It was only the third day on the job, and I was very committed to becoming a trusted and faithfull employee, looking at the $15/h plus overtime. Plus, it is a relatively easy job....much easier than painting, masonry, carpentry, ceramic tile, or landscaping. Hey, I'm a healthy 57 year old....I'm healthy as a horse, and just as smart!
For customers looking to get their home's 275 gal tank filled with #2 heating oil, what seemed to matter the most was the price. $2.999/gal-150gal minimum-paid on delivery, and 3.099/gal-125 gal minimum-paid on delivery are a lot less than the prices of last July and the phone was ringng. No money-no oil........(period)!
I found this job via a classified in the Laconia Daily Sun.
To drive an oil or gasoline tanker, one needs a cdl driver's license w/ tanker, air brakes, and hazadous material endorsements. Plus, the Dept of Homeland Security has a very new requirement, a TWIC, transportation worker's identity credential.
I've read that something like 110% of all US truck drivers change jobs every year, and 50% of truckers are cigarette smokers.
When I got the bad news that I was being terminated....it's 8am....I walk into the little office, and after a couple minutes of me standing there, my boss gets up off the phone, looks at me....and says we need to talk, outside....we step outside....he takes one very long last inhale on his cigarette.....flicks the still lit ciggie out onto the yard....takes a long hard look at me.......finger-points.....and he says...."YOU WERE DOING PUSH-UPS!
Oh well, time to move on: will unchock the wheeels, set it into second gear, and slowly roll forward, looking for the next job. Say, there's a reason why 110% of US truckers switch jobs each year.