I'm Officially On Furlough

Spring is right around the corner!!! What did you do before your CDL?? See if you can find an under the table gig landscaping, roofing, construction, ETC… and double bubble your income till you go back to Fedex.

I know landscaping is about to get real busy. Just about every company, big or small, can use an extra body in the spring. Even some nurseries need extra drivers in the spring to deliver mulch, soil and plants to jobs. Pretty much all the guys I know who own landscaping businesses bring in extra help for cash. In PA as a labor trade business owner, your allowed to claim off the street help up to $5500 a year. Might be more now

Spring is right around the corner!!! What did you do before your CDL?? See if you can find an under the table gig landscaping, roofing, construction, ETC… and double bubble your income till you go back to Fedex.

I know landscaping is about to get real busy. Just about every company, big or small, can use an extra body in the spring. Even some nurseries need extra drivers in the spring to deliver mulch, soil and plants to jobs. Pretty much all the guys I know who own landscaping businesses bring in extra help for cash. In PA as a labor trade business owner, your allowed to claim off the street help up to $5500 a year. Might be more now

Tempting, but I would stay away from any under the table gigs while on unemployment. It’s in the same category as falsifying logs.

A number of years ago when I lived in upstate NY doing construction, I was laid off and got unemployment. Took a one week job for which I was paid $300 and I reported it like I was supposed to do. The wonderful NY state Department of Labor decided to investigate me. This began a two year process that was right from the 6th level of hell. I was finally cleared of any violation, but it took an insane effort to end it. So, don’t risk it.

Not sure if your religious prayer would be where I would start. Church and trucking are hard things to do together sometimes.

Get involved with community.

Network with people or catch up with old ties. Especially family and friends who are looked down upon. Not everyone is doing well and a little of your time could go a long way for them.

Working out in a gym. I miss that doing otr.

Knock out a cheap certification or degree. Trucking is dangerous. One moment could easily land you looking into a new career. Doesn't hurt to be prepared or atleast primed. Good luck.

How about some volunteer work, like at a food bank?

I don't know of any around here. Something I should look into.

Could you volunteer to drive a medical van or drive for a non profit organization?

All of the medical places around here are these huge campuses and they have employees for stuff like that. They accept volunteers inside the hospital, but hospitals depress me. I hate being inside them.

I know what I would do if I could take that much time off. I would get two knee replacements. But your knees are probably still good, or so I hope.

My knees are still solid ... Hoping to keep them that way as long as I can.

I was just going to ask how you guys are doing, guess it answers that question.

I took the Furlough because unemployment is the sure thing. Working a little here and there was stressing me out and being on call had my sleep schedule jacked. I did ask what were the chances of getting called back early and I was told it's more likely that they'll ask if you want to extend it. I'd be open to that. I've never had a summer off.

Have you tried fishing? That is what I would be doing

I plan on doing some fly fishing when it warms up a little. Snow is incoming and it's supposed to snow from Friday night until Sunday morning.

Ancestry. For a few hundred bucks you can access millions of records and learn anything you ever wanted to know about your family history going back hundreds of years.

I can't spare a few hundred bucks right and I don't know how fruitful that would be. My father is an immigrant and my mother is a first generation American. I'm open to looking into it, though.

Learn to fly.

That's something I've always wanted to do. I looked into being a commercial pilot some time ago.... Needles to say I became a truck driver 😂

Learn a language.

I'm fluent in Spanish. My wife and I have discussed traveling, but the dogs make it impossible. We'll be domestic travelers until they pass.

What did you do before your CDL?? See if you can find an under the table gig landscaping, roofing, construction, ETC… and double bubble your income till you go back to Fedex.

I worked at a Walmart distribution center. I'm not interested in doing that again. I'm on the fence about under the table. We'll see what these 3 months off bring.

Took a one week job for which I was paid $300 and I reported it like I was supposed to do. The wonderful NY state Department of Labor decided to investigate me

Crazy how they'll make unemployment so impossible when it's already paid for. If I was looking for welfare, food stamps and so on, they'd hand it over with no problem. I have to undergo a session with a career counselor, even though I have a return date set.

Network with people or catch up with old ties.

If you're old ties, it's for a reason. I am helping my brother through some difficult times. I can imagine how he's feeling, it's exhausting for me.

Not sure if your religious prayer would be where I would start.

I pray nightly and I attend mass weekly.

Working out in a gym.

Being a home daily driver, I go the gym almost daily since it's on my way home. I'd change in the car in the parking lot at work and go for about an hour.

Sorry to hear of this Banks. Hope it works out for you.

What about driving a school bus? There is a major shortage of bus drivers and the money is awesome. By the time school is out for the summer you maybe heading back to FedEx.

What about driving a school bus? There is a major shortage of bus drivers and the money is awesome. By the time school is out for the summer you maybe heading back to FedEx.

School bus driving would be problematic unless the driver was already certified. It takes a surprising amount of time and effort to get the school bus endorsement. And rightly so. Hauling kids around is a job for highly qualified drivers.

What about driving a school bus? There is a major shortage of bus drivers and the money is awesome. By the time school is out for the summer you maybe heading back to FedEx.

School bus driving would be problematic unless the driver was already certified. It takes a surprising amount of time and effort to get the school bus endorsement. And rightly so. Hauling kids around is a job for highly qualified drivers.

Nah, just secure them like any other cargo...Plenty of load locks, straps and duct tape to keep the ride quiet.

You will be in my daily prayers through your struggle. I had a month long period last year between my break from trucking and my rehire with trucking. During which time I spent a lot of it with my wife and kids, and got back into going to church. Your post did humble my pride and complaints about having to work an extra day every week, I should be thankful when other aren't as privileged