Life in North Dakota "Man Camps"?

Well, I had my first "super scary ice incident"! LOL! I screwed up on the directions. I think they were 1806, right turn on County Road 55 and follow 4 1/2 miles to the drill site. I was on the wrong section of 1806. I ended up exactly 4 1/2 miles down the side of a mountain and was sitting on the shore of a river in an OHV park! I had 28,000 lbs of frac sand in my trailer (if I had had 45,000 lbs I would have never got out of there)! I've never been so scared in my life! The way down the mountain was scary enough, but getting back up it was a nightmare! I made the first 3 1/2 miles up before the truck hit the ice and I went into a backwards slide down the mountain. I panicked and pumped all the air out of the brakes, which only compounded my situation! There's no way to regain traction if your brakes are locked!

You know, I never thought I was afraid of dying? But, at that moment, I realized I'd never been confronted with the possibility of my own death? I can tell you now... unequivocally, that I'm afraid to die!!!

I managed to "follow" the trailer about 1/4 mile down the mountain without jack knifing or going off the edge. Brought it to a stop on a relatively flat section of road and then cried for 1/2 an hour! I was shaking so badly I couldn't stand up! I finally got a hold of myself and called dispatch. Said I had a problem, but I was okay and would call them back.

I'd never chained a truck before. I've never even chained a car! But, the shop had gone over chaining with me. Corey was very thorough in his explanation. I laid out my chains, made sure the "dawgs" were facing out, and got them on the tires. We use double chains. They are really heavy! Anyways, got them hooked up but wasn't sure how to tighten them. Corey had demonstrated on a different type of chain. I was pondering the "tightening" problem when along came a pickup truck with the nicest guy in the world! He asked if I was okay? I know I was a mess! I was covered in mud and my knees were bleeding from crawling around on the ice. The blood was soaking through the coveralls. I didn't mean to... in fact, I tried hard not to, but I started sobbing again. Told him, "Not really.. I'm scared to death and I don't know how to tighten my chains"! He helped me tighten them. I felt really bad because he was dressed very nice and ended up getting wet and muddy. I offered him money for helping me, but he wouldn't take it. He told me to lock both differentials in, get as much momentum as possible before I hit the hill, and then keep it floored till I hit the top. He told me to zigzag back and forth across the road, if I needed to, and keep one set of drive tires on the un-icy shoulders of the turns. He hung back to make sure I made it, or to call 911 if I didn't. I made it! It was the scariest 3/4 mile I've ever driven in my life!

I've chained up once since then. It wasn't the greatest chaining job (the chains were a little crooked and i could only hook four of the spiders into place), but it worked. I got to the frac site and realized I was the only chicken *%$# who bothered to chain up! Everybody else was driving around without chains! Oh well. I didn't know, and better safe than sorry!

I like my job. I was having a lot of navigation problems, but I updated my GPS and bought a North Dakota Oil Field Atlas. The oil field atlas is the best $40.00 I ever spent! I also set my laptop and printer up in the sleeper of my truck so I can Google areas and print my own maps. That helps a lot! I've been spending some of my free time studying the maps and atlas. I'm beginning to get a grip on the naming of roads around here, and I'm more comfortable with the directions.

I have no problem operating my trailer and can finally unload at the frac sites without assistance (unless they give me Bin #4 when the rear of the sand mover is jacked up into the air, in which case I can't reach to hook up my hose and have to ask for help). Otherwise, I have a "system" I follow every time that keeps me from forgetting anything. I haven't plugged up my hoses or anything, lately!

The shop had their hands full with me, at first. My training didn't go well, and I've had to muddle a lot of things out on my own. I had a lot of questions, and the shop was the friendliest and most effective resource for me. The mechanics are very nice (and patient in their explanations). They've gone over chaining and driving with the differentials locked with me. They've explained the PTO and how the trailer works. They've helped me with my brakes and fuses, and supplied all the tools I need (like a chain tightener). And, I know where and how to get my own oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid. I don't feel helpless, anymore.

The only bad thing is that I had a meltdown with dispatch the other day. I was sooo frustrated and angry! It's a long story, but I walked off the job. I was really upset. Now I don't even know if I have a job? I hope so, but the company is pretty ticked at me. I'll find out tomorrow...

 

Thanks QualityMike!
I've had a few "forced" days off! They haven't given me a load all weekend! I think they are waiting until I speak to the Supervisor, and he's off on weekends. I've had a lot of time to think about what happened, and how I could have handled it better. I know i was wrong for walking off, but I also know I was too angry to drive a truck at the moment. I need to learn to communicate better with my employer. I was frustrated about a lot of things and they accumulated to a breaking point. The problem is, I don't communicate with the people running the show, and so they likely had no idea what happened or why I was upset. I need to work on that...

 

Toddwalker,
You are right on all accounts! Yes, it was the Cop Halliburtion just north of Keene! Yes, it was Rick i blew up at! However, it wasn't really Rick's fault (and the ice experience and the reason I blew up were unrelated incidents). Rick was at the end of his rotation and probably tired. I was at the end of my rope and frustrated. Rick can be grumpy and aggressive, and I'm under-confident and don't stand up for myself. It wasn't Rick. It was me. I'd sucked too many (unrelated) things up for too long, and I likely misinterpreted a simple mistake. I was frazzled... and I was wrong... it wasn't Rick's fault. I just handled the mistake poorly.

Yes, we went to percentage of load. I don't know how the pay compares because I was hired after the change. I've heard some grumbling, but I've also heard that people are changing the way they run and might be doing okay. I really don't know? Again, I'm a new hire and have no comparison.

Myself, I'm kinda happy about the percentage pay because I'm new to the oil fields and have little winter driving experience. The percentage pay has allowed me to take my time learning, and not feel pushed or rushed tto do things faster than I'm comfortable. Granted, I probably haven't made much money yet. But I'd rather make a little less money and learn to do things safely than make a whole lot of money for a very short period because i wrecked or injured someone. I know that as I become more proficient at my job, my earnings will increase.

Don't know how ND compares to TX? This is my first oil field experience! I chose ND because they offer housing, but I've found I don't use it very often. I like to hang out in the truck because that's where my computer and printer are hooked up! And, my car doesn't like the cold. It won't start in the mornings. Every time I stay at the apartment, I lay awake at night wondering whether I'll get to work in the morning because my "California" car froze up on me, again!

 

Thanks, BigDuker!
You make me feel better. I really feel like an idiot for walking off the job. I've had time to contemplate the situation and realize my mistake. Some explanations, and apologies are definitely in order tomorrow morning! I just hope the people I have to talk to aren't too angry at me to hear my explanation or understand the series of events that led to my frustration...

 

BTW, apple cider vinegar, laundry detergent, and borax gets the smell of diseal fuel out of clothing! Just save enough cider vinegar to wash an empty load after you are done so you don't contaminate somebody else s laundry with the smell!