Alberta oilfield driving jobs

Wow over two hundred pages, I don't think this thread has any chance of stopping.

I'm still with Sanjel Frac in Red Deer and we're looking for about a dozen guys.. anyone interested lemme know.

 

Onetrack,Im trying to get an idea of what these different jobs require skill wise and also how physical the different jobs are. What kind of weight is involved in these tasks and how often do you actually have to repeat the same task. I have heard some job descriptions that want you to be able to lift 50# and at times 100#. I can lift those weights but how frequently would you have to repeat that task and weight. Is it a matter of getting rigged in and then doing other types of tasks or is it a situation where you are constantly doing heavy work your full 12 hr 14 hr day. What's considered the best job to do in the oil patch and what kind of money are we talking about. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions .

 

Hello Onetrack, I am very interested in working for Sanjel. I am a hard working, physically fit class 1A driver with TDG, PCST, CSTS, LSSC, First Aid, WHMIS, confined spaces, fall arrest, traffic control. Any advice how I can join? Thank you.

 

Red Deer and Grande Prairie frac departments are looking to flesh out their staff, we're hella busy and gone all the time lately, with another big contract just starting up we're running a bit thin. Looks like you have the requirements, with the class 1 you'd probably qualify for a relocation bonus but you'd have to ask.
If you are localish or willing to relocate to either city, send me a res and i'll pass it along to the proper guys so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

 

I started out in cementing and then moved to frac back in may, its been really good. Yes the weights are heavy however anything over 50lb is a 2 man lift, anything over 100lb is crane lifted, at most you'll carry something heavy for an hour a day and never really on your own. The rest of the time on a frac after everything is rigged in is a lot of waiting, basically an hour or so to rig in, an hour to rig out and a day for pumping. Its really not that difficult.

Basically if you started you're either hired on in sand or iron, sand is pretty easy, you run a transfer belt, assist where needed or sit on a sand bass in a basket 20' off the ground all day, this is actually my preferred job as its CAKE SIMPLE and you have to be a true moron to not get it after that you sit in a pump shack running a horsepower which involves sitting in a chair for 12 hours and watching an ipad like touch panel.. not really anything to it.

If you're not on a lease you're either travelling to one, travelling away from one or in the shop doing maintenance on your unit.. so its kind of a 30/30/30 the remainder being free time..split. The hardest thing you might have to do solo is put on a set of chains, but that gets fairly easy over time. generally there is about 30-40 guys on the lease with you so you're never alone and there are always people to help.

Best job in the oil patch? Maybe an established hot-shot driver can make some pretty serious bank.. the further north, the harsher the conditions, the more money.. I'm making not exceptional money but pretty decent money and I never do shop days anymore, I don't even put on coveralls ever and I'm on leases all the time.

So no.. in frac you're definately not constantly doing heavy work all the time, frac is actually pretty simple - its like a group of army ants to take out / rig out and pack the iron away, you're never doing things alone as I say so it goes really quick and even on big rig ins you might pick up ~5 pieces.

 

Thanks Onetrack,that was a great description of the physical aspects of the job. Still trying to get up to speed with the various aspects of oil patch jobs and the possibilities that they present. Is shop time payed at the same rate as working in the field? The jobs that put you up at camps,do they usually pay more and do they supply meals? I see that TruckToLive has quite a few safety classes and sounds like he is well qualified. I have also seen from others postings that some company's will provide these classes. Is this true and if so how long is the training? Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge .

 

Wow, what happened? Someone says this thread will never die and 4-5 posts later it stops.

I'm waiting on a offer letter from Calfrac. Thought it would be Email but I guess it's regular mail. It will be home when I get there, so... I'll see some friends in the patch soon.

 

Aaaaaargh, my brain hurts, tryin to get ready for tax time and researching if and how I can claim my traveling from my home in BC to my apartment in Alberta and rent etc... Also my buddy just smacked up his vehicle and ICBC told him if he is in Alberta more that 182 days a year that he isn't covered and has to insure in Alberta, so I need to check into that cause I am paying huge for territory z and maybe just need to swap plates from BC to Alberta? Any info or advice would be appreciated fellas!

 

I would since you technically have an apartment up there. For me I don't have a permanent address out here so I don't need to change mine. That's what my insurance lady told me anyways

 

its 183 days.

and its in a calendar year, meaning it starts all over every jan 1st....so your territory z is good til way after summer, then its garbage until jan 1st

still yet to meet a bc insurance broker that konws this

i was able to get terr z pleasure as i drive to alberta, stay 20 days in that time i drive it 3x for a total of 11kms then back to bc for 10 off, so only costs $30/mo extra

i risked it last yr (last 3 mos)but this yr will do something, probably take 3 mos off or work 3 mos in bc so im stilll under 183 d in alberta

to get ab ins, you gotta get inspected to get registered, then get the insurance/plates


3 guys claim to writeoff their gas etc to get here from bc to work, dunno if bragging, or just chancing the system come audit, theyre not corporations, just employees