I'm located in Roswell,NM and looking at getting my CDL via WIA funds. I traveled to Artesia,NM and they have a lot of companies there doing oilfield work. I've been trying to find out as much as I can about the different jobs but mostly the threads have been stating that its good money to be made not much about the life besides long hours.
So a few questions off the top of my head for any experienced drivers I'm hoping some can answer.
Would appreciate any input from current or former oilfield drivers. Any information is appreciated.
- Do most frac sand haulers usually end up on site for days or is that the rarity?
- Are most of the tractors day cabs or are there sleeper units usually also?
- Do the frac haulers usually drive sleepers? I would hate to get stuck for 3 days in a day cab.
- What advice can you offer to a first timer working in the oilfields?
- Can you give me an idea of what the average day would be like for the different driving jobs?
- What kind of questions should I ask prospective employers that are specific to the oilfield industry?
- Any horror stories you can tell me that might give me an idea of worst case scenario is for the jobs?
- Do the units usually have working A/C and do the companies allow you to idle or have a APU? I imagine in the desert heat the cabs can get down right thermal nuclear.
Questions for oilfield drivers
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by smarttowers, Jul 18, 2011.
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well lets start with
1. its not a rarity but its not every time either it happens a lot.
2. some are day cabs and if you are stuck they usually take you to a hotel nearby.
3 usually sleepers depends on company
4. patience! I was an OTR driver used to drop the load grab the next. not in the fields its hurry up and wait at both ends of a load.
5. hauling sand is just what it sounds like like. you blow it off go the sand plant load and go blow it off again,
6. what kind of trucks what kind of money and anything else you want. remember like any other trucking job "you wont be home every night or every weekend"
7. been pulled into sites by grader because it was too muddy to drive in.
8. again depends on the company. remember like any job there are good companies and bad ones.
it is good money, but it ain't for sissies its tough work. they run the wells no matter what the weather or the holiday is.smarttowers Thanks this. -
Thanks for the reply. I currently have no family life and actually am hoping for frac if they end up on location many times. I plan on getting a cellular internet plan and bring a laptop with me. I don't mind the idea of being stuck on site for a few days as long as I have a sleeper and A/C in this climate it would blow to be stuck in the desert at 100+ heat and no where to cool off.
Long hours-no problem, actually good more money
Driving over challenging terrain-sounds fun
Waiting-no problem as long as I have something to occupy myself
Hard work-good maybe will help me get in better shape
So far the majority of the issues I have read about the oilfield trucking industry I consider not to be a problem and possibly a benefit. That said, its easy to say that sitting behind a computer not on site. -
I've been looking into this too. It's a lot of reading but if you want to know about oilfield work you should read everyone of these threads:
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/trucking-jobs/87919-jobs-in-nd-oil-patch.html
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/trucking-jobs/38092-great-jobs-in-texas.html
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/trucking-jobs/118320-so-you-want-haul-crude-oil.html
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/trucking-jobs/147750-why-so-hard-get-out-state.html
They will answer every question you have and many you didn't know you had. These are for the most part local jobs so you need local housing. One of these threads covers this.smarttowers Thanks this. -
hauling sand at least in my case pay was based on what the truck made. I made 23% of what the truck did. so anytime your onsite your getting paid detention or should be anyway.
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I knew a lot of drivers that came from the company "Oil Fields" and they switched over to haul gasoline. 100% of them said the same thing. Gasoline is much cleaner, the trucks are in better shape" the pay is alot higher,the companies treat the driver better, and they'd never go back. But I also know that every one of them got their experience to haul gasoline from the fields.
Hammer166, trucker_101 and BigJohn54 Thank this. -
Thanks GasHauler. Your posts are always informative and I am never disappointed reading them.
I had not considered an oilfield job as a steeping stone to hauling fuels. That is definately something to weigh into the decision process. -
The hours sucked, the work hard, and the pay just ok. But the experience was well worth the blood, sweat, and tears!Logan76, smarttowers, BigJohn54 and 2 others Thank this. -
Also anyone who could help me to know what type of wells are in artesia/loco hills new mexico would be helpful. When I drove out it seemed like mostly crude but wondering which as obviously it will effect which jobs are available to me.BigJohn54 Thanks this. -
But I enjoy it.
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