Life As An Oil Rig Driver!

I would say some, but many people are just *******s who forget what it is to be human. Glad the guy behind you helped you out that was very nice of him, and learning like that I am sure you got it or damn near got it so you wont need too much help the second time! :)

Yeah, unfortunately there are plenty of aholes out here, but, maybe he didn`t know what to do either? Oh well, put that behind you and carry on. Any rookie, including myself, runs into some "oh s**t" moments. It`s just part of the learning process. Good for the fellow trucker who helped you, that is a pro.

Alright everyone... been 4 or 5 days but here is an update.

It's going well. I'm finally starting to get the hang of "blowing off" or unloading a sand trailer. Still not as fast as most drivers but I only take 10 or 15 minutes longer. Which isn't bad when there is close to 50,000 pounds of sand to unload. Could be my trailer instead of me to because of course being the new guy I get the throw away equipment which I'm fine with.

I average 1.5 loads a day if that makes since... usually I get 1 load one day then 2 the next day.

Now the next topic. Log books. Now.. before I get started let me just say I run 100% legal... 95% of the time. Before you all go judging me let me explain. First off in no way am I saying you should run illegal but let me get to my point. I'm sure most of you have learned about "line 5" of a log book for oil rig drivers. Basically it goes as follows. A big part of the job is sitting waiting to get unloaded. I've waited up to 7 hours before at a well pad to start geting unloaded. This is where "line 5" comes in. Basically you log it and then that time gets added on to the end of your 14 so you can get down the mountain and to a rest or truck stop. I've only used this once so far. Example: I work the 6am to 6am shift. Got done with my first load at 11 or 12. Call in I'm ready for another load. They call me back at 1 with a new load. So i get loaded and get back to the oil pad at 430 or 5. Well 7 hours latter around midnight they finally call me up the mountain to unloas. But wait.. my 14 is up with no 10 hour break. This is where line 5 comes in. If you are waiting ON THE OIL SITE that gets added to the end of your 14. So that gave me enough time to get unloaded get down the mountain and to a place to sleep. Got there around 2 or 3. Now my shift is from 6am to 6am so did I get up again at 6 to go to work? HELL NO. Are there people up here who would totally fudge there log books and go back to work at 6am? Absolutely. But i know me. I need 6 hours of sleep to function a full 24 hours and 7 or 8 to be completely rested. This is where my saying of a run 100% legal 95% of the time. Come 11 I am ready to call for another load. But my 10 hours isn't up. Well let's just say 90% of the guys including myself run lose leaf paper logs. Not book paper logs. We do this for obvious reasons of when you need to make a little change.. it's a lot easier to take a log out of a 3 ring binder instead of ripping it out of a book and making sure you get al the little pieces of paper so DOT don't see it.

Let me say this again.. IN NO WAY AM I SAYING YOU SHOULD FUDGE ON YOU'RE LOG BOOKS. BUT I'm just telling you all this so you know how it is on the oil riggs. Will you get a full DOT required 10 hour break every night? No you wont. I feel like I should also explain that dispatch does understand that if your on the pad till 3am they don't expect you to call in at 6am for a load. They would rather you get your 8 hours of rest and call in at 11 or 12 for a load. A lot of times to they won't have a load till your 10 hours is up.. but technically since you called in your on the clock. Which is supposed to be logged under on duty. But.. ya. So this is what I mean when I say you run 100% legal.. 95% of the time.

By the way.. I meant the 6am to 6pm shift not 6am to 6am. Stupid auto correct.

Hey Max I just PMd you but thought id leave this here too: Hey Max, Great post man! How is the oil rigging going? What is the schedule like? What are trucks like? Do you sleep in them like pre? Mini fridge, micro, cooler compatible? You mentioned flying home for home time, can you stay low,Al? If so at what cost? What do you think the market is doing in the next 2 years? Have you learned anything new about the biz that might help a new come out? Will they take guys from California with one year otr flatbedding? Not that it is hugely important but are you able to stock up on food at grocery stores? Is there any time to exercise? Can you get these jobs without knowing someone? Still think it is about just showing up? Thanks again Man! Justin

*stay local