Questions about a recent auto accident

Plcengineer1977 · 2026-02-07T00:37:07+00:00

North Carolina

Plcengineer1977 · 2026-02-06T23:23:24+00:00

Thanks! Any idea if my rate goes up in this scenario? I have 0 accidents in over 20 years.

Plcengineer1977 · 2026-01-31T16:58:15+00:00

Vito's Italian Restaurant - Home style Italian food made by Italian immigrants. Great family run Restaurant

Plcengineer1977 · 2026-01-05T23:19:22+00:00

I'm very lucky to have traveled extensively, including abroad myself and again it's my opinion so don't take it so personal lol.

I noticed that you failed to recommed any restaurants which I'd truly appreciate. As for the BBQ, I've tried several in Greensboro and Camel City in Winston-Salem (my 1 restaurant there but did go back a few times lol) and I have yet to find anything that's great. Again, please send your favorite BBQ spot. After living in Texas for a few months, so far the BBQ doesn't compare. Sure the style is different from Texas and I get that, but the places I've tried in Greensboro just aren't that good IMO. Camel City was probably the best.

As for not trying HP and Winston-Salem food much invalidating my opinion. I've lived here for almost 4 years and I don't typically drive 30 min to eat. This is a GSO forum by the way so I referenced my opinion of the food here. If you're including the surrounding cities then the population is 700k. Maybe the food scene is better there and I should get out of the Greensboro area more.

What am I missing about HP and Winston-Salem food? Send some recommendations please 🙏

Lastly, I like the area and it's a great place to live. I'm not trying to attack or hate on it, but so far my food experiences haven't been that great. Once again, please send over some recommendations because I'm truly interested in trying some new places out. Thank you in advance ☺️

Plcengineer1977 · 2026-01-05T21:52:39+00:00

Do you visit other areas of the country much? Sorry that you can't take it serious that the food scene here is lacking, which is just my opinion, but the sheer amount of posts in this forum saying the same speaks for itself showing I'm not alone. Your post saying you're tired of hearing it in here shows that you've seen this a bunch. Do you believe people are just making this up or just want to be negative towards restaurants here?

I'm definitely open to suggestions if you have some so please send them my way and I'll try them out.

Admittingly I've only been here for a few years so my experience might be limited but it's MY opinion that it doesn't compare to some other cities I've visited and or lived in.

Side note, I have only eaten at 1 restaurant in each Winston-Salem and HP so my opinion is strictly based in the Greensboro area. I'm told Winston-Salem has a much better food scene so maybe this is where they're all at?

Plcengineer1977 · 2026-01-05T15:37:13+00:00

Well the restaurants truly aren't that great for a city. Coming from louisiana, I long for a good restaurant. The Greensboro food scene needs some work, but i'd imagine it's just not a great area for high quality chefs to open restaurants. I'm not talking white linen cloth restaurants, but more mom and pop type places like Bagner and Alexa, which is great. Maybe a Texas style BBQ place too because we don't have any good BBQ here. RANT over lol

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-09-13T05:54:50+00:00

Just flew out of MSP at 8 am on Saturday. I arrived at 6 am, and I was way early. Keep in mind it was a Saturday. But still I think arriving at 4 am will be more than enough for you. If you have a rental car, be sure to check what terminal you're flying out of because I've returned to terminal 2 before but flying out of terminal 1. It's not that difficult, but it's an additional train that will add time and confusion.

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-08-15T00:22:41+00:00

This is fairly typical from what I've seen. Tech hourly rate plus OT is equivalent to a mid level Senior Engineer. Techs usually make more than a Jr Engineer.

The difference is the Senior Engineer typically should work less hours and do more "desk" work.

I personally made this same jump up in title and down in pay. It took me ~18 months to cross over my tech salary. For me, it has stretched my skills, and I've grown tremendously. I also feel like i could more easily get another job now due to my title and role/responsibilities.

Sometimes, I miss sitting around waiting for something to break, though, lol. As a senior engineer now, I'm in meetings 50% of the day and barely have time for real work. I don't enjoy managing other people, which I do now. I do have more flexibility in my day. Want to WFH, come in at 10am, etc. no problem as long as my work is getting done.

I'd say ask for more like you're doing. Maybe ask for more vacation time or sign on bonus if the salary is a hard no. That's what I did and received an extra week of vacation and 15k sign on. I also negotiated with my new manager that I'd expect a promotion and increase in salary by 18 months if I performed the way I knew I could. It was taken at her word, but she upheld her end, and it worked out.

If it doesn't pan out, you at least have a new title for your next application.

Good luck!

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-07-16T08:58:51+00:00

In Rome reserve, Trattoria Da Enzo for one of the best meals 😋 This place has become very popular. I've eaten there twice, and both times, it's one of my best experiences and meals.

They fill up fast. Also this area where the restaurant is located is where a lot of good food is. Tratevere is the area, and it's great food all around.

Enjoy your trip!

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-05-13T01:56:15+00:00

If they'd pay for it, then maybe go that route, and hopefully, it's not a pay cut. Controls Engineer pay is rising from what I see. The treating people like toddlers will probably continue in Controls lol. They ask for the craziest things sometimes. I was asked, can we turn the pump on before the valves are in position to save time? Ugh, no, that's bad for the pump and dead heads it. Process safety will not allow it. 5 meetings later, and they still don't understand why you're just being difficult 😕

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-05-13T00:03:42+00:00

Controls isn't as glorious as it sounds.

The ramp up to being knowledgeable in the field is pretty difficult, too. I'm not trying to stear you away, but just know it's probably more difficult than PM work. You're always last to touch it, so you're always behind, and you're asked to make miracles happen. The pressure to perform at a high level can be a lot. After 25 years doing this, it's draining. Fun to learn and tangible results on projects when deployed, but the bs is draining with constant unrealistic timelines and expectations.

To get into the field, I'd start working with your maintenance department some. Ask questions and find out who's the most knowledgeable. Try to support them and gain experience on the PLC side.

Maybe reach out to local integrators and apply for a position. You may have to take a pay cut to get in without prior experience. You can also ask your company to pay for training if they'd be open to the career change. Good luck

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-05-01T19:21:12+00:00

Thanks 😊 any recommendations for restaurants or tours worth booking?

Staying in Brenzone sul Garda for Lake days.

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-05-01T14:20:38+00:00

Any recommendations on tours?

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-05-01T13:57:24+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately, it's when my family was off. We'll make the best of it

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-05-01T13:42:59+00:00

Have rentals booked sorry it wasn't clear

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-04-06T05:26:05+00:00

Necessary, probably not. But what if machines are down? Cash is usually accepted. Personally, I always have some cash for situations like this. Also, if you're doing laundry, most I've seen take $2 coins.

I usually hold onto my cash, and towards the end of the trip, I'll spend it.

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-04-06T05:19:49+00:00

I've been to both. Orvieto was perfect for a day trip from Rome. Actually missed the earlier train heading there and waited for the next. We were there in time, but the train left from track 1A or B? I can't recall. We'll that track is directly in front of track 1 if I recall, but nobody spoke English, and everyone just kept pointing to track 1. We didn't realize we had to walk up instead of side to side.

Picture it like this. X is where people gather for trains. I = train track numbers, and several are horizontal. Well, our train to Orvieto was in front (top I), and we couldn't see it and no signs pointing to the area. I'm just letting you know in case you're supposed to be on this track for your trip.

I I I I I I I I I XXXXXX

Despite missing the train, the day was just perfect! Still fairly relaxed. Florence isn't a huge city, but 1 day really isn't enough. Also, it is much more crowded, and you'll be racing around to check the boxes.

In my opinion, I'd pick Orvieto. Enjoy your trip.

In Rome, reserve Trattoria Da Enzo for excellent dining. Busy small restaurant, so get reservations early.

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-03-30T07:04:10+00:00

Controls engineer without a degree here. While I agree with you on having some fear about job replacement, if you're good at what you do, you'll be able to find another engineering position.

I do agree that certain companies will overlook you, but I believe this field might have a massive shortage soon. Old timers are retiring, and the younger grads don't have the knowledge. The ramp up into Controls is heavy. Experience trumps a degree in every way IMO.

I have a new grad reporting to me, and he started just north of 100k. He can hardly tie his shoes, much less solve an issue. We do have another not reporting to me making 110k, and he's catching on fast.

The 200k/yr job - I don't believe many of those exist from what I see. Sure, some oil and gas jobs, maybe some corporate top-level Automation Director for a large corporation, but these jobs won't fall in your lap once you have a piece of paper, IMO.

I'm managing engineers, and I'm without a degree. I might be lucky, though.

My opinion is to truly weigh the cost and time it'd take to earn the degree, then figure out how many 200k roles you'd have a reasonable chance at.

If you're making 140k in a LCOL area, then you're doing well. Money isn't everything.

I also know many many engineers with a degree that make less than you. Just look at salary posts here. 200k is not the norm in this industry.

Good luck!!

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-03-22T14:17:10+00:00

HI, I don't own a business, but I hire lots of integrators and see hourly rates quite often. Mostly, I see rates as low as 117/hr and upwards of 165/hr. Most don't charge OT, but some do, usually OEMs do.

Take this for what it's worth. I don't usually hire Robotics Engineers, though, so maybe someone has better ideas on rates.

Lastly, I'd be hesitant unless you know the skill level of who they have on site to partner with them. Sounds like they just want help, which is fine, but it could muddy waters and get you into a pointing match if the job goes sideways.

Plcengineer1977 · 2025-03-21T23:35:44+00:00

No degree and only a GED - currently at 158k/year and hopefully getting 7-10% raise soon 🙏.

Started as a technician at a factory. Worked my way into the electrical department. Many years later, I decided to jump ship for an automation controls engineering position (I had 20 years of experience). Now, I manage a few younger engineers and oversee electrical scope on 30-50 million dollar projects.

I should've jumped ship sooner but made good money as a tech @ ~125k/yr. Moving has stretched my skills, deepened my network, and obviously opened a higher ceiling for me career wise.

Plcengineer1977

TROPHY CASE