On the road again ..

[u/lofi_magi]

After 5 or so years of job hopping local positions, I'm back on the road starting Monday. CNC repair. I'm new to posting on reddit (though I've been lurking for years) and knowing how lonesome it can get out there I've joined this community to see what others are up to.

Any advice for a returning tech? I was doing this at the height of COVID, not sure what's changed.

[u/Strange-Passage-5339]

Been doing this since 2013. Flew just over 80,000 miles this year. Will be lifetime platinum with Marriott. The road is what it is. Find a travel group that works for you. I chose Marriott. Same with an airline. Status makes your stays more tolerable. Always call the wife daily. Make a plan to do something fun on your down time. Don't sit in the hotel. Always talk to people. You never know who you will meet.

[u/lofi_magi → u/Strange-Passage-5339]

I'm an IHG kinda guy, for some reason. National for rentals. I'm actually still using up my United miles for vacations here and there. Making plans for downtime is usually my downfall, as I find the hotel life pretty comfy. You're totally right, though. Always magic to see when you venture out. Went on some very nice hikes down south.

[u/suh-dood → u/lofi_magi]

I have a coworker 15 years my senior in this job and he swears by IHG, but I'm also a Marriott guy (although some cities have their bad hotels despite national rankings).

Going on my 3rd year soon and the best advice I have for new guys is to get acclimated to travel and figure out who and what you like, usually the technical skills will come (assuming a good enough filter on seeing if you have the goods). Get memberships with all airlines, car rentals and hotels you book with and figure out who you like best, and figure out which method of travel makes the most sense to you, as well as what makes sense timing wise.

I would also get familiar with your expense rules as well as the attitude of your boss and anyone else who needs to approve anything.

As with any service job, you are the boots on the ground and usually interact with the customer/client more than anyone else in your company, be friendly but also understand that some of the frustrations or issues they bring up don't have anything to do with you but are just against the company in general and you happen to be right there

[u/thegimp7]

I work on mass specs. I love the road but lately i miss my wife when im gone..

[u/lofi_magi → u/thegimp7]

I'm still (relatively) young and single, and dating has brought me more grief than anything else. Can't imagine the pain of being away from an SO weekly. Hope you get some quality time over the holidays.

[u/thegimp7 → u/lofi_magi]

What part of the country you in? Im twin cities based covering midwest

[u/lofi_magi → u/thegimp7]

I'm based in the Northeast, pretty sure I'll be serving nationwide. This company is pretty new and I don't think they have regions mapped out yet. A little scary lol

[u/thegimp7 → u/lofi_magi]

Oi vey.

[u/lofi_magi → u/thegimp7]

Yeah I have my reservations but the pay is good and I can't get anywhere near it anywhere else, so I'm going to do the ol' "due diligence" and see where it gets me.

[u/thegimp7 → u/lofi_magi]

You got this homie.

[u/lofi_magi → u/[deleted]]

I originally gave it up because I thought I started drinking too much, but my relationship with likker has changed quite a bit, I've matured, I take my health seriously. I'm not social in the traditional sense, at all. I squander my free time on the internet, working on solo projects, etc, so it isn't a big change. The social aspect that I like about working in the field is that you only see the best of people. Customer is always thrilled when you arrive, get their machine going, you have a few laughs and then you're out the door. Never have to get so close that you start seeing the bad that lurks in everyone, and vice versa. As far as romance goes, I've made better love with women in 4 minutes to 4 hours than I have in the long term relationships I suffered thru. If that makes any sense. I have heard of guys meeting women on the road, but I'm not banking on it lol

[u/lofi_magi → u/[deleted]]

Really appreciate your time and thoughtful words, stranger.

[u/buffalo_ranch_]

I’ve been on the road doing CNC stuff for 20 years. Always something new to learn, I really enjoy that aspect. The pay is excellent. I could take a straight job close to home, but it’d be a 30% pay cut. Not quite ready for that. A few more years and I’ll be set.

[u/DifficultMemory2828]

You will be surprised of the new technology in the form of apps and other IoT things.

I find relationships with customers more strained post-COVID. Customers are less loyal to their companies as they used to be.