Difficult Decision Time

Topic 2002 | Page 1

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Schism's Comment
member avatar

I will do what I can to make this brief .

I had a job in southern NH for 10 years . I left making over $21 an hr to accept a position as Assistant Property Manager for a 2200 acre parcel of recreational land in Northern NH (October 2012). The caretaker is 65 yrs old and I was expecting to work for him a few years and take over when he retired . My overhead was absolute zero . A 4 br raised ranch on 3 1/2 acres was lent to me and my family with no rent or utility payments . It was an ideal situation to get out the negative diversions of crime and overpopulation in southern nh and start anew in northern rural NH .

Prior to that I was considering ways to make the move and thought about driving and cdl-a as a backup for life , but did not pull the trigger on it . Its been a consideration for years though .

This past July I had a pulmonary embolism and dealt with a lot of pain and 3 weeks recovery before getting my doctors note to return back to work . The morning after the doctors note was given to the caretaker he returned to me with a termination later stating that the owners of the company have removed the job position from the company and I found myself out of a job and a house at the same time.

There are very few opportunities in Northern NH for quality career orientated jobs . I interviewed for a Groundskeeper position in one of the school systems here and the director told me I was not chosen but have a great resume and references ( I was his second choice ) and I would be considered for future jobs .

Well .... Yesterday was frustrating for me . He has emailed me offering me a job within the school system as a part time ( 29hr ) no benefit position as a custodian . Second shift . The same day I had my meeting the local WIA representative who needs a couple NH trucking company ads that state they hire recent CDL graduated to get my CDL paid for .

What the hell am I supposed to do now !! Turn down a school system maintenance department which may very well lead to full time day position in the future that has full state benefits and retirement or tell him I cannot take the job and persue my CDL .

Wow ...that was not short .

~S~

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

Well the thing with trucking is it isn't a fleeting opportunity. It's going to be here long after you and I are gone. If that custodial job is a rare find with great potential then you should probably go for that. If it pans out - great! If it doesn't then you can look to trucking.

The other thing about trucking is you're obviously going to be gone from home a lot. So "enjoying" Northern NH when you're a thousand miles away in a rig is going to be tough. And rural areas like that rarely have much in the way of local trucking jobs that will get you home every night.

So it's really more of a lifestyle decision than anything. If you want the rural life and you've found a rare opportunity to possibly make that happen you should strongly consider pursuing it. Because even though trucking will give you a decent living, whether or not it will enhance your lifestyle is another matter entirely.

It's a tough call, but I don't see any risk in putting trucking on hold and pursuing another opportunity. Trucking isn't going anywhere. It'll be here whenever you want it.

Schism's Comment
member avatar

I damned if I do damned if I dont at this point .

School systems are not easy to get into . Even with a 29hr job . There is the chance that a 1st shift , and or full time with benefits job will happen . The SAU contains 4 towns , thats about 28 people in the grounds and maintenence dept total . First and second shift . There is also a chance that the dept stagnates , and nothing changes and personnel stays as is, for years ! In the latter scenario I lose .

Trucking offers a better income , with no expectations of advancement really but its a different dedication and investment in time . If I chose the CDL-A and that full time state bennies job popped at the school ... I could be 2200 miles away when I get the email !!

Its not a decision Im enjoying . The Mrs is no help , other than ' I will support you with either choice '

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Roger H.( aka Sinapu)'s Comment
member avatar

I really don't envy your situation as we seem to be sort of in the same spot, only you're a couple of months ahead of me. I left a home and a good job on the seacoast of NH for the opportunity of lifetime in the White mountains, long story short, the situation changed and I was out of home and job but had already started a relationship that I couldn't leave. After realizing that the jobs are limited to anyone who hasn't spent a life in RETAIL up here I decided to finally get my CDL A. The VA is paying for my 6 week training in Concord, thankfully. So hopefully I'll be as lucky as you by the end of February. Good luck on what you decide.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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