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Well it finally happened...

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
The problem is I want to much money for the knowledge and skills that I have.

In my area, the $30/ hr would be at the top of the pay scale, but I live in a lower wage area. Union guys in Kansas City and Chicago make $45-50. But it costs a lot more to live in Chicago.

The only way you are going to make more money, would likely be on your own. That adds a whole different complexity to having your own truck, insurance, liability, call backs on previous repairs (justified or not- customers always complain- and those calls now come to you). You will have to deal with a lot of paperwork that you don't have now.

I'm surprised that if you have been off on fridays and saturdays all this time, that if you want to work and make more $$, why you aren't doing work on the side, unless your dealership prohibits you from that.

Otherwise, there's nothing stopping you from more work except you.
 

BigWrench55

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
1,176
Location
Somewhere
I am at the top of the pay scale, but not completely. There isn't a big market for side work in the Dallas area that pays. If you have your own truck they want to hire you for a cheap wage and lease your truck for way less than a monthly payment would be for a truck. And most of the side work I find isn't worth taking on the job. What I mean is people don't want to pay the rate that I ask for. Which less than half what any shop charges. I would love to go full independent but the companies around here don't use independents. They buy there own trucks and put a warm body in it. And then hire the dealer to fix what their warm body can't figure out or screwed up. I think it's time to leave Texas and find a more independent friendly market.
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,486
Location
Mo
I dont think you will ever find a place to work were it is ran even remotely like it should be. Like a guy told me about his wife there all crazy you just have to find the kind of crazy you can live with. I hate my job but i keep going to work thinking things will get better. I would love to go some were else but is it going to be any better.One big thing i dont like is i dont realy have a boss so if i have a problem i have to figure it out on my own. Theres been some talk that the place i work for may sellout in a few years that mite be good . If i get another job i will get some things in wrighting.
 

BigWrench55

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
1,176
Location
Somewhere
I am happy with my wage. My problem is that %25 of my wage has been taken from me. I know overtime isn't a guarantee. But I been in this business for 20 plus years and 50 hours a week was the standard work week. One of my problems is that I have over extended my self a little. I got out of this industry for a few years because I got burned out. I took a lesser paying job and it got me by. Then I had some unexpected expenses and now I am in debt. That and affordable insurance is why I took this job. If wasn't for that I wouldn't be working on equipment anymore. I have a 10 year plan to get out of debt and pay off the house. I just can't get enough traction to kick my plan into action. I will stop whining now.
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,486
Location
Mo
Have you ever thought about moveing? There is a bad shortage of shops here money and good customers are not a problem. The problem is finding any help.
 

BigWrench55

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
1,176
Location
Somewhere
I dont think you will ever find a place to work were it is ran even remotely like it should be.

I don't expect to find nirvana. I can put up with most anything except for disrespect. This is about me and my needs and the needs of my family. And if you can't provide me with that then I will be moving on. It's not personal it's business. Just like a company would treat me. As long as you're useful to me and make me money I will keep you around. But as soon as you can't do it for me than we'll have to let you go and good luck in your future endeavors.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,560
Location
WWW.
There's sh!ty mechanics everywhere and it seems businesses are having a tough time keeping the good ones. The Cat/Deere dealer here fired two of their best and they went out
together and started there own shop repairing combines and rubber band machines which really put a hurt on that dealer, go figure. Won't be long and I will have to find
someone to replace the one retiring in the shop.
 

BigWrench55

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
1,176
Location
Somewhere
seems businesses are having a tough time keeping the good ones.

This job isn't easy and its more than just being a grease monkey. With engineers constantly reinventing the wheel its not easy at all. I have all but mastered, electrical, hydraulics, fuel systems, welding and electronics. It pisses me off when you treat my profession like you could hire anyone off the street and do my job. You might be able to fill my position but you can't replace my experience and know how. And my work ethic. If you can get that cheaper than go right on and do it. But I know that you can't. Because people like us know our worth and won't work cheap.
 

AzIron

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Messages
1,541
Location
Az
I was born in Arizona. In the small town of globe. But I want to escape the heat. I have been in Texas most of my life and every summer gets harder on me.
Heats over rated lol

Globes on fire because the mines are full tilt
Cat house has lost quite a few guys to better offers and they were paying pretty good with benefits but the corporate world has an affect

My brother in law has 3 years of real mechanic experience went to work for the new Holland dealership they put him in a truck his 2nd week makes 25 plus and gets 80 plus hours a week if he wants he is very good but has not put in the time yet that you have and he is number 2 or 3 out of about 12 guys

Point is work is a wildfire right now and your holding a bucket of water
 

check

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
800
Location
in the mail
I am at the top of the pay scale, but not completely. There isn't a big market for side work in the Dallas area that pays. If you have your own truck they want to hire you for a cheap wage and lease your truck for way less than a monthly payment would be for a truck. And most of the side work I find isn't worth taking on the job. What I mean is people don't want to pay the rate that I ask for. Which less than half what any shop charges. I would love to go full independent but the companies around here don't use independents. They buy there own trucks and put a warm body in it. And then hire the dealer to fix what their warm body can't figure out or screwed up. I think it's time to leave Texas and find a more independent friendly market.
Dallas is a big area. You stated yourself that there are a lot of shtty mechanics out there. Well a lot of companies have hired mechanics that claimed to be the best and they turned out shtty, so they're jaded. Fact is, it's difficult to discern how an employee will turn out after he's hired so many employers are overly cautious about hiring someone at top pay without observing his habits for a while. Add to that the fact that lots if not most employers are jackazzes themselves and don't appreciate a smart mechanic. Most likely there is a perfect job for you not far away, but getting employee and employer on the same page is not so simple.
 

BigWrench55

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
1,176
Location
Somewhere
I've thrown caution to the wind and hired on for less money and waited to see if they would bring me up to where I should be. I won't make that mistake again. You wind up carrying the load for everyone else and still don't get the wage you deserve. Maybe I have the wrong way of looking at this. But I have at least 10 good years left in me and I don't care what I do afterwards. My house will be paid for and I can work at McDonald's if I want. :)
 

mitch504

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
5,776
Location
Andrews SC
I took a job that way in the early '90s. I told the man what I could do, and what I wanted to make. We agreed I'd work for less for 6 months, and if I could do what I said, I'd get a big raise.

After 6 months, no raise. I went to see the owner, and he was honest. He said he remembered our agreement, and that I had done all I said and more. But, he said he couldn't afford to pay that much. He didn't dream I could really do all that when he hired me, and he was sorry. I gave my 2 weeks notice, and have worked for myself ever since.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,436
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Worked shops from 75 to 96 with side work in field then side work at home until 2000, had enough after those years, LEAN years where were several dozen wanna be's for every decent singular wrench and employers willing to hire them CHEAP to get what they could from them, was getting old where the shop management were typical promise LOADS of wages and then could not produce them to the never ending sob stories in the field work of 'Can you just let me float on payback for a few weeks' that turned to months or never. Tools were in a state of constant flux as to New and Improved as Torx or Spline and diagnostics gear, the required second set of hands I either could not tolerate or just ignored leading to bad days on a couch back sprains, torn muscles, stitches, full time employer mad but knew capabilities and let it slide some. I made the trade change and did not look back where still fought machines at home but ONLY my own, could not step back in now as just to rusted up and TOO Old!!
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
That's why they call those of us who have achieved the valued state of competency, journeymen.

Good luck Paul on your future. I know you will do well anywhere you go and and at anything you do. It's time for you to challenge yourself and the world.
 
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