Class A with X endorsement, but only Class B experience. Seeking TX oilfield work...

Discussion in 'Oilfield Trucking Forum' started by txboy10, Sep 23, 2014.

  1. txboy10

    txboy10 Light Load Member

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    Oct 21, 2009
    Plano, TX
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    What do you experienced folks think?

    Here's my scoop. I have a Class A with X endorsement, tho all my experience, besides CDL school, is with Class B. I am currently driving for a mobile shredding company in the DFW area. Love the job and I'm home every night, but not enough pay and not much OT at all. At $16.50/hr and today I got a total of like 6 hours on the clock. I have a wife and 2 boys under 3 years old that I need to provide for and this just isn't cutting it.

    I have driven aviation fuel trucks both in the commercial/general aviation sector as well as for the US Air Force. I do have experience with operating the fuel farms. I am also prior service Army most recently. I have a crystal clear background and have held security clearances for the military.

    I want to get into the oilfield driving industry as I have researched the money, and at this point I am financially driven. I do want to get the Class A experience with tanker/hazmat operations. I live in Dallas pretty much and thinking of the south Texas oilfields over Midland/Odessa as my twin bro and family lives in S.A. I would really prefer the rotational shift like a 2-week on 1-week off type thing if possible. This is because my wife and kids will remain in Dallas for a bit, if not forever. I feel they could handle the separation better if I did have a full week back at home before another 2-week rotation begins.

    Should I go pounding pavement down in Pleasanton, Three Rivers, etc.?? or online apps?? Based on what I've mentioned above, do you think I have a chance of landing a Class A gig with basically zero tractor trailer experience??

    Any company names who are hiring would be greatly appreciated!!

    Thanks in advance for your time and info


    Hook em \m/
     
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  3. TracyN

    TracyN Light Load Member

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    Aug 7, 2014
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    From everything I have read and heard, if you have the Class A with your X, then you should be able to get a job. Some of the larger outfits will do some training, but it seems to depend on the location. Definitely try to go down and pound the pavement. Also, some of the frac fueling positions seem to be in Class B trucks. That would be something to consider. You could also try getting on a frac or drilling crew. I don't know if you want to do that kind of physical work, but there is a LOT of overtime in those positions and I believe they work the rotational schedule you are looking for. I think most driving jobs would be more of a 5/2 or 6/1 schedule. Again, this is going off of what I have read and not from personal experience. We are in the background process for a company driving a vac truck and that schedule is either 4/2 or 5/2. Good luck!
     
  4. txboy10

    txboy10 Light Load Member

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    Oct 21, 2009
    Plano, TX
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    Thanks TracyN. Yeah I have actually worked on a rig for like 3 months doing solids control. It was pretty physical and I didn't care for the position too much so I found a different opportunity. I don't mind physical labor up to let's say 50%, but not 100%. I am fit besides a beer belly so working hard is no issue, just want to preserve my body/health for the future. I am.35. Anyway moral of all that was to I am looking for a driving job that has some physical labor to it, and not vice versa
     
  5. viper822004

    viper822004 Medium Load Member

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    Jul 25, 2014
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    I know frac companies will hire you but it's only 5 percent driving and 95 non driving. When on location you only do 20 percent labor unless you rig up or down. I have also done water hauling but not sure if they will hire you with zero class a experience due to their insurance.
    Sanjel is hiring out of cibolo, Tx
    2 weeks on 1 off. Paid week off.
     
  6. scot

    scot Bobtail Member

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    First post here but just wanted to comment on paid week off for Sanjel. I've worked with them before and unless they have changed the way they do things, it's really not paid week off. Here is how it works. You start your schedule in the middle of the week and work your two weeks. Once you have worked your two weeks, you get your week off starting from the middle of that week and ends a week after. Work schedule is midweek to midweek but PAY schedule is Sunday to Saturday. So, you're paid week off is really, you work half the week and get paid for that week you worked and not paid for the time you are off. Likewise, when you return from your days off, you are not paid for the time you were off but paid for the half week you worked. It just turns out that for the most part, the half week you work, ends up over 40 hours so, you are not getting paid for the time you are OFF. Just to clarify.
     
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  7. canadianredneck

    canadianredneck Light Load Member

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    Jul 26, 2012
    Western Arkansas
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    Also remember the 2 on 1 off kills your yearly. you lose 33% of the yearly wage. also the travel expense and living expense. Have you thought about hauling fuel in your area? with all the costs of living, traveling away from home, you might be better off to work for less and go home every night. UPT if they are in your area hire drivers outta school and you go home to family every night, just sayin. Good Luck
     
  8. txboy10

    txboy10 Light Load Member

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    Oct 21, 2009
    Plano, TX
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    I would be very interested in UPT and I have seen them here in the Dallas area. I just didnt think I had a chance with local fuel hauling since I have no true class A exp. I will look into that.

    QUOTE=canadianredneck;4257106]Also remember the 2 on 1 off kills your yearly. you lose 33% of the yearly wage. also the travel expense and living expense. Have you thought about hauling fuel in your area? with all the costs of living, traveling away from home, you might be better off to work for less and go home every night. UPT if they are in your area hire drivers outta school and you go home to family every night, just sayin. Good Luck[/QUOTE]
     
  9. txboy10

    txboy10 Light Load Member

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    Oct 21, 2009
    Plano, TX
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    Is the Sanjel gig working in Cibolo, or is that the nearest "base" and they send me to West TX or further south TX?
     
  10. scot

    scot Bobtail Member

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    You will be working where they send you. It could be West Tx or South but more than likely, you will not be at the yard at Cibolo.

    You will report on your first day of your hitch in Cibolo and there are two buses that are at the yard on your first of the hitch. One goes to West TX and the other goes to South TX. Now, if your crew happens to be in the yard because jobs are not ready, then you will report to Cibolo but you don't want that because you will lose hours and it's BS yard work with everyone there watching you.

    If you go West TX, you will stay at La Quinta Inn, relatively new building so it's not that bad but if you go South TX, you will go to mancamp in Caterina, TX. Sometimes you go East TX as well but if your crew is assigned West TX, you will go to Odessa and work from there, in the surrounding area more than not.

    Hope that helps
     
    Texas Bound Thanks this.
  11. txboy10

    txboy10 Light Load Member

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    Oct 21, 2009
    Plano, TX
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    Yeah that info is great. Thanks Scot. It sounds like getting on a frac crew may not be what I am looking for. I am looking for more driving. I have interviewed and was offered.a position with TX Pride Fuels out of Springtown. This elwas a Class B gig and it sounded like it was basically fueling up everything on site that needs fuel. Not much driving there either it seems. And I want to really utilize my Class A license with endorsements. I mean I paid the $5000 to get all that stuff from.a community college and I have been doing Class B work. I think my best bet is driving down to Pleasonton and such and walk in everywhere with a resume. Somebody has got to give me a chance I would hope. I would prefer south TX over west because.my twin bro and his family live about 60 miles north in northern S.A. but it also.sounds like getting a driving gig means there really isn't a rotation, but more of.a home every night thing. We just closed on a home about 4 months here in the Dallas area, so doubt we would be looking to.relocate down south. Hence why I am wanting rotation type gig.





     
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