Great jobs in Texas

I've read a lot of these oilfield threads. Knocking on doors seems to be a very effective way to land a job. A driver standing in front of them is much more enticing then some online application sitting in their inbox.

How many hours of training did you get before testing for your CDL?

 

Bingo!! We have a winner!! I don't know how much actual training they give. Most I think give you the book and have you study. I went into Weatherford office in 2009 to renew HAZMAT. There were about 10 guys from BJ Services. Laughing and flicking crap at each other. They had been coming in about every day for a couple of weeks. Were taking various parts of written test and if they passed fine. If not come back and try tomorrow. Don't know what they did about driving test. Sure they could pass by time it was taken. They were all driving anyway. TX oilpatch gets lot of leeway. Kind of like Disney does in FL. You pay the bills and you get special treatment. Now you can't go out running over and killing folks. But if they need a rig moved and you are there -load it up and get in line with the rest of crew.

 

Curious cplmac...who'd ya work for in concrete?? I drove a long time for Ozinga

Any comparison in wages to what you were making hauling redi mix?

 

Knocking on doors means filling out a ton of applications. don't waste time filling out all that info if they don't have what you are looking for. ask a lot of questions and compare benefits. you can search on line and call before you spend the time and money driving to texas. do you have any experience? most require 1 year and no gaps.

 

contract labor?
who owns the truck is getting how much?
how many hours per week?

 

This is true to some extent, but my experience was a little different. I got tired of doing endless online applications and making calls that lead to nowhere. I made the trip to Texas, so that I could talk to potential employers in person. This provided me with immediate results (I got hired by the third company I talked to on the second day I was here). I have since moved on to a better company, but at least I was working almost immediately and getting paid.

All that being said, what I have found to be absolutely true (at least in my case) is that I was basically hired more than a couple of times before ever even touching an application. What I'm getting at is that just filling out applications can be a long and tedious process and a potential waste of time just as popmartian was saying. My humble suggestion for anyone interested in an oil field job in Texas is to talk to company people in person and sell yourself first, then they will have you fill out all the paperwork as a formality for the hiring process. If they say to just come in and fill out an application and you don't get to talk to someone important, there is a good chance you are wasting your time. Move on and talk to someone else.

Also, the Midland/Odessa area is a great place to start looking . . . there are literally "Now Hiring CDL Drivers" signs everywhere. Best of luck to you all!!!!

 

it was hard to pick one vegaspainter... they all seemed very friendly and some were more open to train than others. there is lots of opportunity that's all i can say. it's just a matter of starting with a company and experiencing how that company treats ya. i think you have the right attitude to find something real quick... trucks are all over in the area. good luck man!

 

Any of these places in tx putting you up in a motel for awhile? Working on a job now, and they will put us up for a week or 2.

 

Very inspiring guys, i finally got my hardcopy license from the dmv. Next thursday ill be heading to texas to find a job.i do realize my first job driving probably wont be ideal but im willing to work hard at being a complete driver. My favorite sin is pride and ive always striven to be the best at what i do otherwise why bother ? Am i right ?
I wonder if i should start another thread about my experience?Im a big fan of paul cuatos stone cold rookie thread thats what started my interest in driving.

 

Good luck! And please do start a thread. Post a link here so I don't miss it. Thanks!