Jobs in ND Oil Patch

Don't blame them.

They were the center of it all in the 90's too and got burnt bad with developments and a large tax base and suddenly left holding the bag when evryone pulled out almost over night

 

I used to haul crude for Powerfuels. Just left/quit recently. Powerfuels doesn't really haul crude. They're more water. Crude is something they do as a courtesy really for the customer. If you notice, Powerfuels doesn't really have that many crude oil haulers. Last time I heard they were trying to get out of hauling crude. But thats just hear say. Maybe thats why there weren't no postings for crude haulers. Powerfuels is a great company as most would say. But at the end of the day, I left for the same reason a recent person posted, the pay wasn't there. After housing and everything else was deducted, I was left with the amount of money I could have made back at home, $1600/average a week. I made that in California! If I was going to make that pay I might as well be able to see my family every night. But other then that I had no complaints about the company. They always had work for me and I was running everyday. Now I'm in texas! No shortage in housing, food is good and cheap, and I don't have to worry about the winter slowing down my work down here. I've been running 7 days a week, pay is good, people are friendly, and they're not charging an outrageous amount for rent either! 400 for an apartment in tx vs 1300 for the same apartment in nd. Hmmmm

 

Pump is on truck with a release valve to dump air. The winch truck is working a chain around a frac tank then hoisting it up. I wore winter gloves no big deal, hands don't get cold cause your not outside long enough ( back inside to drive to where its moving ) and if for some reason my hands started freezing I would stop what I was doing and get in cab to warm up. This is why you want to be a driver up here and not a rig hand. With us its days or nights. When it is busy you might pull a shift change where you stay with your truck until your replacement comes in a van then you go back in that van. So yes I have done a 20 but you get your 10 off before you come back in and then when we came back in they usually sent us back home with the rest of the day paid.

They have some rat hole dorm type sleeping arrangements for some companies up here don't know who but have seen them. myself I am in a king bed every night in a two person trailer bedroom is 10x 20 big enough for me, laundry oven, micro, free internet and cable
Make your housing choose wisely and get it guaranteed before coming up. Securing steel and loading rack sounds like flat bed work? don't know about that.

 

Man, am I glad to hear from you. Thank you.

Today, I visited the Recording Workshop, a seven week school to learn audio recording and live sound- that's what I really want to do!!! But, I'm about broke after a couple months unemployment. So, either I go to school and go $7,000 in debt or I go to work and build the savings back up. Today, I got a job offer probably grossing $1000/week and home every weekend, and a paid week off every quarter! I could work there and do the audio at my church on weekends.

I thought Powerfuels was going to be $30/hour and maybe $2500 per week. If you're clearing $1600 per week, your gross probably was above or around $2000. That's double the take home pay I'm looking at in my area in Michigan. And, $1000 gross is a decent wage where I am.

Here, I already have a place to live, I can be here to take care of the house and I can see my 18 month old niece who is the apple of my eye. Family and church relationships intact. I can watch the Directv I'm already paying for, I don't have to pay for it again. I've got to be making a lot to give up the home life, pay rent, and endure the second coldest state in the country (next to Alaska). To bring home $1600!? I'm socking away a gold American Eagle every two weeks! I'd have to say for me, that would be worth it.

Maybe later I could go to that school and be set financially and pay for it in cash.

 

How much do you make there in Texas vs NoDak? Same pay, or less pay, but with lower cost of living? I understand theres Snowbirds that live/work in NoDak and head to TX for wintertime. How does that work out? How do employers feel about that? Just a few questions I've always pondered

 

D_Havens are you guys still hiring?

 

Once again, a very helpful, to the point post. I'll put winch truck on the list with sand, crude and water as good driving jobs. I didn't know the winch truck was just for a tank, I thought maybe it was piles of steel rigging. I wonder how long it takes to pump off crude. That's got to be at least an hour, maybe two out there in the cold, that is, unless you aren't worried about hoses breaking or leaks. Not terrible, but I expect experienced crude haulers can remember times pumping off that weren't very much fun.

With internet and cable, I could be pretty happy in a studio like that. If Power Fuels or anyone else calls, I'll try to get details on the housing. Thanks

 

He's talking about running a winch truck moving frac tanks which is fairly easy. If you get on with a rig mover it can be pretty labor intensive as you have to suck loads on and then tie them down. Although a bit more labor it is a whole lot more interesting than just hauling water or moving frac tanks.

 

Yes sir we are!

 

Another good post with the precise information. That makes sense, the winch truck can be used for different things. And, that's what got me thinking about jobs out there handling a lot of steel when it's really cold. It's one thing to talk about driving a 12 hour shift, strenuous work out there in the cold like that, that'll beat you down.