Oil field for rookies?

I think Superior Energy needs a winch truck driver and water haulers ASAP... they called me, but i JUST got hired for sandhauling - Call Aerotek if you want a sandhauling gig....McLane also needs drivers - i was supposed to start monday
(great benefits package but it's multiple team drivers $50K to start) - All the oil outfits are along hwy 85 from from commerce city , all the way to Greeley. Concord and other heavy haulers need drivers who live near Grand Junction / Rifle. Talking to oil fielders, they told me they start 13 per hour - as you learn, get certifications and move up - you make more, but have to move to ND, be outdoors 16+hours a day, work 80- 96 hours/wk and be able to bench 180lbs, while soaking wet in the middle of a blizzard, with your pinky - eat plenty of cheerios !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Big Duker,
As a newbie wanting to work in oil fields, willing to relocate,close to your age,what companies would you recommend. You seem very knowledgeble...Thanks..Tall Paul

 

This is my first post on here. Been reading all through this section of the forum.

I guess I could call myself a newbie. I have had my CDL for a long time but haven't driven since 2006. I moved into a supervisory role making good money, then downsized. I want to get back into driving but it has been hard. I have been looking to relocate to West Texas - Midland/Odessa area for a long time. I put in apps online with a lot of companies and got a few rejection emails.

I figured I am considered a new driver since I haven't had any commercial driving in years and that was mostly van. Is it hard to even get a job when you have a CDL but no recent experience? Is it easier to just go there and try to find out about jobs in person as oppsed to online? Just trying to collect as much info as possible.

 

I was able to get a job hauling crude oil right after getting my CDL. It actually took me a couple months, but I am an older and female. I literally spent my days physically going to the trucking companies and filling out applications. I expected to have to work my way up to crude oil by hauling water first. I was fortunate to land a job hauling crude oil for my first job. It is more work than just driving, though. I have been at it for 3 months now and I earn about $4,000/month. Not the best pay for the oil field, but its a start. With a little experience I expect to be able to go to a company that pays more and I can work days instead of nights. Getting your foot in the door is the key!

 

LOL!! I know enough to be dangerous. Depends on what you want to do. I drive pneumatic tanker hauling sand. It is still pretty good money, but not like it was a few years ago. And they are rapidly throwing railyards in remote locations to cut down on shipping costs. And also anyone with a blower has shown up here and cut rates. We have not yet. They have tried to cut back on detention and how long before we get it. TriCan is the worst. Their drivers take their 10 hr breaks like clockwork. On one job we all told them we were on our 10 when they called us on radio to come unload. Really pissed them off bad. But you have to take a stand. Threatened to never use us again. Bosses went over and worked it out. They have tried several others and had bad luck. Our bosses are absorbing some hours and we gave them one more for free.
I live just W of DFW so I have no plans to relocate. Both W and S TX are booming. N TX is starting to come alive. Up around Bowie, Gainesville, Graham, Throckmorton they are drilling for oil in some older fields. Lots of jobs coming that way and still able to find plenty of housing. Have seen adds for crude and water drivers. Check CraigsList for Dallas/Ft Worth. Also Abilene, Odessa, Amarillo,Wichita Falls, Oklahoma City, and all the ones in South TX. Lots of oilfield driving jobs. If you want to drive less and run machinery TriCan, Haliburton, Schlumberger, Key, Nabors, and lots of others will train you to frac, drill, service, coil tube, etc. Open a good place to feed drivers and you will make a killing. You just have to see how many jobs this industry provides. Welders are in high demand. Hope that helps a little.

 

thx 4 all the good info.

 

Thank you CarolElaine60. I am also older and female and just out of CDL school, so finding your post was great as all of the information out there is daunting. Have you seen many women working in the oil fields?

 

There are women in the oil fields. My yard has 2 out of 24 drivers.

As for experience.. I got into crude w only 3 months experience after applying at many many places. You've got to treat your job search like a full time job and stay determined

 

Sorry I'm confused, what oil field related companies hire drivers for mainly just driving or do drivers have to be part of field operations also? I am a new grad looking for a primarily driving oil field position. I'm located in Ft Worth, I have an interview with GoFrac in Weatherford, TX. thx
marcus

 

You'll do a lot more than drive with go frac. Most likely there will be heavy Labor involved with the job they offer you but the potential to make 80k-100k your first year. You won't find that as a new driver unless your willing to swing sledge hammers and pickup iron.