IPOD
RADIO
This job is not going to be easy. I'm already feeling sore from a couple of days, and I was pretty much just helping. It'll take a while to get used to all the actual labor involved. Having said that, the other drivers I've met so far all seem to be doing rather well. The guy I rode with on Tuesday said he's already made $50k this year. One of the big differences between the pay method at Frito-Lay and my previous over-the-road type of jobs is that we're paid for EVERYTHING we do. Equipment inspection: paid. Drop & Hook trailers: paid. Delayed for any reason? Paid. Immediately too -- not sucking up the first two hours like most common carriers do.
Tuesday we made two stops on Long Island with a trailer that was floor-loaded with cases of chips. The first stop we built pallets and that ended up being pretty quick. Less than an hour. The second stop was out the eastern side of LI and that took a few hours of hard work on a very hot morning. We were drenched. Like I said... it is definitely difficult work. And the hours vary -- and can be difficult. On Monday I began work at 0330 am. On Tuesday I started at 0130 am. That essentially means on both days I had to "wake up" an hour before then to throw on my clothes and make the 45 minute commute from Providence to Dayville, CT. But there are perks too. That Tuesday trip to Long Island ended with us driving the tractor-trailer onto the Orient Point ferry and taking that method of getting home. I was baffled at first that the company would pay such an expense, both for the truck and the hourly rate for the driver. But with the cost of fuel being what it is, the "manual" way of driving back west off the island, through New York City, and then all the way up I-95 through Connecticut would actually be more costly, take longer, be more dangerous, and without any doubt more aggravation. So in the end it actually makes sense, and was also much better than having to make the go-around trip. Of course, I wont always get so lucky... I just thought it was a pretty cool thing. And even though I was JUST riding along (training, observing, helping), I still made $270. (The regular driver made over $400 for the run).
My new car has been great. I looked at a bunch of different things, the Honda being the most expensive. But it felt right, and I figured it was difficult to go wrong with a Honda... especially when I got 35.4mpg on my first tank of gas. I got the goodies like alloy wheels, moonroof... pretty much everything except leather and the navigation system (come ON, I'm a professional after all!). Bought some custom-fit seat covers to help protect the investment, especially after those long days of sweating my ass off. Now I'm just waiting for some mounting brackets for my satellite radio.
And I leave you with this...
Tuesday we made two stops on Long Island with a trailer that was floor-loaded with cases of chips. The first stop we built pallets and that ended up being pretty quick. Less than an hour. The second stop was out the eastern side of LI and that took a few hours of hard work on a very hot morning. We were drenched. Like I said... it is definitely difficult work. And the hours vary -- and can be difficult. On Monday I began work at 0330 am. On Tuesday I started at 0130 am. That essentially means on both days I had to "wake up" an hour before then to throw on my clothes and make the 45 minute commute from Providence to Dayville, CT. But there are perks too. That Tuesday trip to Long Island ended with us driving the tractor-trailer onto the Orient Point ferry and taking that method of getting home. I was baffled at first that the company would pay such an expense, both for the truck and the hourly rate for the driver. But with the cost of fuel being what it is, the "manual" way of driving back west off the island, through New York City, and then all the way up I-95 through Connecticut would actually be more costly, take longer, be more dangerous, and without any doubt more aggravation. So in the end it actually makes sense, and was also much better than having to make the go-around trip. Of course, I wont always get so lucky... I just thought it was a pretty cool thing. And even though I was JUST riding along (training, observing, helping), I still made $270. (The regular driver made over $400 for the run).
My new car has been great. I looked at a bunch of different things, the Honda being the most expensive. But it felt right, and I figured it was difficult to go wrong with a Honda... especially when I got 35.4mpg on my first tank of gas. I got the goodies like alloy wheels, moonroof... pretty much everything except leather and the navigation system (come ON, I'm a professional after all!). Bought some custom-fit seat covers to help protect the investment, especially after those long days of sweating my ass off. Now I'm just waiting for some mounting brackets for my satellite radio.
And I leave you with this...
JUL 09, 2008 11:52 AM
I totally agree with everything you said. Like I said-->dysfunction. I really do think it will help now that I have vented it out a bit. Thanks for you perspective. Relationships and the human mammal can be complicated for no reason at all.
Like the funky music. 
Glad your back to work.
