LUVTruck.com

hey guys,

Fedex just isnt helping me pay the bills, and i really dont know what kind of job to work at, so i would like your input.

I've decided to go back to school and get certified doing something. Automotive, Diesel, HVAC, welding etc. all sound interesting to me, but i cant decide what i really want to do.

What kind of career choice would you recommend for someone that loves machines, working on and modifying cars, and want to fabricate the things and ideas that are rolling around in his head?

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

I have been in the office machine business for 34 years. I started out fixing typewriters and now I am in the copier business. Good copier techs make decent money and it is challenging work. You said you love machines well copiers and printers have plenty of moving parts to keep you busy. You don't get too dirty either compared to automotive, plus most offices are air conditioned. There are large copier companies and mom and pop shops. If you want to give it a try just get your foot in the door and go from there. Many of my techs started out as my driver and showed a desire to become technicians and had the technical ability. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you work hard and do your best everyday it all comes back to you eventually.

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Three Amigos

I've never been "certified" in to many things but with the way I grew up I had to learn to do what needed to be done because there was no way possible to call anyone to fix anything. I have been a welder and garage hound mechanic all my life and can always make a few $$$'s in my shop when I need. The only requirements I've seen calling for a welding certification is welding gas lines or food service processing requirements as in a factory. I've never done those. (I love welding, fabricating and general industrial work) I took two years of auto Body and painting in the early 80's and painted cars for a few years before joining the Air Force and still do as my own hobby work but from my own way of life, I don't plan to go back to doing that for a living. HVAC seems to me to be the way to go. People always need Heat and most don't want to give up A/C once they have it.

I know I'm getting a little long here but about 7 or 8 years ago there was an article in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics (I forget which one) that stated with the way our society is going, our nation would be 250,000 short in almost all SKILLED TRADES in 10 years. They listed Mechanics, Welders, Plumbers, HVAC, Carpenters, Electricians and even went on to say Dry Wall specialist and carpet layers will become more and more in demand. It's happening here in Great Falls, I remodeled my basement and it took me three weeks to get a carpet installer that could come lay my carpet. I might have been able to get it done sooner if I had used an installer from the place where I bought the carpet but I ran the yellow pages and I was amazed at how busy they all were. I have friends working in Dry wall that are booked solid even in our current economic times. Good luck with what you choose.

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In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

automotive school did good with me. i went and got my Certfication 1 and 2 plus my ASE Cert. and worked in a few shops plus 2 mufflers shops and now im self emploed and working on getting my shop open up. welding also comes in handy too man sky is the limit. get like your own welding truck and equipment post some flyers out and stuff. like i said the sky is the limit. just depends on what path ya wanna go.

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Stick Shift Racing

1980 Ford Mustang LX Notchback
1980 Chevy El Camino Conquista

HVAC is a good trade.. They are in demand in Texas, but I do not know at your area... Check the want ads in your area... It may sound like a girlie job but a nurse makes good money, and with all of us Baby boomers getting older
it is almost a sure thing. My son is in school, for pharmacy tech. He is 31 and was the parts manager for a now defunct Dodge-Jeep dealer... He is getting out of the car business. He has done parts for 10 years or so. To many parts people now available, even Autozone has enough, cheap follow the computer people. Does your Chevy have A/C to find a engine mount.... It doesn't matter for that.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

i was thinking about doing my ASE certification, but i dont want to take something i like doing, but i dont want to burn out on that.

welding and metal fabrication is something that i would like to do, but i dont know if it's something that i can turn into a business.


keep the ideas coming guys!

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

Getting an ASE license is something else. Last time I asked around, you needed two years experience in the automotive field to even take the test.

Good luck man, and figure out what you really wanna do and get some education before you start applying to different places. Employers catch wind that you're applying, and they move you down the "likely to stick around" list.

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1980 4X4 LUV daily driver, as stock as can be.

unfortunately, im down in the basement of the "likely to stick around" building. Sublevel 25 to be exact

this whole "Brown bailout" has fedex acting like a bunch of 15 year old girls on power trips.

i figured now is a good time to go back to school since i havent worked in about 2 months. i take that back. i've worked a grand total of 2 days since i got back from california and the luv truck trip.

so yeah, time to go to school, study something that will keep me interested, and work doing something i will enjoy. (or can at least start a company with)

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

What's a "brown bailout"?

Apparently/ Supposedly, UPS is lobbying congress to change the way motor carriers operate. in doing so, the change will be in THEIR favor. however, since Fedex is primarily an airline, the change would inhibit operations and basically gum up the works.

so what fedex is doing, is cutting hours and attempting to retain ONLY their long time employees that have alot of senority to prepare for trouble. that leaves us supplementary employees SOL.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

Wow, just when you thought washington was done reaming...

exactly. so since i've worked a whole 2 days since the end of jan, i figured now would be a good time to do something positive by going to school and getting trained in something.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

so after some thought (and getting some financial aid paperwork done), i've decided to take a welding course. I have yet to decide on Diesel technology, or automotive as my second course (provided i can take both concurrently)

if it doesnt pan out, HVAC is my next choice.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

Welding as a profession is good money, but I see a LOT of welders have to retire early due to their health, so take the proper precautions, always...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



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