Holland | Interview Possible New Hire

stlrsfn1

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I got call today to verify my info and she said everything looked good and was sending it to Joliet terminal for interview. First I have 13 years LTL experience so I kind of know what to expect. Anything about Joliet I should know. Plus reason I'm looking is my insurance jumped up to over 200 dollars a week for family. That's ridiculous!! Any info would be appreciated
 
I used to work the road and Joliet always seemed to have more work than they could handle.

We don't pay anything for insurance, short term disability, or life insurance, but keep in mind, especially if you go to the road, you may get stuck on a run where the pay is not the greatest. If you can tough it out for six months or a year, until they hire some more employees, then you can make some good money.
 
Are you applying for city or line haul? If you are applying for line haul, your best bet is to contact the line haul steward. You could call Local 179 and ask for the Business Agent for Holland and he can put you in touch with the steward. It is important to know if you would be forced on a low paying line haul bid, or if you'll be able to run the open board (and make more $). The line haul steward can give you the best picture of what the job will be there in Joliet.

If you're looking for city work, be ready for tons of hours, with OT after 8 hours, everyday.

And get ready for the negative nancys to come here to bitch and complain.

Good luck
 
Are you applying for city or line haul? If you are applying for line haul, your best bet is to contact the line haul steward. You could call Local 179 and ask for the Business Agent for Holland and he can put you in touch with the steward. It is important to know if you would be forced on a low paying line haul bid, or if you'll be able to run the open board (and make more $). The line haul steward can give you the best picture of what the job will be there in Joliet.

If you're looking for city work, be ready for tons of hours, with OT after 8 hours, everyday.

And get ready for the negative nancys to come here to bitch and complain.

Good luck
The linehaul and city are the same stewards in Joliet
 
It is for city position. I understand there will probably be time waiting on phone call and all that.Used to working long hours I have a family to support so I have to do what I have to do. 800 a month for insurance just seems way to much
 
It is for city position. I understand there will probably be time waiting on phone call and all that.Used to working long hours I have a family to support so I have to do what I have to do. 800 a month for insurance just seems way to much

This is a good time of year to start in the city. You have the busy time and vacations ahead. Hopefully by fall you will have enough hired behind you that you can bid a regular start time.
 
Snark Monkey, post: 904029, member: 34770"]This is a good time of year to start in the city. You have the busy time and vacations ahead. Hopefully by fall you will have enough hired behind you that you can bid a regular start time.[/QUOTE]
That would be nice!! How long is probation period? And when would benefits kick in.
 
How long is probation period? When will insurance kick in? It would be nice not paying for insurance which would be a blessing and worth me taking leap. I will have to get used to union setting but don't think it will be big issue for me.
 
How long is probation period? When will insurance kick in? It would be nice not paying for insurance which would be a blessing and worth me taking leap. I will have to get used to union setting but don't think it will be big issue for me.

The company can work you casual for a long time. Its based on a formula of full time hours to casual hours and it's kind of confusing for someone new. Trust me, the Stewards keep a close watch on the hours and will pester the TM to hire when the hours get high. But you will have to work casual for a while.

Getting hired on really depends on starting early in the year (Feb/March/April) and how many other casuals they hire behind you. The Company doesn't necessarily have to hire in the order that you started as a casual. They can hire someone that started behind you first. But the Company also doesn't want hard feelings, so as long as you're a good worker, you will probably get hired in the order you started.

With that said, you should always be willing to work whatever shift they ask, while keeping a positive attitude. Just like any other job try not to be a problem child. Also, learn who the City Stewards are and make them your friends

Once the company decides to hire you, you will get a 30 day probation letter, then you're in the union after the 30th day. Your benefits will start 8 weeks after the end of your probation. Basicly from the day you get your probation letter its about 90 days until you get benefits.

Don't get discouraged about working causal, last fall at my terminal, some of the guys hired got a probationary letter the very first week they worked.

Hang in there and don't be afraid to ask questions at your terminal. You will be able to tell right away which guys you can talk to easily. You can also ask questions on here. Private message somebody on here if you don't feel comfortable posting a question on the thread.

It all sounds a lot more complicated than it really is. Good Luck!
 
How long is probation period? When will insurance kick in? It would be nice not paying for insurance which would be a blessing and worth me taking leap. I will have to get used to union setting but don't think it will be big issue for me.
30 calendar days probation,90 days insurance but I actually think it depends on what day of the month you start.I would call Suburban Teamsters of Northern Il they handle the insurance for 179.(630)293-5218.Hope this helps.
 
How long is probation period? When will insurance kick in? It would be nice not paying for insurance which would be a blessing and worth me taking leap. I will have to get used to union setting but don't think it will be big issue for me.
If I could ask the question "what is a union setting" mean to a new hire?
 
If I could give any advice to a new hire it would be " DONT USE THE UNION AS A CRUTCH". This a big mistake that a lot of new hires have made. The lesson is harsh and labeling.
 
Flash since you have left the company they've started a "Mentor Program" due to all the new hires. In my attempt at mentoring I flunked miserably. I guess old school P & D was not in their vocabulary. I could write a couple of pages on ridiculous excuses made to me about why they don't have to perform a certain duty to fulfill their task. All I can say is mentoring "NOT"
 
I guess old school P & D was not in their vocabulary.
Of course, why would a company that was very successful (with us old guy's mentality and work ethic) want to continue such a ridiculous practice? It would be just plain stupid to follow a successful model, plus you could mess around and bring a sense of pride back to the company. Shame on you for even attempting to do such a thing. {obvious sarcasm}

I could write a couple of pages on ridiculous excuses made to me about why they don't have to perform a certain duty to fulfill their task. All I can say is mentoring "NOT"
We've got nothing but time......Fire away.
:popcorn:
 
I could throw out a few other statements that a "union setting" COULD mean, but I don't want to make those assumptions. Maybe he'll explain.
 
You just gotta make your 30 day probation and your golden.....you basically just gotta make it into work 30 days and have a pulse. They need people bad.....it would take something really bad not to make your probation. No joke....show up and your hired! 90 days for insurance.....you'll be on call for quite awhile but you should work every day. I believe you start at 75% of scale(22.59)...so around 18/hr. 3 years to top scale I think.
I would honestly try Ups Freight or Abf first if your close to one of their terminals.
 
Thanks for the all of the info. I will consider it when making my decision. Plus what I meant by union setting is I never worked at union shop before. Nothing more than that. Wasn't implying anything by saying it. Just figured I could get info on how union works in freight business.
 
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