Life in North Dakota "Man Camps"?

I had an absolutely AWESOME day today! I am SOOO JAZZED and HAPPY!!!

I got a new truck and trailer today! Not brand new, but new to me and very nice! Forgive my uncertainty in describing everything, but this is a new world to me! Here it goes!!!

The tractor is an 18 speed Kenworth with 3 air lockers ? (the differential locks that allow me to lock either the front, rear or both drive axles) and a hydralic (?) PTO to operate the trailer. I'm hauling frac sand. I guess the hydralic PTO is a better blower because the hoses won't clog up as easily (?). And, the tractor has almost brand new tires, too! They are the meatiest, meanest looking tires i've ever seen on a truck! Silly to say, but the tires are very reassuring to me since I don't have much snow experience!!

Dispatch gave me the option of either moving some loads at the sand plant (which would have been good for me, because I'm still learning to unload) or taking the truck out and playing in the snow all day. Remember, I haven't driven in a year, haven't backed a straight trailer in several years (I was pulling doubles), and I have limited snow/ice experience. I've only driven in snow and ice on the interstate, and only in light snow on plowed roads. I chose to play in the snow!!! It was great!!

I took the truck and trailer all around Williston while it was snowing! I thought I would be terrified, but it wasn't bad if I just went slow, watched traffic and the road, and kept a good following distance! I took the truck and trailer off-road, too, but not "off-road" off-road.. I just found a deserted, old pumper jack up on a hill. First, I tried to just "drive" up to it, but I got stuck in the snow. I started to panic when I realized that I wouldn't be able to accurately describe my location to anybody, but then I took a long breath, calmed down, and reviewed everything the shop manager had said to me about locking the differentials that morning. I locked in, eased off the clutch, but the tires just spun. I disengaged, backed down the hill a ways, stopped, and tried it again! It worked! I was able to crawl to the top of the hill with no problem!! Yeah!

BTW, the cows in ND are crazy! The minute they saw me headed to the pumper jack, then scrambled to the road and huddled in front of the truck! I tried honking, but they just looked at me funny. I guess they've been honked at before? I tried getting out of the truck, but they weren't scared. They acted like they wanted pet or fed. I pet one. He/she was kinda cute and i've never pet a cow before. Their fur is reaaly course! Apparently, he got bored with being pet and walked away. Maybe because I didn't have food? I got back in the truck and waited, but the cows didn't move. I finally ignored them. I guess they got bored and left!

Once I got to the top of the hill, I was worried about coming down! Didn't know If I was supposed to use jake brake in ice and snow? I kept the truck in low and crept down really slow. I think the creeping prolonged my fear and agony! I was emotionally exhausted when I got to the bottom, but now I know what it feels like in the seat in that situation!

I also went by the shop and learned to chain the truck. It doesn't seem too hard, but we were practicing inside the shop, not in the snow! At least I know that I know how to do it now! And, I know my tractor has all the required parts on board, like chains, spiders, wrench, ect. It's reassuring to know that you know what to do, and how to do it if you get stuck! I was really afraid of getting stuck in the snow and having no idea what to do about it!

I went to the top of the yard and practiced, practiced, practiced backing! I needed to practice in an unstressed environment so I could "get the feel of things" again. I practiced with the lockers on and off.However, I didn't practice blind backing because I didn't have a spotter and I was scared I'd hit something. Finally, I played with the new PTO and made sure I knew how to operate it correctly!

I know this may seem stupid to experienced truckers, but never got over my fear and respect for a trucks power and potential! I'm still pretty timid and unsure of myself, and it made all the difference in te world for me to drive around and get comfortable in the seat again! Now, I don't dread "what could happen tomorrow". Instead, I'm excited as Hell about tomorrow and can't wait to go to work! I got my confidence back!!! It feels great!!!

I admit, I got a rough start in ND!! However, I'm reallly gonna like it here, and I really love this job! I'm not petrified of the truck, trailer, snow or ice anymore! All (but one) of people I work with have been very patient with me! I'm gonna like this job and this company!!! Yeah!!!

 

Ive been doing sand transfers the past two days! Ive done a total of five loads! The first two loads went off without a hitch! The third load I plugged my line and had to disconnect, clear the stoppage, and re-connect. The fourth load, I blew a seal om my blower hose, but not "blew a seal" like you would "blow a gasket"! I literally just blew my seal sky-high, and couldn't find it again! When I attached the hose to the blower I failed to close the clamps completely. Therefore, when I fired up the PTO, the clamps came undone, the hose disattached, and the seal went flying to (who knows where?).

I didn;t have another seal, and it was too much work to completely disconnect everything, drive to shop, and pick up a part. And so, I duct taped it and uloaded really slow until a co-worker came along with a spare part (Thanks, Carl)! Once the seal was fixed, everthing went well, again! I have to remember to ask the shop for spare seals tomorrow!

The funniest thing to happen today was the "frozen cone"! I used a large traffic cone to mark the spot where I needed to back up. Since I was unloading in the same silo all day, I left the cone in the same place. At the end of the day, I was walking by and intended to scoop it up without breaking my stride. I got half a Cone! The base had frozen to the ice, and top was so brittle from being frozen that it just sorta "shattered" in my hands!!!

I'm goig to get some armor-all interior protectant next time I'm at Walmart. My truck is clean, but it's sooo dusty inside! I figure now is the perfect time to "shine" the interior since it's winter and it won't get dusty again till Spring!

More to share, but I'm falling asleep on my keyboard!!!

 

I hear that!!! I have friends in California who whine about the lack of work and collect unemployment. I tell them to put down their beer, shut off the boob tube, and request a copy of their DAC and DMV report. Maybe even (God forbid) spend a few bucks of the beer money and get OSHA/H2S certified! And then, apply to some companies in the oil fields! See if they get any bites? They won't do it! They expect me to get them a job, find them housing, and fly them up here! I guess they'd expect me to go to work for them too??? They don't understand why I won't recommend them to a company, but they won't lift a finger or do anything (however simple, trivial, or inexpensive) to even show me they are serious!!

I had a really good day, today! i went to a frac site by myself! I only had a couple hicc-ups, but nothing too serious. First, I loaded my truck and then proceeded to the scale house to pick up my ticket. I didn't know where the scale house was (it was next to the scale, duh!!) and drove past it. I was almost to the exit of the facility when I realized I messed up. But, rather than make a fool of myself by looping around and crossing the scale again, I parked, watched the next truck load, and then watched to see which building the driver entered. Then I walked there. Pretty slick trick, huh??? Nobody would even notice.... Lol!

Except... (there's always an exception)... the entire facility is under surveillance! The guys in the scale house watched the whole thing, and were rolling on the floor laughing when I walked in!!! They knew EXACTLY what happened! They were watching me the whole time!!! I was beet red with embarrassment!

I was a little nervous about getting lost on the way to the frac site, and so I mapped the route out in my Atlas before I left (my GPS is useless here because the maps are too outdated). The site supervisor met me in the staging area (he knows I'm new) and then let me follow another truck onto location. That was cool because I kind-of knew what to do from watching the other truck! After the other truck was backed up, the supervisor explained to me, in great detail, how to maneuver into the spot. I was still pretty nervous, and so him and another guy spotted me. My supervisor was at the rear of the truck, and the other guy was near the driver's side door conveying messages. They got me backed in without any problems! it was awesome!

After I got set up, my supervisor came back to check on me. I was having problems with low tank pressure. He discovered My top hatch wasn't sealed completely. I had closed the lid, but forgot to re-inflate the seal. Once that was resolved, he reviewed my trailer with me. As you know from a previous post, this truck has a different PTO setup that my old truck/trailer.

The difference is that the old truck was set up to do either sand or water. This truck has a "direct drive" blower, which blows sand more effectively if used correctly. I wasn't using it correctly. I was only opening the product valves halfway, and unloading the middle tank first, then the rear, and then the forward compartment. This was the proper procedure for the old trailer, but ineffective with the trailer I was using! I was able to unload the trailer in half the time once I used the proper procedure for a direct drive blower!

I got back to the yard without a problem, even though it was dark outside. I'm becoming more familiar with the roads and general location! I didn't encounter any cows today, either!!!

I really like my new truck and trailer! I had no emotional attachment to the old truck and trailer. I think it's because I had a bad experience. The old truck just has a bad memory attached to it, even though the truck had nothing to do with the memory. It was human caused.

I'm getting to know my new trucks personality and temperment. I know just how much thottle to use to power her without dumping fuel. I'm learning her loaded and unloaded braking distances, and how to glide her to stops like she's riding on air. I learned her "sweet spot" and the cruising speed she likes best. I know every creak and groan she makes when she's happy with me, or mad about the conditions we're driving. She's been very well maintained. Today, I let go of her wheel on a long, flat straight way. She stayed true to the lane like an arrow! No drift or pull to either side! It's sooo nice to drive a truck that hasn't been abused or bagged any curbs!!! Do you guys get emotionally attached to your trucks, too, or is this a "girl" thing?

 

Hi Chibob!

I think I know what straps you are talking about! The product line of my new trailer has straps around the clamps. They almost look like large, rubber zip ties and lock the clamps down? I'll have to ask the shop for some spares! Thanks for the advice! I like your idea!

I learned something about setting up the product line hoses today, too! I had to kink in my hose, but there wasn't enough room to pull forward. The supervisor showed me how to "twist" the hose to get the kink out. It worked great!!!

 

P.S. What are the best boots to buy for the North Dakota winter? I have pair of Red Wings, but they aren't waterproof or insulated. My socks froze to my feet the other day! I'd like something waterproof, insulated, and reasonably easy to get on/off. My budget is $200 to $250. Recommendations about good winter work wear stores are welcomed, too! I need to buy some better under armor clothing. I'm in Williston, ND.