English grad has found a job in Atlanta - update Jan. 1

[Michael Morris]

Trucks come with beds in the back.

CDL is "Commerical Driver's License." If you have held a Driver's license for a year it takes about 4 weeks of training to get a CDL. Many companies, such as Swift Transportation, will pay for that training if you sign on for a year.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Trucks come with beds in the back.

CDL is "Commerical Driver's License." If you have held a Driver's license for a year it takes about 4 weeks of training to get a CDL. Many companies, such as Swift Transportation, will pay for that training if you sign on for a year.

Hmmmm....what does that usually pay??

 

[Xath]

Trucks come with beds in the back.

CDL is "Commerical Driver's License." If you have held a Driver's license for a year it takes about 4 weeks of training to get a CDL. Many companies, such as Swift Transportation, will pay for that training if you sign on for a year.

I'm really lucky in this department. University of Maryland, College Park's Shuttle program is constantly hiring new drivers. Training is paid ($8/hour) and they pay for you to train and get your commerical driver's license, which I think normally costs $700. They give it to you as long as you promise to work for them for one semester (starting wage $8.50). Then you have your CDL and can drive pretty much anything.

Check with your local colleges if you still can't find work. Chances are, if they have a shuttle system, they'll offer something like this. And they don't just hire students.

 

[Xath]

Hmmmm....what does that usually pay??

Most professional transport companies pay by the mile. So if you do National or Inter-state transport, you can easily rack up the big bucks.

 

[Michael Morris]

Most professional transport companies pay by the mile. So if you do National or Inter-state transport, you can easily rack up the big bucks.

USA Today recently ran an article that stated that Truck Drivers earn $32,732 / year. While that's 10% more than the blue collar average, it's fallen behind the average for all jobs. Incidently, truck wages have not gone up since the 70's, they've gone down. But they have hit their rock bottom. The industry is 150,000 jobs short.

But I'd be lying if I said it was a good industry to go into. For the sacrifices in you're personal life you're required to make the pay is WOEFULLY short. Few jobs require 110 hr work weeks and no other industry systematically encourages it's employees to LIE about their work hours - risking criminal prosecution in the process up to and including death penalty worthy charges (First Degree Murder via vehicle). The industry is rotten to it's core, that's why I got out.

Sadly, the drivers themselves are on average very good folk being exploited by megacorporations with nothing but disdain for personal safety and human rights.

And I'll stop there - I'm waxing political and that's not accepted here.

 

[RangerWickett]

Well, as a quick update, I'm still unemployed, and once again things are looking dire. I can probably scrape by another month on loans from relatives if necessary, but that really hurts my sense of self worth. Tomorrow will consist of lots of walking and calling of temp agencies, and hoping that someone will give a flip and actually want to help me become a useful member of society.

There's still one job I'm on a list for, but there are at least 4 other people in running for it, and my mistake before was thinking that getting an interview actually meant I was doing well. That's why I slacked off in late November.

Well, please wish me luck, and again, if you can get me a position I'll be ridiculously grateful.

 

[Michael Morris]

Wickett, are you adverse to moving up to Knoxville TN? (About 200 miles from where you are). I'm trying to get set up down there to cut down on my commute and get a job more exciting than clerking a gas station (which is about all Williamsburg has). Setting up an apartment is easier when split two ways.

EDIT: ITT in Knoxville also needs qualified tutors in English and Composition I think (I'd have to ask).

 

[RangerWickett]

I've got a lease here until August. I swear, I thought there'd be no way I could stay unemployed this long. I've been slacking, but that will have to change.

Thanks for the offer, though.

 

[der_kluge]

Driving I-70 across Missouri between Kansas City and St. Louis (the billboard capitol of the world) my wife and I saw numerous billboards for adult bookstores and adult toystores. A couple of them had a line that read:

"CDL discounts"

We just thought that was hilarious.


We saw something funny this weekend, too.
We were downtown Richmond driving around, and saw a clothing store that had a sign that said "Afrocentric designs". So, no big deal about that, although I don't have any idea what constitutes an "afrocentric design". But, at the bottom it said "pastor discounts".

 

[The_Universe]

I've got nothing in your area, but I work for a major consulting firm in the DC area. English majors are certainly not turned away. Secondarily, my wife works at a legislative research firm, and I know that they're hiring, urgently. Currently around $15/hour.

I know you've got a lease on an apartment for another month, but the worst you can do is lose the deposit. If there aren't jobs in Atlanta, you have to get out of there - it sounds like you're drowning, and that's not good.

Anyway, if you can consider a change in scenery, shoot me a copy of your resume.

kennon.bauman @ gmail.com

carpe diem, RW.