Sick of training new hires who bail after one long haul job

Man, out here in north jersey the moving game is brutal with all these 3rd-floor walk-ups and no elevators, especially in these old brick buildings. I run a small crew with U-Haul rentals for the local jobs, but last month I spent $800 on training this kid who ghosted me right after we did a 12-hour shift hauling a full 2-bedroom from Hoboken to Philly. We're talking furniture dollies slipping on slick linoleum, guys straining backs on those heavy oak dressers, and him just up and leaving without notice. NGL, it's got me rethinking if I should even bother with apprentices anymore, feels like throwing money away. Saw a similar rant in the Moving Professionals Facebook group the other day, bunch of guys saying the same crap. Anyone else dealing with this turnover in the moving biz?

same here, lost two guys last week after a rainy day unloading in the mud.

hahaha, welcome to the club, kid. wait til they see the first snowstorm haul.

sign a simple contract for the first month, covers your training costs if they bail.

insurance companies are the real villains, jacking up rates cuz of these flaky hires causing accidents.

try cross-training them on packing first, eases them into the heavy lifting without burning out day one.

fml, my last apprentice dropped a plasma tv off a uhaul ramp, cost me 500 bucks and a pissed customer.

customer called mid-move demanding we stop for pizza, told him no and he flipped out, nearly quit on the spot.

had a guy show up hungover, puked in the customer's garage after lifting one box. fired him on site.

lmao, at least yours puked in the garage, mine did it in the truck cab. smelled like ass for weeks.

these pe firms buying up moving companies are screwing everyone, pushing for more hires but no retention bonuses.

been chewing ibuprofen like candy from all the overtime covering for no-shows, this industry's killing me.

screw the quitters, but yeah it's exhausting. my back's been out since that 4th-floor job last winter.

set clear expectations upfront: 4 weeks minimum or repay training. worked for me on the last three hires.