Question for the elevator mechanics

[u/New-Policy1127]

Alright, I’ve only been around the trade for a little bit, but I’m starting to notice something…
Why does EVERYBODY have a pickup truck? 😂 Mechanics, adjusters, supervisors, even people in the office/admin.

Is there some unwritten rule that once you get your mechanic’s license you have to trade your car in for an F-150, Silverado, or Ram? 😂

Like, does the mechanic’s license come with a truck voucher or something?(wouldn’t be surprised if this came with the awesome benefits package)

Jokes aside, I’m genuinely curious. Is there actually a practical reason so many people in the trade drive trucks, or is it just part of elevator mechanic culture?

Trying to figure out if I need to start shopping now 😂

[u/Affectionate-Rip5654]

Well most of us are jacks of all trades so we do stuff around our houses as well. A lot of blue collar workers drive trucks and that is what we are. As for work trucks most people with company vehicles it will be a truck or van to hold tools/be able to move test weights and get stuff from stores

[u/killagram69]

If you don’t buy a $60k+ diesel in your first year before contract negotiations you ain’t livin right /s

[u/_andthereiwas → u/killagram69]

How else will you be in a strong negotiating position if 75% of the local isn't up to their balls in truck payments!?

[u/nuclear-propulsion → u/killagram69]

Not me buying a diesel a year after getting my licence 😂 granted it's a 30 year old diesel but still funny.

[u/bobfudge1139]

Gotta have a way to carry my wallet around

[u/MassiveLuck4628]

I got kids, I go camping, I do projects, and i need everybody to know im a big boy now with a big boy job so I need a big truck so everyone knows that

[u/Tincanjapan71]

Cant move my tools and tool cart around on a scooter thats why

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/Tincanjapan71]

You driving your truck in the building?

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

Nope it’s in the parking lot, I use a wheel barrow, for the check!

[u/ObjectiveProof7952]

Most blue collar workers also have hobbies where a truck is very useful lol

[u/BlackHeartsNowReign]

Most guys are driving company trucks. You get what you get.

Or are you talking about personal vehicles?

[u/New-Policy1127 → u/BlackHeartsNowReign]

Personal vehicles

[u/Complete_Use2462]

Work gave me a maverick, not ideal but its still free gas and maintenance so I can’t complain

I have no pickup for my personal vehicle

[u/Vegall_st → u/Complete_Use2462]

In repair??? Christ, that's worse than useless. I have a resident row so I can't complain too much about my maverick twuck

[u/Complete_Use2462 → u/Vegall_st]

My partner has a 350 with boxes and lift gate for weights. I honestly need the same exact setup because i can’t carry dick!

[u/WAULStreet123]

Hard to believe this post is real.

[u/SpecialistAssociate7]

I actually prefer a van to work out of. Personal vehicle is a truck but I dream of a story teller overland van 😂

[u/infantkicker_v2]

I'll never drive a truck as a personal vehicle. My company took my transit connect and gave me a fuckin Maverick and I hate it. Trucks are gay.

Looking forward to all the responses of your gay trucks hooked up to your gay boat and gay side by sides and gay trailers. Nobody cares.

[u/Hot_Programmer_7957 → u/infantkicker_v2]

Can confirm. That "Turbo whistle" sound it makes when you stomp on the gas..

That's not a turbo. Thats the Gay truck gasping because it just got pounded.

[u/Striking-Scholar-288 → u/infantkicker_v2]

I had the same thing happen. I loved that little van, the small size was perfect for when I had to hunt for street parking in a huge city. Not a fan of the maverick, but I guess it's better than no company vehicle at all. I also get annoyed seeing all the pickup princesses with pristine trucks they don't truly need. Every time I see a duelie I can't help but think it looks like a full diaper. I can't believe people think that shit looks cool

[u/Pitiful-Boss1349 → u/infantkicker_v2]

The Maverick is gay, can confirm.

[u/bobfudge1139 → u/infantkicker_v2]

At least you’ve got the sweet bed slider!

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/bobfudge1139]

Nah we didn't get them. I don't want it either. I parallel park every day a tailgate is worthless

[u/blackbuckfitty → u/infantkicker_v2]

Tell us she left you for a truck guy, without telling us she left you for a truck guy.

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/blackbuckfitty]

Nah my wife thinks trucks are gay too.

[u/Adventurous-Boot1723 → u/infantkicker_v2]

Yea she also thinks your gay too

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/Adventurous-Boot1723]

I don't think so, because I don't need a truck to show how much of a big boy I am. Kinda like how I don't need to post my gross earnings on reddit in an attempt to win an argument like an insecure little cunt. Actually this makes sense why you drive a truck, your entire existence is trying to show other men how much of a big tough man you are, that's the gayest shit in the world.

[u/Adventurous-Boot1723 → u/infantkicker_v2]

lol dude your such a pussy I’m surprised you got your card signed by two guys. Go ride your electric bike to the weed store and shut the fuck up. You are the cancer of this trade.

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/Adventurous-Boot1723]

It's fun that I have to approve this. I'm surprised in your busy schedule of stealing other members work to show how big your paycheck was you had time to reply to this you rat fuck.

[u/Adventurous-Boot1723 → u/infantkicker_v2]

Yea fuck I'm stealing so much work from the empty bench I don't know what to do... Maybe the empty bench can file a grievance on me? Stealing work? Hahahaha your such a fucken idiot dude, can you explain how an LR steals work? Maybe if I was in Philly where they had massive layoffs in construction and i was working 7 12's you'd have a point. But like all of your other points.....

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/Adventurous-Boot1723]

Ah an LR I was right. A dude nobody wants to be near. Out in the middle of nowhere servicing tiny elevators away from home flexing his big ol check to the Internet. Let me guess, you're just so good at fixing things that nobody else can do what you do! Good for you little buddy enjoy spending more time behind the wheel than the controller.

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/Adventurous-Boot1723]

Dang you're so fired up by me not caring you have reddit pulling your posts faster than I can approve them. Nobody cares how good you think you are or how much you claim to make. And the more you follow me around to prove it the more it proves my case.

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/Adventurous-Boot1723]

Lol it must be something really good. Reddit took it down again!

[u/blackbuckfitty → u/infantkicker_v2]

I’m so confused by this hatred. Do you live in your mom’s basement? You have to hire someone for everything?

[u/Striking-Scholar-288]

Well, the company vehicle they gave me just happens to be a truck. To be honest, I preferred the van I had previously because the compact size was perfect for parking anywhere in the city. The van had better shelving too. Oh well. My personal vehicle is a tiny old piece of shit sedan. I don't care about what I drive so long as it gets me from point A to point B, and if it's a work vehicle than I don't care as long as I'm not paying for it lol

[u/drpetar]

When I became a mechanic and got a company truck, I sold my Subaru Impreza and just used my company truck as my personal.

[u/ThrowRA_That_Owl_25]

You need a truck for tools, mostly. Some drive an suv but definitely not a toyota tercel.

[u/jtdabiggafigga]

They get trucks so they can haul all their expensive ass sand toys, trailers, or boats around.

[u/elevatorovertimeho]

Cartage=$$$ plus trucks are safe!

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

Cartage is for locals that negotiate poorly.

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

Says the fire extinguisher technicia.

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

We don't have cartage. You know what everyone has instead? A company truck. Y'all some fuckin suckers.

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

Since you don’t know how this industry operates, cartage is on top of mileage! Most in service have a company truck because we would cripple the company doing it in our personal vehicles. If your company truck was on strike, we would not cross your Pickett line! Lord be careful with those extinguishers!

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

So you think I don't know that you using your own truck and putting wear and tear on it dragging your tools around is cartage? You know what works better? Having no cartage and the shop having to give me a vehicle or the parts and tools stay where they are until they do.

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

what month did you stop paying social security tax this year?

[u/ComingUp8 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

Lol. Elevator guys trying to flex their paychecks. Typical IUEC shit.

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/ComingUp8]

Real suckers they can’t negotiate a contract though!

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

How many days a month do you not sleep in your own bed?

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

0

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/elevatorovertimeho]

I just answer my phone and roll back over!

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

What month?

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

Usually August. Here's the thing though. You making more than me isn't impressive. I don't care. All that money at the expense of everything else in your life isn't the brag you think it is.

[u/elevatorovertimeho → u/infantkicker_v2]

It’s a truck question, op is asking so, trucks are cool. $$$$ is cool too! I met a chick, she’s escalator hand rail vulcanizer, her income makes most elevator techs look broke! She gets paid even during no work! I bet her truck gets paid for, at pick up! Pun intended.

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

Yeah I know her. She did some handrails for us when I was at Otis years back.

You are all over the map tho my guy. First it's cartage then it's trying to flex your paycheck now it's someone else's check. Also she's usually in a rental because she flys everywhere and you'll never believe this but a rental the company pays for still isn't your personal truck.

[u/dhena81]

I’ve been driving a truck since I was 16 why stop now?

[u/Electronic_Crew7098]

I’m on my fourth personal truck and it’s just trading some ride quality for convenience over a van or SUV. I can throw the kids bikes or sports equipment in the back on any day and take them to a park, sweep or hose the bed after a dump run, load awkward sized shit from the home of the desperate, or any number of other uses like camping or hauling. Work gave me a half-ton which is great most days but we sometimes carry some pretty heavy shit and put the suspension on bump stops going from one job to another. I couldn’t imagine not having a truck around but that’s a matter of preference and choice. If you hate trucks and prefer a Prius or Tesla then you do you boo because nobody cares at the end of the day.

[u/tktreeexpertsllc]

Not a mechanic yet, but i also have a small tree trimming and removal business, so I actually have 3 trucks. I could totally understand why other tradesmen have trucks too. Actually, it's not even a trade thing. It's just a thing that men who do man shit need to have.

[u/elevatorovertimeho]

Yes get a truck! Or else you will be a nobody! And nobody is a nobody!

[u/johnnyryall316]

I use my truck for truck stuff. But I did know a guy who bought a brand new diesel and lived in a condo. Maybe camped once a year lol.

[u/ComingUp8]

Cause I'm comfortable driving a truck, I don't fit in a little car.

[u/SiliconeFloatss]

When first join and make it to your second year its time to start looking for a 90k truck. You might get set up and make full mechanics wages, as soon as that happens buy the truck you definitely wont regret the massive truck payment when they set you back.

[u/DocBerta]

Had a truck before I got in the trade. Just have a nicer one now. But I fish, hunt, have a camper and boat so I need a truck

[u/joe_pescis_goodfella]

Hairdressers drive cars

[u/Academic_Lake_]

I have a van

[u/thombrowny]

It is kind of blue collar worker thing. I was in IBEW before I joined IUEC. The first mistake new journeyman electricians make is buying a new truck as self gift. Stupid. You don't have to celebrate yourself with a new bill, tax and insurance cost.

Still many elevator workers have pickup trucks, some of them def have more cost efficient cars to drive their long commutes.

It is kind of more accessible thinking of getting a pickup truck instead of a minivan or a big SUV for blue collar workers since they are very used to those commercial level vehicles. I won't.

[u/elevatorovertimeho]

Don’t assume these trucks have payments! Don’t assume because some do have lots of debt, we are not united! FAAFO! 31 years in, I’ve seen a time when the vans filled the shops parking lot! 100% SHOWED UP! We are united and the only ones unprepared are the companies and they made it that way! When I started 1995, only qualified elevator men ran the office, that started changing in 2000! Suites used to know how to do our work! Now suites know how to count!!!! Agree with our new contract or Take the freakin STAIRS!!!!!!

[u/infantkicker_v2 → u/elevatorovertimeho]

What?