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Finding qualified help

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
I really hate to keep stompin on your ideas.. but the service truck idea "might not be" all its cracked up to be?? SURE it saves on fuel costs & wear & tear.. tires, oil changes.. all that crap.. [personal vehicle]
BUT, just wait till it becomes "the norm" to where you HAVE TO BE AT THE JOBSITE at 8:00am or 6:am..
because YOU have the service truck.. & not getting paid for your travel time..
That means your leaving your house at 6:00, driving for 2 hours to the jobsite & not getting paid until 8:00..
No more, coming into the shop, grabbing a coffee, clocking in at 8 & THEN jumping in the truck & going to work..
THOSE are the things that need to be discussed at an interview.. if not, you start to feel like your being taken advantage of & you end-up where you are now.. lookin for a new job..
You were exactly correct on that topic pumpguy, that is a big con on that job had you not chimed in i wouldnt have known to ask that question , so thank you for that info , on that note thatinterview went well and i have a standing offer from them i told them i have to think about it and need a bit of time , i have another interview this week local grading company , private owned 200 peice out in in the field fleet of 16 mack dumps and more at their farm , talkedto lead guy for almost 3 hrs at their home shop this morning, he is part of the hiring process i have asked everyone i could find that knows the company and everyone tells me they treat there employees awesome . He likes my mack and general truck experience in general but i made him aware i prefer heavy equipment guess we will see how this pans out when the new week rolls around
 

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
You were exactly correct on that topic pumpguy, that is a big con on that job had you not chimed in i wouldnt have known to ask that question , so thank you for that info , on that note thatinterview went well and i have a standing offer from them i told them i have to think about it and need a bit of time

Do you mean by that statement that if you have the service truck they do not want to pay until you reach the job site no matter how far? What about an agreed upon amount of free travel time, the same time it would take for you to get to the shop, beyond that they are paying. But the trouble with that sort of arrangement is they can tend to forget over time, or get annoyed if you are taking advantage of it and the other guys are doing it for free, makes you look like the odd man out instead of making them look like chumps.
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
Yes no pay till you get to first job , or get to shop if no call to a site first thing , traffic in morning will turn trip to shop be at least an hour, if i had to pass buy the shop on a way to site i would and could stopin to restock so i could start getting paid thats what they told me they have there guys do . The potential massive amount of driving is turning me off from this job more i think about it , its not like going to a job site And working on equipment all day for a contractor they want you on the go constantly, if it cant be fixxed quickly withen 2 hrs get an exchange unit out to them asap so they dont call another rental place , i like fast pace work but they made it sound like it ridiculous most days .
 

thepumpguysc

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
Occupation
Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
Happy to help..
Rental co. on call/road work, is a bit taxing.. not a lot of "old timers".. & the guys "in the shop" are just parts replacers.. from what I've seen..
Hydro cylinder leaking> replace it
Inj. pump leaking> replace it
Hydros don't work> replace pump
Engine wont start> call the pump shop

I loved working on Macks.. pumps that is..
The Bosch FACTORY use to CALL ME to figure out field service problems..
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
When I worked out of a truck for dealers the drive to the shop was on me. If going to a job though the drive was on the work order number and charged and I got paid. I got out of the last truck though after a few years. The long hours and not being able to go through a lot of things with my kids that they were experiencing just made the whole thing a diminishing returns situation.

The other issue not talked about is how over time is handled. When I started in the industry anything over eight was time and a half, anything over ten was double. Customers were charged at that rate and things had a livable pace. Then the unions were broke and things went the other way. (I'm not making a statement about unions). Most shops were overtime over eight and no double time unless you worked a holiday. Then you got the holiday pay and the time and a half. Customers were only charged the difference between your straight time and the overtime. Now all of a sudden you worked until the machine was back running. Now the trend here is no overtime until you have 40 hours done in a week. There are signs in front of businesses everywhere looking for talent. I don't know how many people give me that whine about not finding good people. I usually just bite my tongue.

walkserv, right now I think you have some leverage. The only advice I could give is as you negotiate with potential employers make sure your interests are served before theirs. They will all just treat you as another machine.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,435
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Mechanics, GOOD mechanics are in really tight supply right now, many men I know still bending wrenches are negotiating their own better interest not the bosses, just not to stupid levels. The boss gets too arrogant they walk and he or she is just on the short end trying to catch up. Business used to be flowing with extra bodies, today they are JUST extra Bodies not many worth their salt. To find ONE worth keeping or hiring many shops are bending over backward to make certain they stay put.
 

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
I thought about this some more, sounds like it would be a recipe for calls at all hours of the night and weekends too to have the truck at home. So I would not agree to it unless travel to places other than the shop would be paid. And talking on the phone should be paid also in my book.

Yes no pay till you get to first job , or get to shop if no call to a site first thing , traffic in morning will turn trip to shop be at least an hour, if i had to pass buy the shop on a way to site i would and could stopin to restock so i could start getting paid thats what they told me they have there guys do . The potential massive amount of driving is turning me off from this job more i think about it , its not like going to a job site And working on equipment all day for a contractor they want you on the go constantly, if it cant be fixxed quickly withen 2 hrs get an exchange unit out to them asap so they dont call another rental place , i like fast pace work but they made it sound like it ridiculous most days .
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
I thought about this some more, sounds like it would be a recipe for calls at all hours of the night and weekends too to have the truck at home. So I would not agree to it unless travel to places other than the shop would be paid. And talking on the phone should be paid also in my book.

Yep and they told me that i woould have turns being on call.i finaly had my interview with owner of a local place i would like to work i have one more at 11 this morning with another local company. And one on monday that i am canceling .you are correct on the good people being in tight supply if i take the one i interviewed today im going to be back primarily working on a fleet of over 25 mack dump trucks and a couple peterbilt tractors and will have a service truck , they also have about 200 peices of cat equipment so i have potential to be still working on that also although owner has doubts i can get thru the trucks to give me time for heavy equipment , we shall see . I figure it will take 6 months to a year to get thru them and get them into the shape they would like to see them in . I have one younger mechanic i worked with and trained for awhile that is actually good listens and learns from my lessons so if i get on there i am going to try and get him there also if the job and company is as good as it sounds. I have asked alot of people that know of the company and cant find anyone to say a bad thing about how they work and usually first thing everyone says is they treat there guys awsome .
 

thepumpguysc

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
Occupation
Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
Looking for a job sux.. but it looks like you might have stumbled into a good one..??
Lots of equipment means job security.. most of the time..
Just don't be in a BIG rush to fix'm all, right away, or you'll work yourself outta a job. Lol
ALWAYS stay/look busy & when they come & tell you "somethings gotta run today".. jump on it..
Good luck..
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
Looking for a job sux.. but it looks like you might have stumbled into a good one..??
Lots of equipment means job security.. most of the time..
Just don't be in a BIG rush to fix'm all, right away, or you'll work yourself outta a job. Lol
ALWAYS stay/look busy & when they come & tell you "somethings gotta run today".. jump on it..
Good luck..
??? We shall see . Im putting in my notice monday i can always find something wrong with trucks i will have np looking busy , as i see it if its not what its cracked up to be i have lotsa options out there i have to cancel 3 interviews .. Well only actually other 2 arent scheduled yet .so yeah i will have np if i end up looking again only it will be a much more casual search if i end up looking more .
 

Rentalmechanic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2015
Messages
59
Location
Memphis,tn
Yes no pay till you get to first job , or get to shop if no call to a site first thing , traffic in morning will turn trip to shop be at least an hour, if i had to pass buy the shop on a way to site i would and could stopin to restock so i could start getting paid thats what they told me they have there guys do . The potential massive amount of driving is turning me off from this job more i think about it , its not like going to a job site And working on equipment all day for a contractor they want you on the go constantly, if it cant be fixxed quickly withen 2 hrs get an exchange unit out to them asap so they dont call another rental place , i like fast pace work but they made it sound like it ridiculous most days .

I work for a rental shop in the field, another buddy over at sunbelt said they get paid all travel time. They paid from the time they leave there house until they get back In the service truck at home. I later verified what he was saying , part he left out was they have drive time cameras and gps with speed alert . Rofl Im staying where im at, they are fair if i drive to the closest shop 15 mins to start my time. Back 6 years ago I was rearend by a car because I was not clocked in they didnt have to file workmans comp which suppose to pay for the office visit and drug test all part of it during time but I wasnt on company time yet because i hadn't made it to the shop. I got the bill ER visit 1100 and 300 dollar drug test. They told me to have the guys insurance that rearended me to pay it. After I told them no and proceed to unload all my tools into my shop box they asked what I was doing, was quiting, they paid it before i could get the last tool out of the truck. I had a wreck in there service truck which wasn't my fault, days later after this was paid a visit from HR . Seems management didn't follow procedure, I was compensated for lost time. Funny when you start packing they have ears that go to there Brain. Look out for yourself no one else will.
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
I work for a rental shop in the field, another buddy over at sunbelt said they get paid all travel time. They paid from the time they leave there house until they get back In the service truck at home. I later verified what he was saying , part he left out was they have drive time cameras and gps with speed alert . Rofl Im staying where im at, they are fair if i drive to the closest shop 15 mins to start my time. Back 6 years ago I was rearend by a car because I was not clocked in they didnt have to file workmans comp which suppose to pay for the office visit and drug test all part of it during time but I wasnt on company time yet because i hadn't made it to the shop. I got the bill ER visit 1100 and 300 dollar drug test. They told me to have the guys insurance that rearended me to pay it. After I told them no and proceed to unload all my tools into my shop box they asked what I was doing, was quiting, they paid it before i could get the last tool out of the truck. I had a wreck in there service truck which wasn't my fault, days later after this was paid a visit from HR . Seems management didn't follow procedure, I was compensated for lost time. Funny when you start packing they have ears that go to there Brain. Look out for yourself no one else will.
I went to work for a local grading company I have one week in there and love it so far
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,435
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Owner of the truck I been running has had to back off some, work got a LOT more than part time where in a two week stretch they 'Needed Me' to run five days first week and almost 48 hours second. I do not mind working but I did retire and DO have projects of my own, this was to be boredom therapy not a occupation. Yesterday was a 11.7 hr. day today a simpler 8.5 but then again fertilizer has stopped calling for trucks.
May, and I restate MAY have to become a retiree once again, just back off to the work I already have, just do not want to burn bridges I may need to go back across.
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
Owner of the truck I been running has had to back off some, work got a LOT more than part time where in a two week stretch they 'Needed Me' to run five days first week and almost 48 hours second. I do not mind working but I did retire and DO have projects of my own, this was to be boredom therapy not a occupation. Yesterday was a 11.7 hr. day today a simpler 8.5 but then again fertilizer has stopped calling for trucks.
May, and I restate MAY have to become a retiree once again, just back off to the work I already have, just do not want to burn bridges I may need to go back across.
You may have to remind him of that your retired part .
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
You may have to remind him of that your retired part .

Already have.
Ok maybe a more physical reminder like stay at home for a day and wait for a phone call, be like oh I thought this was my day to do one of my own projects seeing how I'm mostly retired
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Looking for a job sux.. but it looks like you might have stumbled into a good one..??
Lots of equipment means job security.. most of the time..
Just don't be in a BIG rush to fix'm all, right away, or you'll work yourself outta a job. Lol
ALWAYS stay/look busy & when they come & tell you "somethings gotta run today".. jump on it..
Good luck..

Make sure your agreement is in writing and signed by both management and yourself. Make sure all points are covered. Memories of work agreements last a lot longer when there is a signed reminder.
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
Make sure your agreement is in writing and signed by both management and yourself. Make sure all points are covered. Memories of work agreements last a lot longer when there is a signed reminder.
Oih didnt have to worry about that. The owner is a stand up guy and everyone i asked about the company said he treats his guys good i have found that to be true. Was supposed to start at what i was making which was $$.19 hr found out he rounded it up to the next dollar amount . Last week was my 5th week there , owner came out to the shop and informed me this paycheck would look a little different and he tried to get it done for last paycheck but it didnt work out , i think checks were already wrote and he was busy on of his farms it is planting season. So six weeks on the job im getting some sort of a raise and he started me out at more then we agreed to i cant complain, and there is no way in hell i will run out of work no matter how hard i work so i just do what i do and peck away at the trucks as they come in with issues and look them over good and make some notes on them . When no trucks to work on i go out in the field and work on equipment.20180327_185141.jpg
 

Jeckyl1920

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
226
Location
Riverside, CA
Since this thread is here, I figured I would use it for the opposite of the OP's reason.

I'm pushing 36, almost, and run into the ever imposing issue of, "do you have experience in X?" I say, honestly, no, but I'll labor for your vet for a week, or on anything I'm unsure about, then you can get me the machine and I'll out operate your vets in 1 to 4 weeks.

Not one person ever believes me. Why should they? I can run anything with a motor. In a day I'm familiar with it. If you want me to perfect it, leave me on it and you will see it work.

Oh, did I mention I read plans? Do estimates? Detail rebar for tilt ups? Decks? Set elevations? Rag... hub... set forms. Tie rebar, finish concrete, rake AC, grade, labor, glue and solder pipe, hang dry wall, paint by hand or with a sprayer, weld, torch, wrench, diagnose mechanical issues..... the list goes on and on. If I dont know how, or don't have experience, give me one guy that does and we'll get a 4 man job done.

No one has a clue how to use me because I'm "the tall guy that does everything."

No one is willing to pay for that either because I dont have 10-20 years of specialized experience in whatever they specifically want.

Anyways, rant aside... I signed on to IUOE. I am a skilled labor, who ends up being a shovel and broom guy due to the insane shortage of labors, no one wants to, and no one physically can because you do 3 men worth of labor typically. My boss wants to try to keep me on, but I know he can't match union wages and benefits. However, I do know he can give me job security, and stays local. The union scares me a bit, since it is based on seniority.

I have no clue what decision is the right one. I think union has more potential to be a hoe operator, and not always be a shovel and broom man. How stable would it be tho? Are they going to lay me off at the first sign of slowing down? Should I just jump and hope I land somewhere good?

Anyone want to hire me? Lol
 
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