Interview for a local gig hauling building materials!

I don't mean to throw cold water on you, but from what you are saying about your past injuries, I think you need to look at this realistically. This is going to be a VERY labor intensive job, with a whole lot of heavy lifting and carrying. Sure, some of your loads will be forked on and forked off the truck. But there are others you will be hand unloading, and likely packing to where the customer wants their stuff.

Residential contractors in particular, are A-holes, as a rule. They will park their trucks so that you can't get into the delivery spot, and while you may get them to move so you can get in close to your drop, you will catch a lot of grief over it. Particularly if you are delivering dry wall, and it is a plumber or electrician that has you blocked out. (I'm just using that as an example, but you get the idea.)

I did a short gig doing local delivery on HVAC and plumbing. Commercial sights were not too bad, usually, but when you wind up doing residential deliveries in a new subdivisions, where the contractors are "gang banging" the house, it can be a mess.

And then you have the jerks who expect you to pack whatever you are delivering up several flights of stairs for an apartment house. Depending on your company, you may actually be required to do that. Hopefully, you company won't allow you to, but don't bet on it.

I know of a few building supply outfits here where I live, that won't even consider somebody they do not believe can pack 250+ pounds all day, every day.

 

I agree with Big Don (as usual).I used to deliver trenching machine rentals to new construction sites, and it was a mess. It wasn't so bad for me, as I off loaded the machine on the street, and drove it where ever, but I had seen drivers unloading their sticks in the mud, and getting stuck, because these lazy schmucks didn't want to carry it any farther than they had to. Drywall too, man, I felt bad for that guy.( not bad enough to help him though, hey, he picked his job, I picked mine). Don't dispair, however. Now I see a lot of these places have those Jeeps on the tail of the wagon. If that's all you did, I suppose that would be ok, but rest assured, you will finger print a lot. Quite frankly, I'd keep lookin', good luck.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4364245]I agree with Big Don (as usual).I used to deliver trenching machine rentals to new construction sites, and it was a mess. It wasn't so bad for me, as I off loaded the machine on the street, and drove it where ever, but I had seen drivers unloading their sticks in the mud, and getting stuck, because these lazy schmucks didn't want to carry it any farther than they had to. Drywall too, man, I felt bad for that guy.( not bad enough to help him though, hey, he picked his job, I picked mine). Don't dispair, however. Now I see a lot of these places have those Jeeps on the tail of the wagon. If that's all you did, I suppose that would be ok, but rest assured, you will finger print a lot. Quite frankly, I'd keep lookin', good luck.[/QUOTE]

Not to intrude on this convo but I recently got offered a position at a local drywall company driving their boom truck with crane attached. Start pay during training is 13.50 aprox 1-2 weeks once I start driving its 14-14.50 and after 90 day evaluation its 15-16 plus time and half after 40. They curently avg. 55-60 hrs a week. Is this the avg. start in the the industry. I turned down an offer at pepsi because they pay 12.56 per hr. Unless you have your own route. I have a class A with n/t endorsements. And dont want to go on the rd for 2wks at a time so im looking for local work.

Thanks

 

Hi tt, not to worry, I intrude all the time. Seems a little low for such a labor intensive job, but that could be average starting pay for your area. Not sure in SC, but in Wis. it's kind of seasonal. Not much building goes on in winter, so I'm sure they will run you ragged when the weather is nice. Don't forget, you'll probably have to tarp it too. Nobody wants wet drywall. You would be better off going to the freight companies, and do a P&D thing or line haul, or if you have the guts for it, a gas tanker job. That's all local, good luck. Soda haulers are usually at the bottom of the pay deal.

 

Alot of this depends on your limitations.....at the end of your WC claim you should have been given a work assessment test of some kind to let the Dr's get an idea of the extent of your permanent restrictions. All of this should have been documented at the time of you settling with WC. If you choose to take a job that violates those restrictions ( if any ) then you'll be on the hook for any future medical bills. At least I would think so.

 

I will assume that the injuries were legitimate therefore under that assumption,why would one even remotely consider an occupation that would lead to the possibility of having to revisit those same injuries? why risk the possibility of having those same injuries plague you for the rest of your life?

the employer should not even consider hiring you regardless due to your prior injuries.

 

The workmen's comp history alone may cause them to pass you by. What they are offering is a very "physically demanding" job and with your history, I'd not take a chance with you. They (employers) can smell potential costly problems a mile away, and sorry to say, you are going to be considered a "high-risk employee" by many, especially those dealing with machinery, moving heavy objects above chest high, high platforms, slippery work-sites with lots of fall hazards ... the list goes on and on