5 openings for TxDOT Ferryboat Captains

[10talents]

This is a State of TX job. The pay sucks but benefits are good and you could be close to home if you live in the area. This is a 40 hr per week job with possible overtime (OT not guaranteed), paid vacations, sick leave and good insurance. If you want more details visit the website or send me a PM. Application period closes on 3/31/10. You will need a minimum Master 1600GRT Inland license.

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/employmen.../jvn014365.htm

[capitan1962]

This is a State of TX job. The pay sucks but benefits are good and you could be close to home if you live in the area. This is a 40 hr per week job with possible overtime (OT not guaranteed), paid vacations, sick leave and good insurance. If you want more details visit the website or send me a PM. Application period closes on 3/31/10. You will need a minimum Master 1600GRT Inland license.

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/employmen.../jvn014365.htm

The pay has come up. I applied there a couple of years ago. The way it works is you fill out an application at any TXDOT office. They call you in for an interview and ask you some safety related questions then base their decision on hiring you with that. It is hourly pay and you can recieve an extra 4 hours pay per day for taking a pager home with you and remaining on call. Not sure how many days per week you can do that but if you actually get called you get the 4 hours plus any time worked. At least that is what I was told. I was offered a position but just couldn't justify moving to Galveston for that money. The old salary range was $2859-$4003 so it has improved. They also have retirement. When your age plus the years you have in equal 80 you can recieve full pension.

[10talents]

They also have retirement. When your age plus the years you have in equal 80 you can recieve full pension.

I've been told the Rule of 80 is no longer available. There are still decent retirement benefits but you have to be 65 (still awaiting clarification from office on this). Standby time is usually 2 days every two weeks but depends on which schedule you work and you get 2 hrs each day standing by (if you get called in to work 2hrs+time worked. Also, I forgot to mention Holidays (12-15 days per year).

[capitan1962]

I've been told the Rule of 80 is no longer available. There are still decent retirement benefits but you have to be 65 (still awaiting clarification from office on this). Standby time is usually 2 days every two weeks but depends on which schedule you work and you get 2 hrs each day standing by (if you get called in to work 2hrs+time worked. Also, I forgot to mention Holidays (12-15 days per year).

It may have changed, it's been a couple of years since I was there. It is still a good position for somebody that is tired of going to sea as it is a government job. The Galveston run is a 50 minute round trip + loading time when you return so probably 5-7 runs a day depending on traffic and you go home.

[Steamer]

When your age plus the years you have in equal 80 you can recieve full pension.

Since the State can't discriminate on age, this sounds like a gold mine for a 79 year-old!

[10talents]

Since the State can't discriminate on age, this sounds like a gold mine for a 79 year-old!

Hey Steamer, some of the CE's look like death walking. Contract CE's are making $50 an hour + OT.

[10talents]

I've been told the Rule of 80 is no longer available. There are still decent retirement benefits but you have to be 65 (still awaiting clarification from office on this). Standby time is usually 2 days every two weeks but depends on which schedule you work and you get 2 hrs each day standing by (if you get called in to work 2hrs+time worked. Also, I forgot to mention Holidays (12-15 days per year).

The office clarified today that the Rule of 80 is still available. Rule of 80 example: your 50 yrs old and work 15 years + (they give you a year for every year worked). 50 + 15 +15 = 80.
At age 65 (50 + 15) you get 70% of your monthly salary.

[Captto627]

Ron you forgot about accumulated sick leave and vacation, sick leave pool, longevity pay (up to 400 mo.) and 401K 457 programs and guaranteed retirement by a system so solvent a former governor of Texas wanted to use our retirement money to balance the state budget.

[Captto627]

PS dont know who gave you the figures on retirement but it is a little off. At 20 years you get about 70% of pay but still for the 6.55% that is deducted from your check every month the return can only be equaled investing in an instrument that will give you a 660% rate of return. After looking at my investments lately none come close. We also have all tax deferring for medical payments et.al. available but with strict rules.

[capitan1962]

Over the years I have seen several ads for Captains there. I assume the money has always been an issue but it appears as if the salary has come up quite a bit. I assume that since it is state work that it is steady. How is it when things slow down in the winter? Do you still get a full 40 hours week or is it only a part time job after labor day?

[10talents]

Over the years I have seen several ads for Captains there. I assume the money has always been an issue but it appears as if the salary has come up quite a bit. I assume that since it is state work that it is steady. How is it when things slow down in the winter? Do you still get a full 40 hours week or is it only a part time job after labor day?

Been here since last summer as a contractor and even with budget restraints they kept all working full time. OT was cut back but with warm clear weather on weekends and holidays there is a steady flow of traffic. When there is traffic we work. Most OT is made on the evening shift with the #2 and #3 boat. #1 boat works 24/7 so is more of a 40 hour week with a rotation of 3 crew (8 hrs each). They encourage you to volunteer for availability on your time off so OT can be picked up by that if they call you. On busy weekends and holidays we can have all 5 boats working. There is a 6th boat coming out in July.

[10talents]

PS dont know who gave you the figures on retirement but it is a little off. At 20 years you get about 70% of pay but still for the 6.55% that is deducted from your check every month the return can only be equaled investing in an instrument that will give you a 660% rate of return. After looking at my investments lately none come close. We also have all tax deferring for medical payments et.al. available but with strict rules.

Thank you for the correction. I misunderstood someone with 20+ years . I picked up the benefits plan from the office and looking at it now. The "Service Multiplier" is 2.3% for each year of service so someone (who hired on after 9/1/09) and worked 30 years would receive 69% of their highest average 48 months of salary, 20 years would receive 46% and someone who worked the minimum 10 years would receive 23%. At an average salary of $5000 that would be $3450 (30yrs service), $2300 (20yrs service) or $1150 (10yrs service) respectively per month for the rest of their life. After 9/1/09 the minimum service time is 10 years and age 65 or the Rule of 80. If you have active military time you can purchase service time credit up to 5 years so potentially could be fully vested in 5 years actually working for the state. The best part is this is a "Defined Benefits Plan" (hard to come by these days) and not a "Defined Contribution Plan". With DBP your guaranteed the benefit whereas DCP depends on how much you contribute and its earnings or worse, LOSES.
As far as Health Insurance....? Well, we have Obamacare so not even going to go there for now.

[capitan1962]

Thank you for the correction. I misunderstood someone with 20+ years . I picked up the benefits plan from the office and looking at it now. The "Service Multiplier" is 2.3% for each year of service so someone (who hired on after 9/1/09) and worked 30 years would receive 69% of their highest average 48 months of salary, 20 years would receive 46% and someone who worked the minimum 10 years would receive 23%. At an average salary of $5000 that would be $3450 (30yrs service), $2300 (20yrs service) or $1150 (10yrs service) respectively per month for the rest of their life. After 9/1/09 the minimum service time is 10 years and age 65 or the Rule of 80. If you have active military time you can purchase service time credit up to 5 years so potentially could be fully vested in 5 years actually working for the state. The best part is this is a "Defined Benefits Plan" (hard to come by these days) and not a "Defined Contribution Plan". With DBP your guaranteed the benefit whereas DCP depends on how much you contribute and its earnings or worse, LOSES.
As far as Health Insurance....? Well, we have Obamacare so not even going to go there for now.

That still is attractive. Naturally not near as well as you can do offshore but, you go home after your shift, you DON'T have to live on a boat with a bunch of idiots and you have a life. I applied there a while back, got offered a position but the money wasn't nearly enough to justify me moving to Galveston. On the other hand I soon turn 48 and don't want to spend a lot more years offshore. I know that in the summer time there is lots of eye candy in Galveston, Hmmmm?