North Dakota

You may want to search for Oil Field jobs in Wyoming. There are dozens of companies hiring in the Northern and Southern parts of the state.

My neighbor works in the Rock Springs area. The starting pay for a Newbie is $18-$20 per hour, about 15-20% lower than some North Dakota jobs. But, for now, apartments in Wyoming are much more affordable. He estimates 40-50% more affordable.

Best wishes, wherever you land.

 

Well it's certainly not going to be enforced in the winter when there is no housing. Not to mention, Walmart does or did have a policy that generally allows camping in their parking lot. Here is a list of those that don't:

http://www.cojoweb.com/rv-wal-mart-parking.html

 

Bad idea. I know you have a dream and want to just jump right in, but going there on your last dime is a recipe for disaster. Especially as a new driver. ND winters are BRUTAL. Not to be a downer here but say as a brand new driver you hop into a tanker pulling doubles of fuel, oil, or water. And say you slip around a little and slide off the road... No more job. Bad reference, dirty CSA report, possibly uninsurable. I learned to drive in ND in the winter. First time out by myself was in the dead of a ND winter and was a very stressful learning experience. I'm not saying it to get you down. And if you were headed there in April and were able to get a good solid 6-8 months of dry driving before the snow I'd say "Do it!" But your current scenario is dangerous and not a good idea (if you wanted opinions on it)

 

I can see the point, but, there are signs there.

Walmart has a policy of not ALLOWING camping on their lots for more than a night or two.

The parking lot for this Walmart is not very large.

I am not trying to talk anyone out of going there, but to present a reality to what could happen.

 

As much as they need drivers, you can probably get a job over the phone or internet.
Have them email you a letter of intent to hire when you finish school.

Sell or trade the bike for a used car and tow dolly. Take out a loan and buy a $6000 or cheaper RV. Even a pickup and camper would do.

Instant home until you get settled. You'll make plenty of money to pay the RV off in no time. You want to sell it, someone will jump on it up there.

By summer, you can buy a new bike.

Thanks for going to Iraq!

 

What company do you work for? Are most the companies out there serious about background checks? I just quit my job and am starting another job in January - supposed to, anyways - but I've been seriously contemplating going out to ND and trying something different besides driving for a while. I would drive there and don't really care about roughing it - whether in a Walmart parking lot, or somewhere deep in the woods - but I would like to know that I at least have a chance of getting a job. I have an 8-year-old felony - for what would amount to a street fight - which is why I'm wondering. All of the jobs online say they require a background check, but from experience I know that not always to be true. Anyways.....

 

I live in the eastern part of the state. We are already seeing single digit temps during the nights and into late mornings. Don't come this way unless you have some type of housing and a vehicle PERIOD. As for the job driving. They just did a few day long inspection of the trucks out that way. The vast majority of the trucks stopped were put out of service with sever mechanical/safety issues. I know a few guys that went out that way and are now back home. Work 20 hours a day, take a 4 hour nap and work another 20. The pay is not that great when you consider the hours you have to put in. The cost of living out there is real high right now so any extra pay is going to just trying to stay alive.

This is not a job to get your feet wet in. Personally, I would find a local gig and try your hand at driving first before heading up this way.

 

I don't work in the area.

I have driven through the area many times.

 

Having lived (Newtown) and worked there for a few years in the oil fields, there's not a chance in hell you would catch me heading up that way right now with just a car and no job lined up. Yes you can get a camper but that comes with it's own set of problems, mainly no electricity and (well below) freezing temps, which means fixing broken water lines, frozen gray and black water tanks. It would be best to wait till things thaw out.