kenworth or freightliner

[Roninjiro]

I am going back to work after my long tours overseas.... I have the choice to work at a Kenworth dealership (owned by a big corporation?) or a Frieghtliner dealership (independently owned)... which one would you rather work with?

both have the same starting pay and then it turns to flag pay

Kenworth offers training and certifications

Both are hurting for mechanics...

Both are almost an hrs drive away

I want to go back to school and push for the IT field, but finances, kids, and time are not on my side right now so I have to go back to wrenching..

any input?

 

[Muadeeb]

Since this looks to be relatively short term, the biggest question I'd ask is of the current employees: Are they happy or is it just a place to work? If you think you will not have the opportunity to go to IT, I'd probably go with Kenworth for the training they offer.

 

[J Everett]

I agree. Go with the one that offers training and certs. Also, look into benefits like vacation/sick pay, insurance, etc. Even if you don't need those things, they're good indicators of which company is trying harder to take care of their employees.

 

[Macland]

What these guys said. Go with the best working environment and the place who is going to take care of you. Training and certification are definitely taking care of you because that's transferable.

 

[Roninjiro]

I was thinking Kenworth as well. I don't know how you guys do the gonemoab and other stuff like that with a regular job... seems when I have a regular job like this, it is impossible to do fun stuff like that with vacation time.

Now this is me breaking away from the contracting world... hope it's not as bad I imagine

 

[Macland]

Check how much vacation time each place offers. Heck, you could even check how they stack up against a local shop if you want a more relaxed work environment.

 

[Roninjiro]

heck does anyone work light vehicle repair (cars, pickups and such) I usually specialize in heavy equipment/trucks, but any input would be cool

 

[yellowbug]

Big corporations will have set rules times and stuff like that the independent one will probably be a little less structured.
That is only my opinion from what I have been through.

 

[Roninjiro]

I have always worked for corporations, I have very little experience with the independent shops. I guess I always work with corporations due to benefits for myself and family.

 

[NismoFire]

Freightshaker.....I mean, Freightliner can pretty much guarantee you some decent work, but Kenworth seems to back their employees better.

 

[Cyclemut]

What do you want to know about light vehicle repair? I've been a wrench for over 20 years, Chevy, Ford, Nissan, Subaru and now working at an independent flat four shop while I'm in school (air cooled bugs and Subi's).

I will tell you it's easier on the body, but it's a tighter work area (cars are smaller that big rigs) and the customers are usually *****ier. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to work on a big rig, everything out in the open, but then I remember you need a jack just to get the tires off of the ground (not the truck, the actual rim/tire!) and I go back to working on the car. Let alone pulling a head off a Kenny or Freightshaker, Jeebus! And I don't like the smell of diesel either.

 

[Roninjiro]

Working with heavy trucks is really hard on the body if you don't have the right tools for the job (and at times no choice), but it is all simple stuff. I work on light stuff too, just never in the commercial/consumer world. I am curious on pay, and stress with time constraints.... I am quick with heavy trucks/equipment, but smaller vehicles are getting so dang complicated and I don't know if I could keep up with the light vehicle industry. I am kind of like you (cyclemut) and think the opposite... I wonder what it would be like to work on smaller things and not have to deal with really heavy parts all the time and have to crawl in-between the cab and frame of a truck to repair an airline or something in that sense. Maybe I have it good knowing what I do and have the opportunity to work in the heavy industry, and I guess I am just tired of it.