1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Any Commercial Divers here?

Discussion in 'Jobs & Careers' started by mntbiker2008, Jan 2, 2012.

  1. Jan 2, 2012 at 9:20 AM
    #1
    mntbiker2008

    mntbiker2008 [OP] First I derp.. then I herp

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2008
    Member:
    #11718
    Messages:
    8,146
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Aaron
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    93 Pick up 4x4 (sold), 10' Mazda 3
    Just seeing if there are any people in the Commercial Diving field that could lend me some info as to how the job works. I am about to go to school soon down in Louisiana for my Com. Diver cert. and just wanted to know what to expect. The job is right up my alley as far what I like to do.


    Any info would be great!
     
  2. Mar 14, 2012 at 6:46 PM
    #2
    Sido

    Sido Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2012
    Member:
    #70157
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Anchorage
    Vehicle:
    None
    Do you have any ideas as to what you want to haul and what type of driving you want to do? That determines everything. The 3 G's are most lucrative- gas, groceries, and garbage. If you do short haul, you will be home every night, but won't make as much. If you do long haul, you have the potential to make the big bucks, but you will be gone more than not, and you will probably lose a wife/ girlfriend along the way. If you get in specialized trucking you will generally make more money, or something that requires some sort of formal barrier. If you get the Hazmat endorsement, you will make more money, especially hauling bulk fuel, but thanks to the Patriot Act it is a real pain to get and keep active. You will probably want to look into getting the TWIC card as well so you can go into ports.

    http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/hazmat/index.shtm

    http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm

    Keep in mind most truck schools are "factories" and turn out as many drivers as they can and the quality isn't always there. If you are under 25, it will be hard to get a job. If you have a bad driving record, it will be hard to get a job. If you have never driven, it will be hard to get a job. If you are under 21, you'll be stuck trucking within Louisiana's boundaries, and even then, you cannot haul goods that came from out of state or are destined for out of state as that is interstate and you need to be 21. Get the experience any way you can, but realize your first job might not be your dream job.


    I would recommend getting every endorsement you can. I assume you are getting class A, but be sure to take the tanker and double/triple tests too. You only have to take a written test and they are fairly easy, and you never know when you will need them. It has come in handy for me when I least expected it.


    There are some MAJOR changes being implemented with the commercial license. The regulators are going overboard, and with the FMCSA's implementation of the CSA program things are getting stricter and stricter every year. If there are safety violations it will be attached to your license. It is trying to make drivers more responsible for their vehicles. The regulators are also making CDLs have a 5 year expiration limit. States used to set their own rules, and some had higher limits (such as 8 years), but in the future it is going to be 5 years no matter what state you are in. In the past medical cards were only required when you had your ass in the truck. Now you need a VALID medical card at all times, otherwise your CDL will be suspended. No active medical card = no CDL. This is a new requirement that will be fully integrated by the states by 2014. Some states are already adopting it. In the future you won't need to carry a medical card with you when you drive as it will be tied to your license. Be prepared to deal with this mess every two years and when you renew your license. And government agencies aren't covered by HIPPA, so whatever person is assisting you at the DMV will have access to your entire medical history, such as the temperature and sugar count of your urine. Are you fully comfortable with that? I'm not, but that's the world we live in. Just looking at some random states you will see how far sweeping these changes are-

    http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue-MV/RMV/1251609017278

    http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/faqs/CDLMedCert.shtml


    I would say give it a try, and maybe the regulations are a good thing because it will prevent some real clowns from bringing everyone else down. And my only other piece of advice for you is never do any drugs. If you get in a wreck (even if someone hits you and it is 100% their fault), every commercial accident requires a drug test, and you go from being 100% innocent/ not at fault to possible partially at fault. Always be clean. And if you do get busted it goes on your license and you will have a very difficult time getting another driving job again and will have to pay for a mandated drug treatment class. I've seen some good drivers fall into this trap, and it is sad that after 15 or 20 years solid years of trucking they are suddenly out of work and unable to get another driving job because they are a liability. And remember when driving commercially, you can be inspected at any time you are on the road by the police for no reason whatsoever. Most of the time they will be doing brake inspections and trying to look at your log book.


    Good luck and keep on trucking!
     
  3. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:48 PM
    #3
    TRDBen

    TRDBen Mall Crawler of the Year

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Member:
    #42767
    Messages:
    864
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    San Luis Obispo, CA
    Vehicle:
    02 Prerunner 4 Door TRD V6
    Front Window Tint KYB Monomax Shocks Blue Dome Light Valentine 1 Radar Detector
    Diving/Driving mix up??
     
  4. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:49 PM
    #4
    Sport11

    Sport11 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2011
    Member:
    #51187
    Messages:
    617
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Kingsport, TN
    Vehicle:
    Dodge Ram 1500
  5. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:53 PM
    #5
    Jojack

    Jojack Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2011
    Member:
    #62487
    Messages:
    122
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joel
    Lacassine LA
    Vehicle:
    2011 4 door long bed 4x4
    Bilstein 5100 at 2.5", 1" rear blocks, TSB 4 leaf pack, Wolf Springs Fab Custom tube bumper, anytime fog light mod
    That's impressive!! Lmao
     
  6. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:58 PM
    #6
    sooner

    sooner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2011
    Member:
    #57731
    Messages:
    236
    Gender:
    Male
    TX
    Vehicle:
    2011-4X4-LONGBED
    6-inch pro-comp lift-,n-fab 6 step nerfbars,extang touneau cover,go rhino grille guard,aftermarket fogs,3.5 driving lights,7-inch off road lights.pro comp skid plate,train horns,reese tow hitch,escort 9500ix,blend mount wireless radar mount.avs bug deflector and window vents,5%window tint.28-led back up lamps,sock monkey 3rd brake light decal,magna flow exhaust.klein train horns.nitro,nitro 4.56 gears,pro-comp traction bars,volant super scoop air intake.
    i drove a truck for 14 yrs,it used to be ok,when you didn't have to worry about the dot.i have worked for peterbilt for 14 yrs as of now.in 10 more years there will not be any more owner/operators.it will be large companies,like j.b.hunt,schneider,wally world.class 8 trucks have been down 46% and with the rising cost of a new truck around $125 thousand i don't think it will ever rebound>jmo
     
  7. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:08 PM
    #7
    mntbiker2008

    mntbiker2008 [OP] First I derp.. then I herp

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2008
    Member:
    #11718
    Messages:
    8,146
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Aaron
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    93 Pick up 4x4 (sold), 10' Mazda 3
    Thanks for the info guys. I was looking at that too but I made this thread for the underwater diving. :pI ended up finding both jobs were not going to be something I could do and enjoy/make a living on.
     
  8. Mar 14, 2012 at 11:09 PM
    #8
    Sido

    Sido Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2012
    Member:
    #70157
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Anchorage
    Vehicle:
    None
    Oops the "r" makes a world of difference! :eek:
     
  9. Mar 15, 2012 at 12:30 PM
    #9
    mntbiker2008

    mntbiker2008 [OP] First I derp.. then I herp

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2008
    Member:
    #11718
    Messages:
    8,146
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Aaron
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    93 Pick up 4x4 (sold), 10' Mazda 3
    :thumbsup: A for effort though! haha
     
  10. Mar 15, 2012 at 2:01 PM
    #10
    Sport11

    Sport11 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2011
    Member:
    #51187
    Messages:
    617
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Kingsport, TN
    Vehicle:
    Dodge Ram 1500
    Even though he gave information on the wrong subject, all that typing deserves an A+. :D
     
  11. Mar 15, 2012 at 2:28 PM
    #11
    Stew

    Stew Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2012
    Member:
    #72149
    Messages:
    112
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Stew
    Greenville, NC
    Vehicle:
    White 04 Single Cab 2.7 4x4
    2.5in ^, debadged, fog light mod, deck plate, line-x, tool box
    Why do you say that? My dive instructor (through ECU) did commercial from 19-26 and until an incident that scared the piss outta him he was making quite well (6 figures).

    The incident- 117ft deep he was diving surface supplied using a high pressure water jet (gun) to cut cement bridge support/pylon down. He lost power to his jet a couple times during the process but it kept returning. Then he lost power to the jet and at the same time lost power to his lamp and thought it was because of a tangle, while trying to untangle his pressure line the gun regained pressure while pointing at his forearm it blasted all the meat out between the two bones and broke severed one in half and somehow hit his air supply also so he now had to swim (no air for buoyant ascent) up while holding his arm and it agonizing pain of course. He quit after that but still doesn't discourage his students not to do it and hes only 33. A great instructor though because he had to learn the importance of being serious the hard way.

    I have my master cert but I don't feel strong enough as a swimmer to pursue any further.
     
  12. Mar 15, 2012 at 3:06 PM
    #12
    mntbiker2008

    mntbiker2008 [OP] First I derp.. then I herp

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2008
    Member:
    #11718
    Messages:
    8,146
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Aaron
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    93 Pick up 4x4 (sold), 10' Mazda 3
    I talked to a few guys in the trade and they all said that business is starting to go out and go more towards robotics instead of sending someone down. I also heard the business isn't very stable so you can be out of a job randomly.
     
  13. Mar 15, 2012 at 4:20 PM
    #13
    TacoRun

    TacoRun Subd for later..

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2010
    Member:
    #32808
    Messages:
    2,601
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luis
    Edinburg,Texas
    Vehicle:
    TRD off road, Magnetic Gray
    Pop Lock, Ranch Hand brush guard
    :cookiemonster:

    Man am I glad I read everything before posting!
     
  14. Mar 15, 2012 at 4:28 PM
    #14
    SOSHeloPilot

    SOSHeloPilot My 1st Muscle Car

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2009
    Member:
    #15422
    Messages:
    6,673
    Gender:
    Male
    U.S.A.
    Vehicle:
    2023 RAV4 XLE Premium
    Missing My Last Tacoma --- Had 11 Toyota trucks in the past and many other Toyota cars too.
    ... ^^^ ... Ditto ... excellent & informative post and the grammar was excellent two ... :D

    FWIW ... I quick read it as a "Commercial Drivers" too ... glad I am not flying today ... :confused:
    .
     
To Top