Forklift work

[FlatTire]

Heres the deal. I have been in the service commercial Refrigeration biz for almost exactly 5 yrs. Left my last company cause i wanted to focus strictly on refrigeration, and have a nice break.

But now there is this guy that wants me to do work on forklifts. I cant help but want to give that a chance too. To widen my range of knowledge. But at the same time is this a bad thing to leave this field like that. I am still fixing and troubleshooting but how will it look on my resume if i spent 1-5 yrs doing something entirely different. I really want to learn about hydraulics too, that is a field that needs more people i heard. Not only that but i imagine i will have more room to work around a forklift then i do your average reach in.

Should this be a option on should i just stay in the refrig bizz.

[absrbrtek]

I guess it would depend on pay and benefits. In some areas of the country, probably most, forklift repair probably pays more.

Seems like these cheap owners are driving people away from this field with low wages and no benefits. You gotta go with your instincts on this one, you know whats best for you. JMHO

[Tool-Slinger]

Might be a handy skill to learn. Maybe you could have both skills and do one as a moonlighting job? Just thinking.

[FlatTire]

I guess i should at least hear the guy out. I know of propane and electric powered forklifts. I have heard of diesel. I am just afraid of constantly entering different fields. I mean i just found this forum it is going to take me another 5yrs before i find a forklift forum. And how will someone feel about hiring a 35 yr old guy for refrigeration after working 7yrs in the forklift industry.

I am trying to figure out which one i can do for the longest period of my life, work mostly 8hrs shifts, but be important enough to easily find another job if stuff happens.

Dont get me wrong i like service work but i enjoy life allot more.

[Tool-Slinger]

''''guy for refrigeration after working 7yrs in the forklift industry''''
I was not thinking about all that, but yes that is a complication. I once heard a contractor say something like,"some guy who has been driving a truck the past ten years" in a derrogatory tone.

'''''I am trying to figure out which one i can do for the longest period of my life, work mostly 8hrs shifts, but be important enough to easily find another job if stuff happens.'''''

Hmmm. I have a mixed reply on this one. I live in Texas, so things may vary by location. I have not seen nearly as many help-wanted ads for fork-lift techs in the dallas paper as I have for HVAC&R. Most HVAC&R jobs seem to be pretty short-lived. As for an 8 hour work-day, maybe you need to look at the fork-lift thing a little closer. Unless you can nail some [perhaps govornment] maintenace thing, 8 hour jobs are fairly uncommon in HVAC&R.

You might be able to do some market research on the fork-lift mechanic job. Maybe some other guys can tell you where to start that.

Tough decision. How about this as an idea,.. Just take the fork-lift job and job-shop for your dream refrigeration job after a couple of months and you have the 'hang of it'?

[mbhydro]

If you are looking for 8 hours this may not be the job either. Don't forget that some of the forklift companies do 24/7 service too for the big grocery chains and discount stores. :(

If they have semi's at the loading dock they have to be unloaded / loaded to keep the replenishment cycle on schedule. They may have a spare at the warehouse to keep that end moving but not at the store when it's power jack goes down and a semi is at the loading door with 10 pallets.

There are at least 3 companies in my city's yellow pages offering 24/7/365 service in their ad's.

[FlatTire]

''''guy for refrigeration after working 7yrs in the forklift industry''''
I was not thinking about all that, but yes that is a complication. I once heard a contractor say something like,"some guy who has been driving a truck the past ten years" in a derrogatory tone.

'''''I am trying to figure out which one i can do for the longest period of my life, work mostly 8hrs shifts, but be important enough to easily find another job if stuff happens.'''''

Hmmm. I have a mixed reply on this one. I live in Texas, so things may vary by location. I have not seen nearly as many help-wanted ads for fork-lift techs in the dallas paper as I have for HVAC&R. Most HVAC&R jobs seem to be pretty short-lived. As for an 8 hour work-day, maybe you need to look at the fork-lift thing a little closer. Unless you can nail some [perhaps govornment] maintenace thing, 8 hour jobs are fairly uncommon in HVAC&R.

You might be able to do some market research on the fork-lift mechanic job. Maybe some other guys can tell you where to start that.

Tough decision. How about this as an idea,.. Just take the fork-lift job and job-shop for your dream refrigeration job after a couple of months and you have the 'hang of it'?

Yeah that is what i am thinking right now do the fork lift dig for a max of 6 months then figure the direction i want to go. Not only that but i want to leave my area and this job sounds like it is in my area.

About that 8hr thing what i met was i dont want the career that with the higher amount. I have done the food side of the refrigeration bizz. It is not as though i hate over time i like/love it. I am just cant imagine going to an industry that is worst then this one. The only people that constantly work more then us are doctors. I dont mind working a 70hr week. I just dont want to work way more then 60 hrs every week, every summer till i retire or die, espacially having Tuesday warm walk in called in on Friday. Why in gods name do people call in something that wasnt working right on Tuesday on Friday drive me insane. What i need to do is start telling my bosses no instead of being the go to guy until it i leave.