08-26-2012, 07:54 PM
Yes, turned out the best choice I ever made career wise. I was driving for a local company, home every night, but only making 400.00/week. I got an offer to go long haul for 600.00/week average and took it.
Sure I wanted to be home, to work on building my house, I wanted my weekends off and, I gave that up for the long haul job.
Nine year later I was making over 80,000 a year with full benefits 100% paid by the company. This spring I was diagnosed with diabetes and put on insulin so, no longer able to drive tractor trailer. My company kept my salary going for three months while I got my disability approved and, to this day they still pay my life insurance and put 200.00 per week in my 401K (retirement plan account).
Yes I was their top earning, top production driver, making the the biggest profits of all of their trucks. 2 million miles safe driver with them, NEVER late to a customer and, was very instrumental in working out the salary plan they use to pay drivers as well as converting the company form paper logs to electronic logs and, getting on board satellite communication into the trucks. But they could have cut me loose entirely the day I was unable to drive. They didn't and, had I stuck to my preferences, I'd never have gone to work for them.
Of course today, my house is built, got that done with what home time I had. I'm pretty well set financially and, am trying to find a job I can do simply because I like working but, had I gone for what I like over the money, I'd be screwed today.
For me, the money and benefits are more important. I can handle a few years of a less than ideal job when it gets me where I want to be for the future and, more money with better benefits is a key factor in getting the retirement you dream of.
Sure I wanted to be home, to work on building my house, I wanted my weekends off and, I gave that up for the long haul job.
Nine year later I was making over 80,000 a year with full benefits 100% paid by the company. This spring I was diagnosed with diabetes and put on insulin so, no longer able to drive tractor trailer. My company kept my salary going for three months while I got my disability approved and, to this day they still pay my life insurance and put 200.00 per week in my 401K (retirement plan account).
Yes I was their top earning, top production driver, making the the biggest profits of all of their trucks. 2 million miles safe driver with them, NEVER late to a customer and, was very instrumental in working out the salary plan they use to pay drivers as well as converting the company form paper logs to electronic logs and, getting on board satellite communication into the trucks. But they could have cut me loose entirely the day I was unable to drive. They didn't and, had I stuck to my preferences, I'd never have gone to work for them.
Of course today, my house is built, got that done with what home time I had. I'm pretty well set financially and, am trying to find a job I can do simply because I like working but, had I gone for what I like over the money, I'd be screwed today.
For me, the money and benefits are more important. I can handle a few years of a less than ideal job when it gets me where I want to be for the future and, more money with better benefits is a key factor in getting the retirement you dream of.
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