Anybody here work for CSX?

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I desperately want to get out of truck driving. It's a dog eat dog world and everybody is looking to get a piece of my hide out there these days. But I cannot/will not make a move that takes us backwards. I have a family to support, a house to pay for.. you know, the usual stuff.

Just wondering if any of you guys work for CSX? I could see myself really enjoying a career switch to the railroad. That's part of why I feel like I'm at such a dead end driving truck. There is no "moving up" or "bettering yourself" doing what I do. It's simply this: you want to make more money, you just grind your rear end into the pavement more every day. There is no doing better based on what you have learned, or how you have grown in a position. I am really tired of this situation and feeling like I'm doing as good as I'm going to do in this field. I want to use my brain more... and have the chance to work my way up.

Anyhow, was just wondering how you like it, or if you have friends/family working for CSX how they like it.

I need to do better than this.....I have too many years left to work, and I just can't do this for another 30 years. It's bad enough now. I think I would end up in a mental institution of I stay doing this another 30 years. Been at it long enough.

[kb0nly]

Don't work for CSX but just wanted to say best of luck to you! I have friends that were truck drivers, both of them quit doing it also. One moved into being a Motor Carrier Inspector for State Patrol, another moved into local delivery driving, not a big change in my opinion but he said its nice being home every night and getting paid the same or more. So i guess i can see his points as he used to be gone from home two weeks at a time.

I got my CDL back in my farm days, let it lapse and never went to renew it. Just knew it wouldnt be the life for me.

[250rAL]

Try this forum:
http://www.yardlimits.com/forums/

[Bren_downe]

I went through that also. Drove OTR for a moving company for five years. Back breaking labor and very very stressfull. Great pay but I was on the road for about two or three weeks at a time with maybe two three days off inbetween trips.
Three years ago I got a job driving a yard truck, decent pay good benefits and I'm home every night to see my family and have time to think about what I really want to do with my life while
Still making enough money to pay the bills. Your right there isn't much room to grow in the trucking industry unless you wanna be an O/O or start your own company. Sorry no advice on CSX but good
Luck on your quest for
A new career.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Thanks guys for the replies...

I have moved into a dedicated position where I am home daily. It's not so much the home time or pay that has me wanting more. I am paid $0.48 per loaded mile and $0.45 for deadhead, along with other extra pay items. My company also has a very generous annual safety bonus program (Usally about $700, but this year I will hit 5 consecutive years for an additional $2500 on top of that), a monthly fuel bonus and a monthly compliance bonus (no log violations/tickets) that are good for about a 50 dollar bill a month... I have no complaints about my pay. I an pretty convinced you would be challenged to find a better paid company driver than me.

My issue is I feel like I am selling myself short. I fell back on my CDL and returned to trucking just about 7 years ago now. I was doing service tech work before. The hours got screwy and I was unexpectedly laid off, just before closing on our first home purchase. I was not able to stay there with things being so uncertain and with a brand new mortgage to pay. So that is why I returned to trucking...

I just feel like I can/need to do better. I'm having trouble really putting to words the frustration and kind of "stuck" feeling I have had for the last couple of years.... Nothing wrong with being a driver, it's an honest, respectable living. I just have this growing, compelling feeling that there is something else I should be doing to get my family's situation to the next level...

[kb0nly]

I would say in this economy if anyone can say they are satisfied with their pay thats reason enough not to make a change, i understand your feeling of not going anywhere, honestly i do. But it comes down to dollar signs these days. If your in a financially secure job, even if it feels like a daily grind, its better than being in the situation a lot of people i know are. Barely scraping by...

My bills are paid, i'm not exactly happy with my daily life when it comes to work either, but i dont want to make a change and disrupt what i have worked so hard for. I would say if your family is fed, has a place they call home, and the bills are paid, not sure if you can really find that "next level" anymore. Seems to me like now days its all about living rather than having extra. And if anyone disagrees with that then your obviously doing pretty good for yourself!

Sounds to me like your doing a damn fine job providing for your family, even if your feeling like you could do more.