Just returned from my Bakken "recon" trip

I do my research before I jump ships so I took a trip to ground zero to see for myself if all the hype is for real. Here is what I found out. Everything about the lack of housing is true, but there is a LOT of new housing being built right now so I suspect the prices will drop a bit in the coming years. The pay is still there, but it has come down a bit from the high it was at a couple of years ago. As for the general atmosphere in Williston.....it was like every wild west gold boom town you have ever seen in the movies but with rubber and steel instead of horses and wagons. The level of activity was crazy. There were trucks of all kinds everywhere. All in all, it was pretty exciting. I did get the feeling that the dust was just beginning to settle, so to speak, meaning that the growth is just starting to become paced and more organized.

There are many jobs available, both driving and non-driving, but you need to network and talk with people. Everyone I approached was happy to give me information and advice.

I was there for a day and 1/2 and was offered a driving job hauling oil field reclamation material on the second day even though I don't have any endorsements right now (I have held my CDL for 20+ years but have not been driving full time for about 10). I believe I am going to take the position and give the oil patch a shot. I have a good job for my area, but the top pay I could ever expect is $35-$40 K and I am sick of the office politics. One big thing to know is that you need to go to the oil fields with the proper mindset. There is not much else to do than work, so make sure you are committed to it. The WORK will be your life and if you cannot commit to that, you will probably fail in ND

 

The company I will be going to pays on percentage with the lowest billable hour being $120, making the lowest compensation $25 per hour. Many companies do pay by the hour, but may limit the hours worked to 12 per day. Once I get the lay of the land, I may look for a better deal myself.