This is a list of places I worked for and received a W-2 or a 1099 for my wages. I also included a few businesses that I ran as a proprietor.
They are not in chronological order because I remembered some after I wrote and numbered the list.
I can remember many bits and pieces about any of these jobs, some more than others. When I say I was a truck driver, I did drive the truck, but I also might have had something to do with the freight I was hauling or equipment that I operated, so many of these truck driving jobs were skilled positions. Thank you for allowing me to toot my own small horn.
I don’t have a favorite because I never minded work, it was employment that I couldn’t stand.
If you have any questions, comments or small world stories, feel free to comment and ask away. I'd be delighted to have a conversation. In actuality, it has occurred to me that in writing articles like this, conversation is exactly what I seek.
Jobs
1 Jewel Tea Co.  (grocery store chain in Chicagoland)
 Stock Boy
2 FMC Corp.
 Fork Lift operator, warehouse worker
3 Jackson Storage and Van (Allied Van Lines, Moving)
 Furniture Mover/Helper
4 US Army
 Infantry Platoon Sergeant, Vietnam
5 Jackson Storage and Van, (Again)
 Truck Driver, Furniture Mover
6 Park Associates (Mechanical Engineering Firm)
 Metal Trades Worker  (Pipefitter)
7 Labeled Metal Products  (Sheet Metal Products Mfg.)
 Truck Driver, Local and Over the Road
8 Neptune Movers
 Truck Driver, Furniture Mover
9 State of Minnesota Highway Department
 Highway Maintenance Worker
10 Arlington House (Adolescent Boys Group Home)
 Youth Counselor
11 Hirte Transfer,  (Moving Company)
 Truck Driver, Furniture Mover
12 Twin City Picture Frame ( Picture Frame Retailer)
 Shop Manager
13 Lasalle Cartage (Freight Delivery)
 Truck Driver
14 State of Minnesota  (Distribute Gov’t Goods)
 Truck Driver/ Property Screener
15 St Croix Camp (Juvenile Corrections Facility)
 Correctional Counselor
16 Countryside Piano and Furniture
 Piano and furniture refinishing, Delivery
17 Mission Creek Boys Ranch (Group Home)
 Program Director
18 Pine County Social Services
 Home Health Aid
19 Pine City Schools 
 Substitute Teacher
20 Therapeutic Foster Services (Group Home)
 Counselor
21 Pine Technical College
 Program Coordinator
22 Coast to Coast Hardware
 Hardware Clerk
23 Pine City Fuel
 Truck Driver, fuel delivery
24 Rypkema Oil
 Truck Driver, fuel delivery
25 An Independent Moving co in the Cities (Forget Name)
 Truck Driver, furniture mover
26 Laroche Industries (Industrial Ammonia Delivery)
 Truck Driver, Field Technician
27 Seagull Outfitters (Boundary Waters Canoe Outfitter)
 Canoe Trip Guide
28 Mill City Sourdough Bakery
 Delivery/Sales
29 Minnesota Diversified Industries
 Warehouse manager, Truck Driver
30 Union 76 Gas Station
 Driveway Sales, Oil Changer
31 Crown Oil Co.  (E-Z Stop Stores)
 Truck Driver
32 Camp Menogyn  (YMCA Camp)
 Cook, Caretaker
33 Poplar Lake Lodge
 Cook
34 & 35 Hungry Jack Lodge,  (2 times)
 Cook
36 Tiararado Country Club
 Cook/Chef
37 7th Street Cafe
 Diner Cook
38 Roger Bauer Trucking
 Truck Driver
39 Waterfront Diner
 Diner Cook
40 The Exchange  (Bakery and Catering)
 Bakery Helper/Cook/Chef
41 Motion Picture Production, (Minneapolis, MN Teamsters Union Hall)
Truck Driver, Equipment Operator, Limo Driver
 Beautiful Girls
 Fargo
 Feeling Minnesota
 HBO TV Movie, Hunt For Justice
 Mighty Ducks 3
 Grumpier Old Men
 Overnight Delivery
       Drop Dead Gorgeous
 Sugar and Spice
 A Simple Plan 
 Joe Somebody
       *With or Without You, TV Commercials
Note: In motion picture production, truck driving is a mixed bag. I have driven the grips, the electricians, the make up people, the wardrobe people, movie stars, extras, props, special effects and driven limousine. 
42 In Gods Hands,   (Los Angeles)
 Only In America,  (Los Angeles,  HBO)
43 PMFX  ( A Special Effects Company)
 Truck Driver
44 PMFX again
 Mechanical Effects Technician
45 Nike Commercial
 Stunt Driver
46 Sturm F/X  (A Special Effects Co.)
 Truck Driver, snowmaker 
47 Parkview Cafe
 Cook
48 & 49  Temp Agencies  ( 2 times)
 Truck Driver
 Tomato Sorter
50 Midwest Laminates  (Cabinet Mfg)
 Truck Driver, shop work
51 Jimmy Rogers Trucking
 Truck Driver, potatoes
52 Larry Neff Trucking
 Truck Driver, Bulk milk from farm
53 Elk Creek Transfer
 Truck Driver, livestock
54 Mike Anderson Trucking
 Truck Driver, Empty bottles for brewery
55 JJ’s Cleaning (Janitorial Service)
 Laborer
56 Hirte Transfer (Furniture Moving Co.)
 Truck Driver
57 Chain link fence company, installer and truck driver
I Owned and Operated the Following Businesses
58 Joe and Roy’s Piano Movers
59 Acme Piano Movers
60 Joe’s Moving Co.
61 Joe Spado Maintenance Service
62 Spadoman Coffee (Coffee Wholesaler)
63 Snowshoe MFG. Co.
64 Westside Workshop (Snowshoe and Craft Workshop)
Others I forgot
65 Maywood Herald Newspaper delivery
66 Proviso Sentinel Newspaper delivery
67 Minneapolis Star and Tribune Newspaper delivery
68 Minnesota Historical Society
 Tour Guide
69 Fond Du Luth Casino
 Kitchen Helper
70 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
 Security Guard
71 Evergreen Industries (Christmas Wreath MFG)
 Seasonal Truck Driver, 4 years straight
* The Motion picture production work was mostly done through the Minneapolis Local 638 Teamsters Union Hall, with each picture shoot a separate job, but I counted all the motion pictures as one. I actually worked for three other production companies that were not from the Teamsters Union Hall.
These would be Numbers 72, 73 and 74
The Movie was 
 With or Without You
And TV Commercials for
 Chevrolet
 Nissan
More Forgetfulness
75 Saint Paul Public Schools School Lunch Program
 Truck Driver
76 Eat This! Catering and Craft Service
 Cook, Helper
77 Gazda Mayflower Moving Co
 Truck Driver
78 Smith Transfer
 Dock Worker
79 Korf Rubbish
 Truck Driver/Garbage Helper
80 Clearwater Lodge
 Building Maintenance Worker
81 Grand Marais Public Schools
 Substitue Teacher
If you got this far and actually read this list, I applaud you. Now imagine actually living this.
Peace to all, have a great day.
8 comments:
That tuckered me out! You certainly have earned retirement, Joe. Much love to you and your amazing family.
That's quite a remarkable work history. Every year when my husband gets his list from the Social Security Department he notes the two year blank space from the time he worked at a small manufacturing company in RI where the manager stole everybody's Soc Sec payments. It still rankles even after all this time.
susan... Thanks for stopping by. Number 53 didn't pay me my last paycheck. They went bankrupt. When I got home from the last trip, the door was locked. I parked the truck, went home and never heard from them again. So I guess I'm missing two weeks of Social Security, but not 2 YEARS! All other W-2's paid the SS.
By the way, I only got fired from one of these jobs. Can anyone guess which one?
Peace.
Annie... See, I have been a busy guy! Thanks for stopping by. See you this winter, (I think)
Peace
Damn! Between all these jobs & the list of moves to different places to live, how did you remember where to go either to work or home!
I know back in the day, a person could realize am amployers scene was bullshit & just quit, knowing there will be some other job somewhere .... not so much anymore.
At least in Oregon where unemployment is above 12 %.
Except for a few jobs during and after HS, I only had 2 for 18 1/2 yrs before leaving Ca.
Since here, I've had 4, which included our busy-ness in 13 yrs.
And yes, back then, it was easy to get a job. Too many out of work and too few business's anymore here in the states.
Your sense of movement is amazing! ; )
Cheers to you and yours!
Holy moly, sir!
You've EARNED that 114 MPH moment on the Triumph!
I think I've worked ummmmmm......
*counting*
10 jobs in my lifetime?
Maybe?
How do you remember all this stuff!!??! LOL
geez....I'm sprucing up a resume that is too long....but no where near this long....
as you may know...I am partial to truck drivers....smile.
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