Foods just outside palmetto (just off 275 and highway 41). If your willing to do manual labor they're hiring part time order pickers (selectors) for 17 an hr and you'll make more depending how hard you work (incentive pay), be full time (WITH BENEFITS!) if you prove your hard worker. You should be able to go through the "dock to driver"program after 9 months which pays even better than warehouse. Drivers make 23 an hour, PLUS extra for each stop, per mile, as well as each case. In warehouse my first full year i made just under 60k, most drivers are now making 80k after recent raise.