Jobs in ND Oil Patch

Does anyone know of info/vids on Grind out & Gauge Tanks. I've been searching but nothing of quality. Thx

 

I just got back from Willistion. I spent a week up there looking for a job. It took a 100 nos, but I got 1 yes and another company pushing to get me and a buddy hired on. We have NO experience, but we still got hired on. Being new to the oilfields, I was surprised on how much was still going on considering how slow it is. There were things that got you considered, though. 1st, a place to live. That was the 1st thing we said when we walked in the doors. 2nd, a personality. We were against 100s of experienced truckers looking for a job, but we were able to sell ourselves better. 3rd, be clean shaven and dress nice. I was surprised by this as a lot of times I have been told to dress the part. The 2 people that considered us complimented us and told us we were the 1st that have walked in in months that were clean. 4th, if you are wanting a tanker and have no tanker experience, forget it. 2 years experience, minimum. No ands, ifs, or buts. Also, be prepared to wait. Most companies were about 2 weeks behind in applications.

So, there you have it. Impossible? No, but it is dang near it. Have all your ducks lined up and get to know some people. Don't get discouraged and be persistent.

 

I agree that the big oil companies won't look at these guys but the smaller operators looking at cutting costs will. OTR companies coming in here more often than you think looking to make ND work for them. Swift/Schneider are just the biggest ones yet.

 

Good point!

 

kdc1899, qualifications in the oilfields are very strict, so you and others are
correct in tanker min exp. No rookies should be allowed to haul
even water without atleast a yr on pavement in north
country, for all of you considering a career driving, this can be your
worst nightmare and very possibly kill you or others if not qualified and ready
I cut my teeth 1st in the Siskiyous, the downgrades were enough to make
your knees shake on the first go around
2yrs of this and I'd say was just startin to get it all right
Been many yrs from that standpoint, and still very cautious
Nothing for granted taken here, and I vehemently believe as ever in all the basics
of safety in Truck Driving/Operating
Guess that's why so far, have among the best safety rating in this
vocation

 

MakinHay... I agree with you and i will take it even farther. I trained on the siskyews..... I have driven winters thru cheynne on 80... but none of that really prepared me for driving in the mud on those lease roads. Thank my lucky stars that it rained while i was still with a trainer who had been out here for a year and drove a logging truck before that. He had me driving up and down muddy hills where the truck was fishtailing and sliding sideways. I was thankful that i stayed in training longer than some and had the chance to drive with someone who knew how to drive on that $!*t...!

Yeah he was yelling at me the whole time.... and i was most certainly listening and doing every single last thing he said at every turn. At one point i was coming down the hill and it curved.. i wasn't going very fast but was going too fast still. He yelled Slow it down!! and my foot immediately flew off the accelerator (i had the engine brake on). If he hadn't been there to catch it i would have lost control because i didn't see it coming. Or i would have jack-knifed the truck, sliding backwards going up a hill becasue i wouldn't have had the experience to know what gear to have it in. A sloppy messy soupy hill that is as bad as driving on ice. Or knowing when to just let the truck walk itself thru....That is my most thankful experience i had in training... and i will never forget some of the things he told me to do and to look out for.

If those otr companies don't give the drivers proper training on how to handle those roads then they will turn out to be a hazard for the drivers who are making their way thru it.

 

Whew, you lucked out so to speak! Yep, and I had
no babysitter going through those mtn passes, self trained
If get the drift here
I have similar exp on offroad delivering ag products to rural
sites. I'd routinely find mud patches and where'd you'd
have to fly through to keep going
Never once stuck, though did slide off road into snowpack
once, barely 2' snow and that rig was stuck hard
Worst storm ever seen though, 900+cars all
stranded at once just south of Madison WI
Took better of 15 tries before finally getting Rig turned around
Even then time wise on road another 2hrs to go 15miles
And with no traction devices (aka chains etc)

 

Wow I haven't been on here in forever..lotsa stuff goin on...busy busy busy..still run'n these beautiful scoria rds...I left PF in Dec....been hauling Production & Oil..like it alot better and gonna stick with oil..got tired of waits at water holes and disposals..we had the best winter ever this year I only chained 3 times compared to winters before..PF is stil a good company growing leaps & bounds not as personal as when I first started but that's the case with most companies here now..everyone and their brother has decided it's not as scary as thought to run here and was better then unemployment line..my best advise to anyone comming is to bring your own home even though some provide housing it kinda limits you because they pay you to work to pay them to live and if for any reason you leave well then yer up SH** creek on the street..there's more activity and compotition now so you can find RV spots for 800.00 including utilities but most require a dep. so if you must take company housing at first I'd advise taking a couple pay checks and investing in an RV..all in all I love it and love the roads.. never a dull moment for sure..professionalism has definatly started to be a prerequisite as far as dress-apperance-personality 99.9% of the oil field companies won't even allow you on site unless you comply very minimal facial hair(air pack mask) complete FR clothing steel toe and NO JEWELRY including wedding bands...

 

What info are you looking for :}..I've not seen any videos but I haul oil

 

I just pulled into ND 2 days ago. Iam staying in Ross right now. Any tips on where I should put in a app? I have a class A with my tanker and triples but I have only driven stake and boom trucks for the last 6 years. Iam from Michigan so snow and mud don't bother me. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.