Newbie taking a chance on West Texas

I use a GPS for the trip, have it on, mapping the route in, then I have a map for the route out. On a garmin just have show track on, and zoom in and you have a turn by turn map in the dark to get you out..

Then when I get home I print out the tracks via google earth, and I have a hard copy map for the next time in.

 

Has anybody used Oiltrax on their Garmin? I see they have it for both the US and Canada. Right now I'm doing the same as TLea.

 

Wymon, my only question is where do they get their information, and how often do they update it? I have the wells from the producers we haul in WYoming downloaded into my garmin as poi's from the States oil and gas commission. Does not route me down the lease roads, but at least I know the area the well is in.

 

I emailed them a couple months ago. They responded quickly. I asked if they could show me routing for a few specific tank batteries that I had been to in TX. The tank batteries I chose were the ones that I thought would be the toughest to map on a gps. Their program did pretty good with most of them...although it did not go to any of the tank batteries. The information they have is related to the well...not the tank battery. Only one tank battery out of five that I was not sure of...and I actually think they were close on it...the gps just used some roads that I had never been on. The rest of the examples came out very close to the tank battery and, for the most part, used the correct lease road.

My concern would be in the compatability between my waypoints that I have saved in my gps.... I would like for my stuff as well as theirs to be visible on the map. Or to have a way to integrate them myself. Someone who is more tech savvy than me might be able to really make their system work well.

Overall, I didnt get the feeling that their program would work flawlessly...or that it would find every well or use all the correct lease roads. But...I did see a lot promise in their program. With some getting used to...and some previous field experience...I think their programming might be very useful.

I did not buy it. Soon after doing all that, I got my transfer to OK. You can drive to most of the wells/tank batteries up here blindfolded.

 

I'm finishing up my CDL, going to get my tanker endorsement, already have a TWIC, and I'm going to get my hazmat once I switch my license over to Texas. (No point in doing it twice.) I've have no criminal/drug/bad driving background, so I'm hoping I'll be able to get a job hauling sand, gravel or water despite having no experience. As I begin my journey, I'll post progress etc for anyone thinking of doing the same thing. Likewise, if anyone has any tips, knows of a job/ best areas to look or whatever, feel free to pm me or post here.

Walrus360, I live on Long Island too and I'm going through the same situation. I'm thinking about going to TX r where the oil filed jobs are. 2 months before I live I'm saving up some money to hit the road. PM me we can talk. Thanx!

 

I beg to differ. AT&T is crap around the Odessa/Midland area. Verizon is much more reliable around here, but evidently not in the San Angelo area ?

 

walrus don't worry about going to texas and not knowing anyone, I did it and if I did it anyone can. stay in touch with the people here on the forum and they will help you a lot. when I was in san angelo I didn't see anyone on here in that area now I have noticed a few people there. the main thing is get things in order at home before you leave and then you can stay when you get there. [ just my opinion]

 

Ben I had verison while I was in san angelo and traveled to big springs, banhardt, sterling city, and new mexico and I always had good service. I have the droid

 

Use what service you want. Im just giving a heads up from a guy who lives here and been working the oilpatch in this area since 2001. I had Verizon and it just didnt do me a good job in the west tx area. There is a good 100 mile deadzone East of San Angelo and i could go on. Ill take spotty reception over none any day. They sell Boosters at Best Buy. Where Verizon does work it does work good. Your gonna get sent out to BFE.. Midland/Odessa/San Angelo is not BFE. The good thing is both have prepay plans and you can decide which is best for the area you work.

Great info on the oiltrax and If your hauling to rigs RigData has every active rig location in the US.


Jon

 

I wasn't trying to pick a fight and didn't mean any offense. In the two years I've worked in this part of the Permean, AT&T has left me high and dry on many a lease. More than once I've had to borrow a rig hands Verizon phone to call someone. I guess the point I should have made from the beginning is that there doesn't seem to be a be-all, end-all cell provider, at least in my neck of the woods. BTW, my real name is also Jon. Glad to see you use the right spelling to!