Life As An Oil Rig Driver!
Topic 4576 | Page 3
I have 4 prehire letters so far and have a few other companies I am going to look in to. A few I know I am definitely not interested in because they make you drive as a team after training, and frankly I have been alone too long to be forced to live in such a small space with a stranger for months on end. My friends are finally coming around to (or maybe just resigned at this point) the reality that I am going to do this. More things are getting done as I begin to wrap up at my current job....except telling my boss I am leaving. I want to be approved for WIA funds and have a start date before I tackle that one!
-Jolie
Way ta' go, Jolie! Sounds like you have a lot of things figured out. I know I wouldn't want to team drive with a stranger. Nuh-unh. Yeah, your friends.... You watch. They're all hesitant now. Pretty soon they'll be bragging about you and how cool it is that you're doing this. Good luck on your WIA funds. The process is slow but worth it.
-mountain girl
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Your going to get a lot of off road experience driving to the Oil well sights with the Frac sand. I drive a Frac Gell (Guar) tanker out of Chicago, and have delivered onsite to ND, Wyoming, CO, OH, WV, and PA. (check my pictures) The western states are easy compared to the eastern states (except form the MN & ND Blizzards) . Went to Wellsboro PA in the winter and even after chaining up, couldn't get up that winding gravel road in the snow, had to bob tail up the small mountain with them pulling my tanker up with a bulldozer. scary at first, but after a while you will have a skill that you won't get OTR
From what i hear they love the sand for the oil rigs out of Chicago.. supposed to be the best sand for fracking.
I new they were getting sand from WI, and just recently found out that they were getting sand from west of Joliet IL. I would think that they move it by train , then truck it locally. you can see how this oil boom is helping out many parts of the the country.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Your going to get a lot of off road experience driving to the Oil well sights with the Frac sand. I drive a Frac Gell (Guar) tanker out of Chicago, and have delivered onsite to ND, Wyoming, CO, OH, WV, and PA. (check my pictures) The western states are easy compared to the eastern states (except form the MN & ND Blizzards) . Went to Wellsboro PA in the winter and even after chaining up, couldn't get up that winding gravel road in the snow, had to bob tail up the small mountain with them pulling my tanker up with a bulldozer. scary at first, but after a while you will have a skill that you won't get OTR
-Turbo Dan
Way to keep your cool, Man. That is just freaky.
-mountain girl
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
MG, they're called lightning bugs - you should know that ... And what are you doing trying to scare the gentleman from AZ off w/ your warning of PA humidity?
Unfortunately Max, it's true. It might cool off a tad at night, depending on where you are in PA, but that blasted humidity is awful. You'll get out of the shower and instantly sweat.
Guys.. ive lived in Phoenix, Arizona the last 23 years of my life. We have had 2 days in the past week reach 115. i can handle a little heat. hahahahahaha. by the way it dosnt cool off at night. last night at 11pm it was still 101 degrees outside. So the heat dosnt phase me at all. It dosnt cool down in Phoenix because the concrete and asphalt just traps the heat than at night it lets it all out. if you get out of the city it will cool down at night but it sure dosnt cool down in the city. Any of you who have to spend nights in a hot truck in the middle of the summer in Arizona i am so sorry.. just make sure you stop back on by in the middle of the winter when you have been up north driving in cold and snow for a few weeks. The winters in Arizona is what makes the summers worth it. Trust me.
Summary of days:
Wenesday July 23rd:
Recive call in morning letting me know i had the job.. The conversation went like this: Company: "When can you start." Me: "Now." Comapny: "you get here on Monday the job is yours."
You see in the oil fields since there is so much money they need drivers.. and they needed them yesterday. Up there they have the same problem if not even worse than the rest of the industry when it comes to people not showing up. Yes the pay is wonderful and it sounds great because all you do is drive a truck. But hardly anyone follows through. If you want to work in the oil fields you just need to get your butt to ND, PA, or TX and start knocking on doors to these companies. Its easy for them to say no to you on the phone because you dont have experience. But it is much harder for them to say no when you are actually there. For example: Lets say they have 10 trucks available that are all losing money by sitting in the yard. (Up tp 3 grand A DAY in some cases). You really think they are going to send you away and wait for someone who has the experience they say they require? They need drivers and they need them now. They are more then happy to throw you in a truck and give you the job. Remember though.. you cant haul oil without 2 years experience this is a requirement for insurance. But you can haul Sand/Water and equipment.
So moral of the story if you want a job in the oil fields? JUST SHOW UP. With a CDL with your tanker/hazmat/doubles and triples endorsement.
Thursday July 24th:
Drug/Alcohol pre hire test. They told me to go to the office down the street where the Doc gave me a breathalyzer and had me pee in a cup. Easiest part of the hiring process assuming your clean.. but it is a requirment by law that they administer you a drug test before they give you the keys to a truck no other way around it. You are also subject to random drug tests that are determined by DPS or DOT. When your number comes up they send your boss an email telling them you have to go take a random.. this is also required by law that you take this right away. if you refuse then its an auto-fail. Just the way this industry is. deal with it. My last job (School bus) my number came up 3 times over the 2 years.
Overall simple day. Friday July 25th:
Shopping day. May i just mention that i hate shopping with every fiber of my being. Im the type of person that if im in one store and im buying jeans and someone comes up and says "You can get those same jeans way cheaper at this store." I will pay more at this store even though they are cheaper somewhere else just so i dont have to walk into another store/mall. Anyways I needed to pick up Steal toe boots, jeans, shirts socks and other random stuff. 400 bucks latter i got the stuff i needed to last me for a few weeks i hope.
Saturday July 26th:
Packing day/get everything in order before i leave. Packing sucks. Ill post pictures and a list of what im bringing latter.
Today Sunday July 27th:
Finalize packing.. hang out with friends/family for the last time in 2 months. Its really a roller coster of emotions from bein so excited im actually leaving my dream to "O crap.. what the hell did i get myslef into."
I fly out tomorrow morning.. couldent be more happy!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Pre Hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Hey Max, PM me when you get settled in. I'm just 15 minutes up the road from Williamsport. Be glad to get you pointed in the right direction for anything you might need.
Alright buddy. I wish the best for you! Since you'll be making some dough, make sure you buy yourself an authentic Steelers jersey, not a replica - you can afford it. Where that black & gold proudly and you'll be treated well.
Alright buddy. I wish the best for you! Since you'll be making some dough, make sure you buy yourself an authentic Steelers jersey, not a replica - you can afford it. Where that black & gold proudly and you'll be treated well.
I have one thing to say to that.. as i die hard Arizona Cardinals fan. I would die before i put that jersey on. Aint no way.. i still cant get over that last Superbowl.. dont even get me started. I hate the Steelers. so much. hahahahahahahaha
Hey Max, PM me when you get settled in. I'm just 15 minutes up the road from Williamsport. Be glad to get you pointed in the right direction for anything you might need.
O man! thank you!
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Again a case of where the posting on the forums does not capture the sarcasm or playful intent.