Switching career path and going back to school ... tough thing to do.  I applaud you rookie.
Tyrone

Lots of fab shops around Nashville, big construction outfits that have their own welders to fix equipment, do highway work type of welding. Couple pipeline welding places as well, Bush Pipeline I think is one but never worked there, never talked to anyone that worked there. Trinity Marine is northwest of Nashville, build barges. Don't know how they pay, how the job is, never worked there. Heard stories about it positive and negative. Army Corps of Engineers if you can get on with them working on a barge doing dam repairs and stuff. Some of the big contractors, Ikon, Rogers Group, W.L. Hailey(I think), Jones Bros., Civil Constructors(I believe), not sure which one hires welders or uses welders, never worked with either, wait, fixed a gate for Ikon, that's about it. Mechanical companies are a good place to look too, most are to cheap to hire a contract welder and they are always looking for a guy to hire to weld mechanical piping. There's a big outfit in Nashville that I have heard is really good but I can't remember the name right now. I'll try to find it but don't see their trucks because I don't work in or around Nashville much anymore.

Ivey Mechanical and John Bouchard & Sons are two that I know have their own welders. There is another place in Nashville that builds stages for the big music folks, heard of them and talked to somebody once, ran into them somewhere, but don't have any clue what the name was. There is a Caterpillar dealer in Lavergne that has a full on welding shop. Pretty good place to work for, full bennies, good pay, $18 an hour when I left 12 years ago so I'd say it is higher now. I know the shop foreman in the machine shop over there but have not talked to him in years, just have not been over that way in forever. There is also a company that manufactures rock machines around that same area, Antioch. I checked on a welding job with them once and they do repairs all over the place as the company is worldwide, Wirtgen America Inc., is the name. Duck Welding, small machine/welding shop, Hamilton Machine, small welding/machine shop and Industrial Machine and Tool are places that I've been to once or twice in my travels but never worked there or really talked to anybody about life as an employee there. All of the ones I've listed are companies large enough to most likely offer some sort of healthcare benefits. Caterpillar has 401k, retirement plan and more.

All inbound interstates, I40, I24, I65 are awful messes in the mornings coming into Nashville. Been on the road for most of this year and when I came home in March took some local work in Nashville and realized how much I hated driving to Nashville in the mornings. Driving in from Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, Donelson, Hendersonville, Franklin traffic gets heavy around 6-6:30, awful at 7:00 and even worse the closer you get to town. Where to live, anywhere I guess. I lived in East Nashville for a year or so, then south Nashville. Westside, Franklin, Brentwood are the big money areas I guess. An old country boy though so I got the heck out as soon as I could.

That's about all I've got. Was a mechanic for 18 years on Cadillacs to Caterpillars, Detroits, Cummins....and more. Jumped off into welding after being laid off and going to school. It's possible, going in to weld as an employee would be so much easier than what I did though. Good luck!!

Shawn

Good morning;
  Although a degree in welding it is not a golden ticket, I believe it can be a great way to get your foot in the door. Most places, if not every place, will have you test to there procedure before hiring you on. Doing well in school will give you at the least entry level skills; probably more. Going in willing to hire on as a helper shows your willingness to learn; a great asset in my opinion. Listen to the more seasoned welders. Watch how they accomplish a task. Don't be afraid to pick their brains. Most will happily share if asked. I'm not in the Nashville area but think a few people on the forum are from the area. They may have a few ideas. Keep visiting the forum. There is a wealth of information here and a great but of gentleman willing to share. Best of luck with your chosen path.

Have a good one;
Matt

The other company I could not think of is Lee Company, large outfit. Don't know if anybody is hiring welders in the area though, just have to shake some bushes and see what drops out.

Shawn

Employees are to expensive, tried it once and cost, paperwork, taxes...., sometimes I think I would like to have a guy but it would cost me $5-6000 to bring you on as a helper just to get you started before your first day of real work. Good luck! Seems like there is always something going on in Nashville at least.

rook
when you get the best people here to comment, your my hero
sincerely,
Kent

Rookie,

You just heard business analysis from two guys in different parts of the industry, on opposite sides of the country, with differing goals, business models, and personal objectives.  They CAN both be right.  It will all depend upon so many applicable factors and what each businessperson equates as necessary expense, training, PPE, insurances, benefits, certifications, and overhead in order to bring a new person on board. 

Take me for example: doing some work that requires climbing certification.  There goes a week of pay, expense of class, expense of climbing gear, not to mention air fare, hotel, and food. (and even at least one person on the ground has to be climbing rated as well)  That alone will get me close to Shawn's $5000.  Not to mention First Aid/CPR, OSHA 30, other employer mandated to provide PPE, Workers' Comp, Liability Insurance, employer's portion right away on every check for SSI, Unemployment, and other payroll expenses.  THEN, I have to personally train you for my specific application of skills needed regardless of if you are an inspector, welder, helper, NDT tech.  Then, every employee needs about two weeks on the job just to figure out how I want things done.  Time with the boss or a trusted employee to show you the ropes, learn where the tools are and learn how I want them used (and put away), learn special features of my equipment incase you have never used that exact unit, and so much more.  I always figure the first two weeks are throw away, if I get some benefit great, but mostly you are in training and I don't expect high production. 

I know a little of where JT is coming from and hopefully he can indeed start a new employee for less.  Especially at the stage of growth his company is in where he already has a system and people in place and one new person doesn't hit you as hard as it would Shawn or myself. 

But there are many factors to consider and I believe Shawn has spoken from his own past experience and needs in his specific business model. 

Now, as to your OP, get out there and hustle.   Prove yourself.  You seem to have a good perspective on starting where you can.  Be careful about using the 'I have my own service truck' line.  Until you are proven and have a set up specific to the sector of the industry you go into you may just make yourself a laughing stock on the job site.  Get your certifications.  Do your time.  Gain some skills.  Find out what types of tools, equipment, truck set up, and optional equipment will truly be an asset to a 'service truck'.  That can mean so many different things.  Pipefitters/welders, ironworkers, rig hands, equipment repair, etc.  All will have different ideas of a 'service truck'.  And some can be a little cruel about not accepting you if you don't have the "right" equipment. 

You are at a good age.  You won't be seen as some young know it all upstart but you are still the newbie who needs to expand his knowledge pool beyond what you will get at any welding school.  And, you still have lots of years ahead of you to be a productive employee and family provider. 

Others have already given you good starting points.  Just my two tin pennies worth on the rest of it.

He Is In Control, Have a Great Day,  Brent

You didn't start anything Rookie, wasn't trying to steal your post, sorry about that!