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Post by LEAD DOG on Jun 17, 2008 20:10:52 GMT -5
Jeez, it's that bad huh? They have not let anyone go yet, but work is slower, the residental work is almost zero. And there is no OT at all lately. I've never seen it this bad either, not in 30 years.  ....HQ STARVED OUT 4 MORE DRIVERS FROM OUR NORTHERN OHIO PLANT. THEY MADE THEM QUIT AND GOT OUTTA PAYING THIER UNEMPLOYMENT.....FELLAS, I'M TELLIN' YA's THAT THESE ARE GOOD DRIVERS WITH FAMILIES.....THIS WHOLE THING IS WEARIN' ME DOWN TO THE KNUB. HQ WENT THRU ALL THIER "undesireables", AND NOW GOING AFTER THE CREAM OF THE CROP!  ....BASTARDS  ! THINGS AIN'T PRETTY IN OHIO FOR SURE. |
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Post by Crazy Mudder Trucker on Jun 17, 2008 21:54:28 GMT -5
Jeez, it's that bad huh? They have not let anyone go yet, but work is slower, the residental work is almost zero. And there is no OT at all lately. I've never seen it this bad either, not in 30 years. I can only imagine, granted our outfit is huge, but we're feeling the pinch to. They rewrote the employee handbook to the company benefit. Before drivers could roll a truck, get into accidents and keep their job. Now when you're involved in an incident depending on the severity of it they give you points. Once you reach 12 points its lights out. It is getting really slow.I hope that after the election is over it begins to pick up. |
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Post by concretejoe on Jun 21, 2008 9:44:19 GMT -5
When will the companies learn that we are in a service not manufacturing oriented business? Concrete is concrete. It gets hard and you can drive on it. What really seperates companies is their service. All the contractors really give a crap about is wether or not their concrete will show up when they ordered it, be the right mix and slump and be delivered by a person who won't make them work any harder than they have to. The way to survive, and excel, during down times in a service oriented business is to increase your ability to service the customer not take steps to hinder your ability to service the customer. I have said it all along. A driver waiting in the yard to take a load is being productive. He is ready to deliver concrete at a moments notice. That will maintain customers and get new ones in any type of market, but especially in a downturn. When times are great the company hires drivers to increase their capacity. This enables them to service the influx of customers. Customers like the service so they give more business to the company and they tell their friends. Thus requiring more drivers and the cycle just continues to repeat. In a down turn the first thing that this industry targets is the driver. They tighten their belt. It makes sense, if you are making less then try to pay less. It makes sense, but it's the wrong answer. When you decrease your ability to service the customer you decrease your ability to maintain your customer base and even expand it. The tendency to be late for jobs increases. You loose customers "forcing" a further reduction in work force, and it spirals down from there. In a down market you should be concentrating on ways to outshine your competition, not underspend them.
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Post by Mort on Jun 21, 2008 10:35:04 GMT -5
I heard that our company laid off the second shift of loader operators. Just drew a line on the seniority list, and if you were under it, bye bye. Of course, we're a mine too, so that didn't really affect readymix, but its still a sign of the times.
But damn, I finally got a five day week in! And Friday was all overtime. That really helps, because I have a baby due on Thursday and could use the dough. They've also given me a newer truck, and put me through a forklift class. I'm HOPING that means I'll be a little more layoff-proof if the time comes, but I'm still checking the classifieds every weekend.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jun 22, 2008 21:08:59 GMT -5
(QUOTE)When will the companies learn that we are in a service not manufacturing oriented business? Concrete is concrete. It gets hard and you can drive on it. What really seperates companies is their service. HOLY MOLY JOE, YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD. THE SOB's WANT ME TO TRAIN THESE GUYS JUST SO THEY CAN STARVE THEM OUT WHEN THINGS SLOW DOWN. WE GOT....er....HAD SOME REAL CRACKER JACK NEW & JUNIOR DRIVERS HERE. OUR SERVICE IN THIS AREA WAS SECOND TO NONE....I HAVEN'T A CLUE WHERE WE STAND ON THAT ANYMORE....IT'S GETTING REALLY ROUGH IN NORTHEAST OHIO FELLA's |
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gant
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Post by gant on Jun 22, 2008 21:56:46 GMT -5
The company I work for is the largest in the state with over 20 plants and 300 trucks and they are getting tight.. i was told that the big man is being ruthless with getting work.. slashing prices and selling concrete so cheap the contractors wont even tell us the price.... we've picked up alot of residential.. i'm averaging 35 hours a week right now..a month ago it was 15-25. lastyear I was averaging 60+..I made damn near 60k lastyear.. I'll be lucky to break $35k at this rate.. we havent had any layoffs since we've had enough work to bring everyone in lately.. but I'm lookin for the axe soon.. I'm 3rd from the bottom now.. I was 15 from the bottom lastyear we've had alot of guys starve and quit.. I'm lucky my wife makes as much money as I do per hour and gets all the hours she wants..
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jun 24, 2008 0:12:51 GMT -5
TWO OF OUR RAIL MATERIAL UNLOADERS (stone dudes) QUIT LAST WEEK. THAT JUST LEAVES TWO AT THE STONE YARD. 18 OUT OF 33 DRIVERS FROM MY PLANT WAS CALLED IN TODAY. THEY'RE WHITTLING US DOWN TO TOOTH PICKS........sigh......
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gant
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Post by gant on Jun 24, 2008 6:51:10 GMT -5
It was 85* yesterday and 5 of us were sitting at home..hell lastyear i didnt know what it was like to be brought in after 7 am and never got called off till about dec. for a day or so..but we poured 700+ yards when it was 3* last winter..
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jun 24, 2008 21:10:11 GMT -5
WOW FELLAS  ! HQ REACH A NEW LOW TODAY! THEY WENT AS FAR AS TO REMOVE ALL THE RENTED FLOOR MATS AND TOWELS AND TOWEL DISPENSERS. THEN ALL THE RENTED SOAP DISPENSERS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A BAR OF PUMICE SOAP AT ALL OUR PLANTS  !....AMAZING! 
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Post by Ideal Driver on Jun 24, 2008 22:34:40 GMT -5
Doing good so far here in Iowa. I been averageing about 45 hrs a week. Could get more but I like having Saturdays to play. I'm kinda suprised about it, seeings how the whole dam state has been underwater for the past month or so.
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Post by Mort on Jun 25, 2008 17:02:09 GMT -5
Wow. Is this company one that would step over a $100 bill to pick up a nickel? Sounds like a few I've worked for before. |
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Post by BillyCement on Jun 25, 2008 17:38:40 GMT -5
I'll bet the next thing is they'll make you bring your own toilet paper.
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Post by concretejoe on Jun 25, 2008 19:02:43 GMT -5
I'll bet the next thing is they'll make you bring your own toilet paper. Nah, there gonna charge you a quarter to go. |
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jun 26, 2008 19:26:24 GMT -5
YA KNOW....IT JUST WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IN THE LEAST .
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Post by mixedupdiesel on Jun 26, 2008 20:35:53 GMT -5
we were doing TERRIBLE in the last month, >150 yds but we just had a 1400 yd day, it all came at once, but we only have 120 for tomorrow, sigh. We've had a slurry of applicants come through this week too, interviews, etc. Maybe things are on the up-swing in north carolina.
Lead Dog, If the axe falls, I'm sure we'd be glad to have you. They're still hiring experienced drivers, but no more greenhorns. (We're down by 4 drivers, one passed away,and two got out by drugs, and the fourth is now a pumper, ohhhh man...)
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jun 26, 2008 20:49:45 GMT -5
WELL THANKS FOR YOUR KIND OFFER OL' BUDDY! BUT IF I GET THE AXE I THINK I'LL TRY SOMETHING NEW...LIKE BEING A FUNERAL DIRECTOR . I HEAR THE CUSTOMERS ARE PRETTY QUIET AND LAID BACK  .
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Post by mixedupdiesel on Jun 26, 2008 20:51:25 GMT -5
LOL
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gant
Junior Member
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Post by gant on Jun 27, 2008 6:22:14 GMT -5
I'm working on the ones that need to retire everyday... there are 3 of them that are at the age.. but wont do leave and one of them is the most greedy person i've ever met..
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Post by lafargeslave on Jun 27, 2008 19:14:24 GMT -5
"one of them is the most greedy person i've ever met.. "
Im sure I have him beat. Pay per load will convert anyone. 29 loads this week, 61 hours ran out of 4 different plants. some paving on an air force runway, poured on 2 different bridges, footing in the new minor league stadium were the more interesting pours. at noon we hear names being called on the radio to come to the office. next thing you see them walking off with their lunch boxs. layoffs/firings. down to 208 drivers in our area. cant trust any of the managers.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jul 4, 2008 7:56:14 GMT -5
HEY FELLAS!!! THE OL' LEAD DOG MAY HAVE DODGED THE LAY-OFF AXE ;D!! OUR SUPER SALESMAN "BONER JACK" LANDINDED A $25 MILLION PROJECT AT THE METRO ZOO. LOTS n LOTS of CONCRETE!!! THERES TALK OF CALLING BACK SOME LAID-OFF DRIVERS TOO!! SOME GOOD NEWS FINALLY !!!  |
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Post by cfconcrete on Jul 4, 2008 9:43:44 GMT -5
Lead Dog, you go in there to pour and they might not let you back out, ya big dumb hairy ape you!  |
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Post by concretejoe on Jul 4, 2008 9:54:08 GMT -5
Lead Dog, you go in there to pour and they might not let you back out, ya big dumb hairy ape you! And on your left you can see.... |
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Post by LEAD DOG on Jul 4, 2008 14:18:56 GMT -5
Lead Dog, you go in there to pour and they might not let you back out, ya big dumb hairy ape you! And on your left you can see.... |
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Post by concretejoe on Jul 4, 2008 14:27:57 GMT -5
HEY FELLAS!!! THE OL' LEAD DOG MAY HAVE DODGED THE LAY-OFF AXE ;D!! OUR SUPER SALESMAN "BONER JACK" LANDINDED A $25 MILLION PROJECT AT THE METRO ZOO. LOTS n LOTS of CONCRETE!!! THERES TALK OF CALLING BACK SOME LAID-OFF DRIVERS TOO!! SOME GOOD NEWS FINALLY !!! That's good news LeadDog. We just sealed the deal on a couple big projects here too. Now, if we could just get them to start... |
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....HQ STARVED OUT 4 MORE DRIVERS FROM OUR NORTHERN OHIO PLANT. THEY MADE THEM QUIT AND GOT OUTTA PAYING THIER UNEMPLOYMENT.....FELLAS, I'M TELLIN' YA's THAT THESE ARE GOOD DRIVERS WITH FAMILIES.....THIS WHOLE THING IS WEARIN' ME DOWN TO THE KNUB. HQ WENT THRU ALL THIER "undesireables", AND NOW GOING AFTER THE CREAM OF THE CROP! 
....BASTARDS 
! THINGS AIN'T PRETTY IN OHIO FOR SURE. 
! HQ REACH A NEW LOW TODAY! THEY WENT AS FAR AS TO REMOVE ALL THE RENTED FLOOR MATS AND TOWELS AND TOWEL DISPENSERS. THEN ALL THE RENTED SOAP DISPENSERS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A BAR OF PUMICE SOAP AT ALL OUR PLANTS 
!....AMAZING! 
.
