Curious on oil field trucking

Before I started driving, I spent 13 years in Oil and Gas, 9 in the field in Drilling/Well Servicing Operations/Fleet Service and then 4 in the Office/Corporate.

I always said, I would never be a driver in Oil. The roads are terrible, the HOS don't exist, its a struggle to get food/showers at Camps (which pretty much don't exist now), its either freezing, icy and miserable; or knee deep mud. I oversaw a fleet of 80 KW T800's in various configurations, 1/3 were usually broken in the shop, due to damage from the roads lol. Almost everyone is an ####### (Although I was a white hat, so that could have been it) and when the price dips, SEE YA!! (in 2008, they didn't even get anyone back home, just walked them out the main camp gate and closed it lol).

So many dudes, esp on cement crews, passed out driving and rolled/burned to death.

I would never go back to Oil in any capacity.

 

Very accurate and informative.
Thank you for your honesty.
Your post will help many drivers.
To avoid a costly mistake.
Be safe out there.

 

Well, much of the oilfield is hourly, that is a big bonus (except tanker). So all that sitting around loading, unloading, waiting on road closures, accidents, traffic etc you are being paid for. And then actual overtime pay (1.5x and 2x). Also, you can both drive and learn a valuable skill/trade, which means operating specialized equipment. Immediately your resume is boosted. Go from operator to supervisor to specialty technician to management. Sky’s the limit if you are motivated.
If you just want to drive, then the main attraction is hourly pay, because OTR is slave labour right now.

 

It’s best to knock before attempting to get a foot in the door.
Winter in the Bakken is a good time to knock, if you are into that.
Bring a paper plate and something to write with, so they will know you’re serious.
Having Bakken experience will open doors in TX, PA, and probably anywhere.
Don’t die.

Ps; its probably good to have a few reputable companies in mind and talk with them.

 

Used to pay good not so much now

 

Have you considered logging trucks?