New guy trying to get experience question

Update

A week of running on my own now and it's going ok. I haven't experienced anything like the feeling I get when running into the bush knowing I'm going in to load and then running out with 70 tons and 90 feet long. Usually in a pretty good sweat by the time I hit the pavement again. Running logs out of the bush is probably not the best place for a brand new guy, but I've had some good training and if I keep it safe and easy coming out of the bush, I should improve as time goes on. My biggest problem right now is the shift work and being tired when driving on the pavement loaded. I've had to pull over and nap a few times now. Guys out here are running 8 hrs on and 8 hours off. It's tough to keep up with.

 

Sounds like you've done it before. Yeah, it sucks. At least my cross-shift is not in a big hurry to get out. We get back when we get back, then we book the next load for each other. A little more relaxed than 8 and 8 but still ###### nonetheless.

All complaining aside, I still think it's not a bad gig. Money could be a lot worse, as could the conditions. Guys in our camp are pretty good. We get tv, internet, telephone etc. All we have to do is cook.

 

We get a third of the company's invoice to the mill, minus a third of any fines incurred by us for overload. I hear that it's about the best deal in the area. Just got first paycheck today. Seems that it works out to about 330 per load on an 8.5 hour cycle time. That's gross. I think they pay per tonne per hour, so a longer cycle time will pay more per load.

It's good experience for me. I can't complain. Brand new out of driving school and into a decent paying job. Most of the guys are earning about 15-18 loads per pay period right now as the weather is good. Do the math on that. Winter is steady and axle weight is higher. We are running 75 % right now. Camp is good like I said. Can work steady every day till you get tired of it if you want. No forced time off. The job has good earning potential.

Cheers

 

For now, for me, a cycle a day. But it works out to more. for others.... A little more than a cycle a day. Some guys are faster than others. I'm not that fast yet. Guys that are good and work a "good cycle time run" can get 1.5 cycles a day. Some times the mill gets us to do a long and a short run in a shift. I haven't experienced that yet. One a day is good for me. I don't really want to push it yet.