I seem to have a life-long habbit of collecting licences, only to let them lapse when the usefullness is over.
Anyway, the owner of the place I am working right now was tossing around ideas and one of them was sending me to get a DZ so I can take his trucks on the road. Ive driven D and A trucks, but that was federal jusisdiction so a provincial licence wasnt needed, hence I never bothered getting one.
I can easily see the bonus to having it... But what are the potential downsides? If any.
I can easily see the bonus to having it... But what are the potential downsides? If any.
Lot lizards.
And, lot lizards.
I can see you explaining to the OP one day how you used to fly planes, and that the guy ordering at the drive thru did not ask for a French Vanilla & English Toffee Coffee. "He specifically asked for "it" Officer, and I rang him up accordingly."
Yeh, right. I KNOW EXACTLY what this guy is thinking. He is too cheap to pull his line drivers off the road for maintance runs, so figures he can pull me off the admin work and send me out a lot cheaper.
WHICH, in time and going by past experience, means they want you available 24-7-365 on 3 minute notice.
THAT b.s. Is exactly what put me into contract work in the 1st place.
Downsides? First, it's not cheap. It's great if your boss is paying the initial fee but someone will have to pay to renew it. Second, if you don't have skills, don't bother. You have to take a driving test. It's not difficult but you won't pass it if you haven't practiced. Third, you'll have to take a DOT (or whatever Canada has) physical EVERY year. It's not your standard 10 minute physical so it's a bit more money. Finally, with a CDL, you are held to a higher motoring standard. Get caught with drugs and it won't affect your regular drivers license (assuming the drugs had nothing to do with your driving). Get caught with drugs (even at home) whilst holding a CDL and you could lose it (meaning you won't be able to drive at all).
Basically, if you're not going to use it (and use it seriously), don't bother with it.
You pay higher fines if you have a cdl even if you are in a personal car. Also in the states, having a cdl automatically cuts you BAC in half to .04 for DUI. Higher renewal fees and basically just another thing to be held over your head. However on the other side of things, it opens up a lot of job opportunities.
This gig is only sheduled for 200 hours as of right now, so I think Ill tell him I wont be around long enough to make use of it.
I know from past experience once companies have you on the road, they wont back off until you are pretty much living in the damn vehicle and I aint going there again.
Maybe ill reconsider in 12 weeks if the contract works out and it turns into something else, but for now I am perfectly happy driving a keyboard.
