Alberta oilfield driving jobs

Hi Fresh. I admire your ambition. You are asking all of the right questions, and doing so before you go west. I hope someone gives you a chance. Please tell us about how mechanically inclined you are.

Forum Members, I will share this info and let you critique it. Big Eagle Service of LLoydminster seeks Vac Truck Ops, will hire Class 3. Their site also asks for Vac Truck Swampers. Now then, if Fresh is as hardworking and ambitious , would you recommend this as a launching point?

 

Thanks Rainyday. I am naturally mechanically and electronically inclined although I have no formal training in either areas. As far as trucks and vehicles go, I have been trained in airbrakes and single trucks without trailers but have no field experience. I am, however, a fast learner and like I said, naturally mechanically inclined.

 

I'm sorry if I sound crude to all those that want to come out west and work, but here are some pointers for you:

1- if you want a job out here, get your butt out here and apply. Face to face with an employer is way better than a faxed or emailed resume
2- yes it's the patch, you will make money, but don't expect to get rich quick. Put your time in and it will come
3- lower your expectations. Yes companies will pay for your training and help with accommodations. But don't expect paid travel home after your 21/14. Most companies I know of are either 15-6 or 21-7.

It angers me that many people from the east see Western Canada as a gold mine, and want to walk in and expect to be waited on hand and foot.

 

I think the problem is, is after reading many of the responses on here, most people not from the west, get the impression that the west is a gold mine. Perhaps the truth should be told and give the proper impression. I, too, thought you could make big dollars fast, at first glance. After reading and asking a few questions, I figured out I was making the same money here at home versus a 6 wk/2wk rotation paying for flights etc. AND, if I ended up doing longhaul here at home, I would be home more often. Don't forget, hometime / family time is priceless. Money isn't everything. I figured that out long ago. Have a marriage go to ##### and miss alot of your kids growing up because you're working all the time and you figure it out fast.

 

everything that Stn4cap said, and 1 more if you think Alberta is going to be your golden goose, tell your MLA"S and MP's to quit trying to kill it.

 

1. I've already said that I'd be going out west to drop off resumes. I just wanted advice on how to go about doing it. Maybe you think its OK to drive over 3000km with no apparent direction but I need to have a strategy planned out. I'm not much for the running around like a headless chicken strategy.

2. I never said I'd get rich, however the oil and gas sector is the best paying industry in Canada. It is carrying our economy. Plus, as a green, I know I can make at least $30 per hour as I said before. The real money comes from overtime. Lots of people say these jobs are long hours.

3. I don't expect paid travel home but I'm hoping for it. There are lots of news articles where companies can't get enough people. The bigger companies own their own commercial planes and the smaller ones give travel allowances. Maybe not all companies do but there are some with the resources. Some companies are even bringing foreign workers from as far as romania, flying them back and forth.

It angers me when people don't read the full story before commenting. Oh and by the way, I am from out west. Born and raised in British Columbia

 

Fresh, Try Calfrac. It would be a good start with paid flights. Money is so so. Don't expect too much $$ to start out and work your way up! I came from the east coast, taking a job where I will make $10k less than I was making home. I was maxed out there and only direction I could go $ wise was down. Now I make less but have the opportunity to move up up up!!

And I believe their shifts are 21/13

 

Thanks fishhauler. I just looked on their website and don't fit the criteria for any of their Canadian jobs. The website doesn't have the option to just generally submit a resume either; only in response to a job listing. I'm guessing my only option is to give them my resume in person when I'm in Alberta

 

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OK lets summarize your list of demands...

You want $120,000 yr. (you mentioned $10,000 per mo.) starting out as a greenhand, start wage $30/hr.

You want 15 hr's/day for your 21 days on. (what if it's slow and we also have a spring break-up)

You want a camp job/free room & board.

You want payed flights to/from TO for your 21/14 shift.

 

Well the starting wages are $25 per hour. They usually go to $30 per hour not long after training. Most people say the hours are long. They are at least 12 hour days, many going past 15 hours apparently. That is already grossing over $120k per year unless I can't do that all year long. As for spring break-up, that is mainly for the direct rig employees. I've been told that rig support services are all year long. So I would be able to run something like a vac truck for the season then drive a water truck during break-up. And I've been told that by both employees and several employers. As for camp jobs, not all offer that but there are some that do. Especially when working in remote locations. And regarding flights, again, some do offer that. I've already found a couple jobs fitting all the criteria and that require little to no experience. The problem is that I'm sure I'm just 1 of 1,000,000 people applying for them online. I need to get there and personally give them my resume. Everyone has been saying that I'll get way more chances/offers if I'm applying in person