1st time heading to North Dakota this week....advice ?

You might want to read some threads on this forum. Some have said MBI is not so good but maybe you can get your foot in the door with them. I would stop in Williston and go to a local cafe or tavern and ask around. You might get hired on the spot.

 

First you will not want to live in a van through a ND winter. Cities like Williston will prolly chase you out if you try. Rig jobs do tend to pay better than the truck jobs but most are skilled positions. Best advice would be if you can manage it, to go spend a week or so in the Williston or watford city area and talk to different company's and people. Lots of jobs there but the cost of living is very high in the area. Most of the companies up there have man amps set up that they will charge you to stay in. I haul mobile modular homes into the area a lot, and worked as a water truck driver for two years there before this. Will say this, the money up there can be very very good, but it's expensive and it's hard work for the most part.

 

check your inbox.

 

I have a question, I am interested in a CDL position in ND. I just graduated from a 240 hour CDL program at a local Technical College. I have a Class A CDL, with Hazmat, Doubles and Triples, Tankers, and a TWIC. Realistically, what chance do I have of being hired on as a newbie driver? I am seriously thinking about driving up to ND (from Louisiana) an knocking on doors. I also read info about www.jobsnd.com and www.dakotaoiljobs.com and will begin to apply via those sites. Any leads on CDL jobs, anyone? I do thank you in advance.

Eddie

 

You will need OSHA 10-Hour Training and an H2S Certificate. If you have no experience, it would greatly benefit you to take the classes first, and then show the certifications to the places you are applying. Most companies provide this training, but it would put you many steps above the others if you did them on your own. Shows initiative and dedication when you have invested in yourself to be hirable by a company. You can take both classes online. OSHA 10 is apprx $89.95. H2S is $19.95. Don't quote me exactly... I did the full classes, not short courses, and so I'm going by vague memory and could be wrong.

 

ND is a nightmare. It is horrid for driving to be honest. Roads SUCK!! Washboard scoria tears up your truck fast and companies don't like to keep up with maintenance like they should. So expect below average equipment. MBI is one of the worst to wok for. Truck drivers, to them, are a big waist of money and they treat them like that! The equipment is treated the same. They just bought a LOT of Volvos with automatics because a new partner owns a Volvo dealership. Ever driven an automatic hauling a tanker with fluids down a hill? The trannys are only rated for 80000 pounds and they like to put 250 bbl tanks on them. Do the math.

Winter in a van? LOL good luck with that man. I Sincerely hope you find lodging soon. When it hits -25 and the wind is howling at 40mph your van can become your tomb. Its been known to happen up there. Would have been better to apply from home first and have something waiting for you up there. By the way the winds get up to 60+ during the winter and stay like that for days.

There is money to be made for sure. Me and mine moved down to Oklahoma to start our crude hauling company. Money isn't as good, but our gear don't get beat up and the weather ie a lot better. Also the cost of living is 1/3 of what it is in ND.

 

Great advise, Dont head this way in the fall without a job lined up, It gets VERY COLD!!!!