Jobs in ND Oil Patch

Ben Gun and Clone884 -- check out theshopperinc.net It's Williston's local paper that has tons of local info, jobs, for sales, housing, etc. Head towards the back of the paper for the jobs. You can view everything on line. For truck drivers, it seems most of the companies require 2 years experience, for insurance purposes. This oilboom is predicted to be around for quite a while (12 years or more). I wouldn't go unless you had some housing secured. It's pretty crazy what's going on up there. If you go and get hired on, it MAY be by some ^%$## company who will care less about your safety. There's a lot of reckless behavior going on and men are dying from stupid STUPID mistakes. (The good companies will get you properly trained, you'll probably take some OSHA classes, make sure you have the fire retardant clothing, which is pretty expensive btw, hard hart, FR gloves, proper gear, etc.)

And with winter coming on, yes, I'm hearing that some drivers are heading to TX.

And I've also heard that winter is a pretty busy time, things don't slow down. Good luck on your endeavors! Hope this helped!

 

Yes, and that's a big part of what I'm trying to determine. I know a lot of companies say they aren't hiring newbies, but a few members of this forum have found driving jobs just out of school. I realize that a company that requires 2-3 yrs driving experience for insurance purposes can't do anything for me. From what I hear, there are jobs that require a CDL but you aren't driving all the time. You transport gear to well sites, then spend the rest of your time assembling them.

Thanks a lot for the links. There's some great information on there.

 

Thanks Wildflower. I've been researching this pretty hard, but there are still many more questions than answers. I do want to drive a truck, but I'm willing to do a job that requires some driving and a lot of physical labor. Anything to save some serious cash for my family. I've heard that some companies will hire newbies to haul water ...... then again I've heard they won't. I think my best plan is to go ahead and get the CDL, drive OTR until Spring, then start putting out feelers with employers.

Has there been much news coverage about the deaths/accidents you mentioned? That would be good information to learn about.

 

If you are willing to "bang iron" and not drive all the time try the service companies. Schlumberger, Halliburton, Cal Frac, Frac Tech, Pumpco, BJ Services (now Baker Hughes). They are the larger companies in the Bakken and usually have housing. Most of them send you to driving school to get your CDL but might make you sign a contract for the drive school costs. The Williston, ND WSC Train ND class use to be around $4k.

 

Thanks for the tip. The plan right now is to start school on monday, ill be done on dec 16. I will be going to texas for christmas so I may look out there for similar work, or in January do whatever it takes to find local work until spring so i will have some sort of experience. The only thing I worry about doing that is being with a company 4-5 months and leaving.

Taking school this early is kind of a concern, but I am also thinking about taking some welding classes in the jan/feb/march.

 

thanks for the tip. I know for awhile the jobs arent going anywhere but I want to hurry up and get in on it. Im looking for a change in scenery and life experience

 

Question for the pros here:

Would be really bad for me to get on with one of the big OTR companies after I get out of school for 4-6 months then give them my notice and head up north with some experience?

 

i would think that would be a good thing, get a little time in the truck, show the companies here in nd that you can handle a truck in the winter, though it wouldnt hurt to call a few places right away, you never know. i had zero tanker experience, got my tanker endorsment after i was hired, before i came out here. been doing the water truck stuff here a few weeks, liking it, getting lots of hours. but i can tell the cold is coming. hopefully alot of trucks go home for the winter, its crazy how many trucks are out here. make sure you get a company that stays busy. sorry if im repeating anyones advice, i havent been on here in a while, just stuck in the shop for repairs till monday, ugh, missing alot of hours this weekend but thats part of trucking

 

Im not sure some of u realize how cold it gets in nd! It gets brutal ! From the time it took me too get outta my rental car and put gas in, my mustache and nose was frozen !
This was in minot a few years back! But i remember thinking how can anything survive in this weather ...
I was raised in mi! But like i said nd is frickin brutal .....
Ive been looking at tx ! Talked to leased o/op he said market there is flooded with trucks and rates are $2.00 mile $ 60.00hr detention !
Not hardly worth the investment in blowers an pneumatic trailer..
Would like to get away from brokers and flatbeds ... Esp brokers!

 

Sounds good, don't worry about repeating advice, I want all the knowledge I can get on this.

I guess I am worried about this DAC report that I read about on here and how some people get a lot of false information put into it. I just dont want that to happen to me if I work here 5-6 months then quit to head north.

I am looking at ads up north and see some that don't require experience, but it is the #### cold that is scaring me away. I've snow mobiled in that -30 degree stuff up in northern MN, so it makes me a little cautious about heading up there with no place to stay. Too cold to sleep in the car.