Question:
I've been employed as a maintenance mechanic/welder for 20 years with the same company. I was accepted to the Millis CDL Training school about 2 weeks ago, and am wavering on leaving my way of existance for my family ( wife and 2 teenage daughters)for this opportunity. I truly believe my current job will be gone within the next 3 years,so I really need to know if this company lives up to all the hype I've read...
Thaks to anyone who can help
G. Buchanan

Answer:
Hang tight till it does go, then drive if you want to. This is not the time to start a new career and driving is pretty unforgiving of beginers. A bird in the hand is worth you know the rest.
Dave Wadsworth
wombat
dwew@montana.com
Trucking, It's not a job, it's a sentence

Answer:
I did the Millis thing and I am a happy guy. E-mail me and I will answer any questions you might have as honestly as I can.
Some people find fault as if it were buried treasure.

Answer:
I worked for 28+ yrs at same fabricating company and out of the blue was let go. They called it downsizing.That was 4 yrs ago and i've now been driving for 3 yrs.
My advice would be to keep that job until the day it plays out. Even after 3 yrs and only working for two companies i'm no where close to what I made in that fab shop. And if I keep driving another 3 yrs I still won't be making as much as that job.
But hey I do like my job and can do with what i'm making. As long as my little wife keeps working

Answer:
I tried to e-mail you but it failed and there was a message saying "Mailbox Unavailable"

Answer:
Use the alenzo33@msn.com Try leaving the no spam out of the address. If that doesn't work I will give you another address.
Some people find fault as if it were buried treasure.

Answer:
Go ahead and hang tight where you are at. I am sure the money you are making now is far greater than what you will be making as an entry level driver. Trucking will still be there when and if your current job goes south, and when/if that happens there is a good chance you can get the state to pay for truck driving school under a job retraining or dislocated workers type program, plus be able to collect unemployment benefits while in school.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
If you know the job you're in is going to go away, use the remaining time to pay off bills and stash money away for when you do have to make the move.
I knew my job was going away, I just didn't know when. I went through a weekend training course to get my CDL and have just been waiting. During the wait, the wife and I went through some draconian budget restructuring and paid off all the bills except for the house.
I was laid off earlier this month and went through a 40 hour over the road/track refresher at the school I attended. Now, I'm leaving for my company of choice without having any financial worries to distract me from getting on with what I have to do.
Using the plan I did isn't for everyone, but it gives you more options when the time comes to finally change careers.
Good luck to you...
Unka_D
###########################################################
I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Information is power!! The question not asked is the opportunity missed!!
My other vehicle is a '99 Electra Glide!!!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:
A welder/maintainence job being eliminated? Hmmm, I would say if you are a good welder, you should be able to write your own ticket. I drove for Millis in '98. They haul a lot of beer, glass, and paper. I had a problem with dispatch never getting me home, or laying me over near a BUD or Miller brewery for the weekend. I'm with Roehl now, and no longer have that problem. Another Millis driver told me recently, that they have cleared up that problem somewhat. Personally, I did'nt care for the payroll setup they had. Work for .34/mi. with NO benefits, or work for .26/mi. and get a .08/mi. per diem allowance on a separate check. But, to each their own. Maybe they straightened that out too. This was back in '98. Good luck.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
i'm some what in the same situtaion. my job will probably play around september. i was laid off 2 years ago and drove for a short time until recalled from lay off. i'm going to leave my present job and not wait. i will have to take a refresher course, which i can do and continue to work. after completeling that i'm going back to drive with company i drove with before. i have no kids at home, and what little stuff i own is paid for. when i was laid off before the state paid for cdl training. this refresher course will cost me nothing since i attended the school before. if i was in your shoes i would ride it out until the end, spend time with wife and kids and save as much money as possible pay off as much debt as possible. good luck and may God bless
real men love Jesus

Answer:
Hey Razz,
Thanks for the info! Your post about hometime (or lack there of),and the pay scale ( seems to me per diem basically benefits the "offerer",not the beneficiary),was exactly what I was after!!
Oh yeah, it isn't just my job that would be going south, it's EVERY job in the plant!! (100 plus...) And your 100% correct,I can write my own ticket as a welder, but after 20 years of toxic, noxious fumes,the occasional welders flash, the inevitable 3rd degree burns a few times a year, I'm seriously contemplating re-writing said ticket!!
Thanks again, as your response was EXTREMLY helpful
fattystools