lets talk $$$$$$$$

[reppy007]

Ok guys so for the past few years ,maybe you had a 3% raise ,thats great and all but do you ever benifit because you have the CDL license....we are the ones that actually saved the companies all kinds of $$$$ when we took up driving years ago.....with the truckdrivers gone,the company saves on benifits and all.....you would think that CDL would kind of mean something even years later.....or was it a one shot deal?

[STLmo1986]

Im hardly an expert, but the feeling I get now is its expected. I applied for an entry level apprenticeship with a utility when I was 20 (im 25 now) they wouldn't even look at me. The response email I got outlined two points, no electrical experience and no CDL.

[Swamprat]

Im hardly an expert, but the feeling I get now is its expected. I applied for an entry level apprenticeship with a utility when I was 20 (im 25 now) they wouldn't even look at me. The response email I got outlined two points, no electrical experience and no CDL.

Get a CDL License my man. It will enhance your job application prspects incredibly.
Not just, applying for a job in the line trade...but alot of other trades too.

[reppy007]

Im hardly an expert, but the feeling I get now is its expected. I applied for an entry level apprenticeship with a utility when I was 20 (im 25 now) they wouldn't even look at me. The response email I got outlined two points, no electrical experience and no CDL.

Well ,where do I start.I will be fair to you and try to explain what I meant....no sense in hiding anything...right or wrong....this is what I saw, STLmo1986....back years ago we had what you called hydraulic truck drivers....also on the large /big crews everyone had a truckdriver....lineman usually didnt drive...the truck driver was like a secretary for the headlineman/leadlineman...which-ever you want to call them....he would handle most of..if not all of the paperwork....timesheets,requlsitions,ect. while also keeping up with the truck,checking fluids,and the like......they were also pretty knowledgeable about linework....some could practially read the linemans mind........some were that good.....well little that we knew,we were offered/told to get ourselves the CDL licenses...we and the union thought it over and took the bait....we did get a small raise......but the company had something else in mind......you will see where this is heading if you really think about it......after getting the CDLs ..what do you think started happening to the truck drivers.....slowly but surely they were being phased out/let go.....why have them,when they had us guys.....we could do both.....lots of good guys were let go...the company saves big time......through the years the savings really add up......on the other hand we were getting a small raise ....like a one shot deal.....and these days some companies act as if they did us a big time favor.....with all the understaffed crews and all I would argue now that we took a big time screwing......and some might even go as far to say that we sold our brothers out.....instead of sticking together,we took the other road that led us into the mess we have today.......that is why the workers have better get their act together and get the unions off their behinds again.

[STLmo1986]

Get a CDL License my man. It will enhance your job application prspects incredibly.
Not just, applying for a job in the line trade...but alot of other trades too.

I have class A CDL already.

[STLmo1986]

Well ,where do I start.I will be fair to you and try to explain what I meant....no sense in hiding anything...right or wrong....this is what I saw, STLmo1986....back years ago we had what you called hydraulic truck drivers....also on the large /big crews everyone had a truckdriver....lineman usually didnt drive...the truck driver was like a secretary for the headlineman/leadlineman...which-ever you want to call them....he would handle most of..if not all of the paperwork....timesheets,requlsitions,ect. while also keeping up with the truck,checking fluids,and the like......they were also pretty knowledgeable about linework....some could practially read the linemans mind........some were that good.....well little that we knew,we were offered/told to get ourselves the CDL licenses...we and the union thought it over and took the bait....we did get a small raise......but the company had something else in mind......you will see where this is heading if you really think about it......after getting the CDLs ..what do you think started happening to the truck drivers.....slowly but surely they were being phased out/let go.....why have them,when they had us guys.....we could do both.....lots of good guys were let go...the company saves big time......through the years the savings really add up......on the other hand we were getting a small raise ....like a one shot deal.....and these days some companies act as if they did us a big time favor.....with all the understaffed crews and all I would argue now that we took a big time screwing......and some might even go as far to say that we sold our brothers out.....instead of sticking together,we took the other road that led us into the mess we have today.......that is why the workers have better get their act together and get the unions off their behinds again.

Ahhh I see, that is indeed a bum deal. I see what ya mean

[reppy007]

Ahhh I see, that is indeed a bum deal. I see what ya mean

Kind of a bum deal,all utilities and contractors want people that have a CDL,if you look at what a truck driver makes per year vs what a lineman makes per year,you will see that the lineman is really getting paid to do linework,the CDL part isnt really included too much.....but as far as the company is concerned that CDL is needed to operate those trucks.....no CDL.....no moving the truck.....we dont really get any part of that package.......its expected,not appreciated.

[STLmo1986]

Kind of a bum deal,all utilities and contractors want people that have a CDL,if you look at what a truck driver makes per year vs what a lineman makes per year,you will see that the lineman is really getting paid to do linework,the CDL part isnt really included too much.....but as far as the company is concerned that CDL is needed to operate those trucks.....no CDL.....no moving the truck.....we dont really get any part of that package.......its expected,not appreciated.

Yea that's the feeling I get, expected.

[duckhunter]

We never had truck drivers, even before CDL's were required. I'm not sure small utilities did. The apprentice schools associated with colleges in Michigan provide the CDL as a part of the curriculm. We reimburse our drivers the difference in the price of a CDL from a general license.