Getting started on the basin as a recent CDL grad with limited funds

hey one year wonder know it all, you read the thread.
the op's problem is he doesn't have a CDL.
But I guess he could just walk thru any door and
they'll just hand him the keys and of he goes
making the big bucks.

 

Nabors will hire over the phone.

Still going to need cash to float. I went about a month from being hired to being paid. In the meantime I had left a paying job and spent money relocating.

Background checks can take a while. I have lived in many places so when they say a week it really means a month to be cleared fr hire.

Individual results may vary

 

Is that supposed to be sarcasm? No one said anything like that.

He did however say that he was planning to get his CDL before coming out here, at which point, yes, there are companies that will hire him with no driving experience, hand him keys, and he'll be making great money. AGAIN, it happens every day out here.

Maybe you should grab a grown up to help you develop some basic reading comprehension.

 

The ONLY BS person here is YOU!

First who do you think you are, Mr. perfect? Telling the OP he is pretty much guaranteed to get work, I actually question if you are legit. If you are legit well lucky you, not everyone can just show up and be handed out jobs just cause they have a new CDL. I said that cause that happened to my husband and others I have met. How dare you accuse me of BSing.

 

I'll chime in...

I've been in Midland since November 2013.

I now have almost nine months crude hauling experience...I hate the company I'm with but am paying my dues and am glad they took me on as a recent graduate.
ALL of the GOOD companies are requiring at least one year of experience right now! That changes with the wind of course...

I could jump to another company, but there are so many horror stories out here, you have to e careful about jumping from the pan into the fire and what not.

As far as finances go....good luck out here! It's not JUST the rent...it's EVERYTHING that is more expensive.

My rent for a 0ne bedroom is $1050/mo+ elect/water/gas/trash/sewer. water/trash/sewer is lumped together by the apartment complex and is by the building and divided up by number of residents. There's no way to conserve on that. The bill for that adds another $40-45/mo. I just learned that if I renew my lease another year the rent will go up to $1230 plus the utilities! That's a $180 INCREASE!

The money my first nine months has been very spotty! It looks good on paper but the reality is I could go back to Las Vegas and make much less money and have more left over!
Do this: log onto Walmart's website and look up products for your area AND from the Walmart in Midland. You might be surprised at the price difference...at least it'll give you a better idea of the cost of living.

I noticed the Walmart thing when I saw my vacuum cleaner that I bought in Midland was $36 more than if I had bought in LV.

You CAN get a job with a new or no CDL, but it probably won't be a driving job per se' or at least not a well paying one...there are exceptions to everything and you may get lucky, but I never factor in luck with stuff like this. Better to not count on luck or expect it.

My story is not unique, there are many drivers that tell me that they're making more on paper than back home but living lower...

Good luck to you!


BTW... I have noticed that a lot of companies that hire fresh CDL holders are asking for 160 hour school...

 

I haven't really seen much in the way of man camp stuff out here as its much more developed and less remote than the Bakken. I suppose if you did rig work they would bunk you at the rig for your tour but you'd be on your own off tour...best to wait for a rig worker to chime in on that, perhaps check out rigzone's site as it focusses more on rig work. As a driver, especially as a crude hauler I have no contact with the rigs.

 

I'd go for TX/ OK, NM, little snow, cheaper to live etc. I live in an RV, even in Big Spring TX you can get a decent RV place for under 500. quite a few companies hire drivers right outta school for a reason. They can train the drivers the way THEY want it done. Most drivers I work with and watch spend all their time trying to cut a corner. Do your job right, listen to the people who pay you, not the drivers and you will go far. Theres a reason most of em ##### on sites all day...... I love my job, i love the money and i went owner op. Work hard, delay instant gratification and go to work and actually work. I have never looked back.