New to the oilfields, how to find real work

Just thought I would give you a quick reply, although I'm new to the oilfields myself. You'll get some better responses...but I think you would be able to find work with your cdl. Especially if your willing to work on the frac crews etc where they need cdl drivers to drive the trucks AND do rig work...like 10-20% drivng...I was told. There are also some 100% driving jobs that you would likely qualify for. You should get some good advice here....just have to remember that most of these guys are working and have limited time to post....so some patience is required.

 

Try frac tech and Pumpco. They'll both probably take you and would fit what you want really well. Both are frac companies with lots of work in Texas.

 

If your looking for West Texas, just come down to Midland/Odessa area and drive up and down I-20 between exits 144 & 115?, not sure on the last exit for west Odessa. There are some billboards and quite a few companies with signs out front hiring CDL drivers. I would say the majority of the trucking companies here are hiring. Some with no experience, some with 6 months, others require more. You can also spend some time either at Pilot (exit 126) or at Loves (exit 115) chatting up some of the drivers that come in there. There are also other "truck stops" in the area.

I always planned on getting to the oil field. I started with an OTR thinking I needed to get exp 1st. What I really needed was to get a lot more motivated. After 3 months, I took a week off and called every craigslist add related to trucking in either ND or TX. I flipped a coin, and drove down to west Texas and starting filling apps for the companies that were interested. Got a job in a day.

I found even more opportunities after I got a job, just by talking to other drivers. The bottom line is, if you want to work in the oil field, and be "home" every day, it doesn't matter how much xp you have, you just need to go out there and take it.

 

Gilligan I am in the same spot...Im getting frustrated as hell doing the online application thing...Im about ready to bail to the south and just talk to the guys in person...Living in illinois and seeing all of the jobs NOT HERE is being the outside looking in and screaming I CAN DO THAT!! lol...

 

I just started with A & J Transportation in Oklahoma. I am waiting in motel for drug test results. I found their ad in a Texarkana newspaper. I talked to some truckers working an oil field in West Union, West Virginia. A driver gave me a number for R.A.M. transport.
The safety director was a little upset that I had his cell phone number. It was his son that gave it to me.

I left reefer hauling broke and stayed at the Salvation Army while I looked for a job for three weeks. I ran out of money to send faxes and just concentrated on oil site companies. I have my info on everytruckjob.com that has DAC permission approval and was able to get a phone approval from this company. I had no money for MVR's etc.

It looks like hot dusty work at times and engineers are known for not handling personal interactions well. Ride is here. Later

 

Scott, have you tried Sunoco?

 

TMI

- 39 yr old
- 8 months exp hauling reefers in 2010
- tanker endorsment, hazmat
- perfect driving record for 20 years

You can tell us your life history if you want, we'll listen, but this is basically what you have going for you. Yeah, you'll get on someplace, but others can tell you more than me. You can try to get into oilfield trucking or you can do as some have said, get another oilfield job where your CDL makes you hirable. People on this forum all the time looking to get in with no experience, and I believe some have, so you just need to find the right gig.

 

Check CL for Midland/Odessa. I found it hard at 1st too. Some of these places want you to apply online, but live in the area??? You need to already have a job, making oil field kind of money to be living in the area...lol! Unless of course you were living here before the boom. I suppose you can fill out a bunch of online apps as well, but I think you need to make the drive down here and apply at these places in person. I know all the big boys want online apps, but I'm thinking a lot of these other small to mid range companies don't do that?

I was at a transportation company today delivering water. I was talking to one of their drivers, asking him how many guys live in his trailer. There were 12 cars parked out front. He told me when he started there, they had 2 guys per room in a 2 room trailer with family room and kitchen. Now they have 6 guys per room. He was told they are going to start slip seating the bunks as they hire more drivers.... Are you fricking kidding me. They only had 2 trailers out at the location on the yard. Housing is rough now, as soon as the Cline opens up more, this place is going to get much worse.

As this is my 7th post , I can finally answer PM's.

 

I sure have Arky, no reply...