Life in North Dakota "Man Camps"?

Discussion in 'Oilfield Trucking Forum' started by sexystuff911, Sep 8, 2013.

  1. passingthru69

    passingthru69 Road Train Member

    Block off his trl. air supply side. He does have maxi brakes first right?
    Pop the red line and pull the rubber out and drop a dime in there and then replace the rubber and re hook.
    If he does not have maxis don't do it, because he has no trl. parking brakes and they would have never been set. Then when he goes to stop and no air for his service side it will cause a wreck
     
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  3. 58Skylane

    58Skylane Medium Load Member

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    I don't think so. The only kind of truck stop in Elko is the Sinclair fuel stop on the east end of town and they only have a convenience store there. But, I'll ask around.

    And just another FYI....... There's room for about 10-15 rigs at that Sinclair and a great Basque style place to eat walking distance to the west of the truck stop called Toki Ona. Awesome food there!! Just get off the Elko East Exit. Go south and turn west on Idaho Street. The Sinclair is on the south side of the street past the Kenworth Dealer.
     
  4. BIF MALIBU

    BIF MALIBU Heavy Load Member

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    hang a condom on his steering wheel. he wont know its new for sure and he will be very disturbed!!!
     
  5. trkrslady

    trkrslady Bobtail Member

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    So does it look like the hiring is still aggressive in ND? Any suggestions for an OTR driver who is having to live paycheck to paycheck and looking to make things better? My husband wants to give this a try and if he can get his foot in the door, get me over there. Are they letting these man-camps bring in the old lady?? Lol!
    He's had 2 years OTR reefer experience all kinds of mountain and winter experience. What would be the best work for him to try to get in to coming from that background? Looks like hauling water or sand is the most common start. Anyone doing that right now? Is the money really worth it? Of course, the way they are paying OTR, I'm sure it'd look like a goldmine to us right now.
    And thanks, Sexy! Reading your posts have been like being right there with you on the adventures!
     
  6. MP3 > CB

    MP3 > CB Medium Load Member

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    Totally worth it. Twenty somethings with a high school education driving $50,000 pick ups making $80,000 +. It never came that easy to me before!

    You just have to deal with the adjustments and be prepared to switch jobs a time or two to find the right fit. This would be a fine place to live but I've got a house and extended family in Michigan that don't want to give up.

    I've got a gig working something like 20 on/10 off. It costs me money to go home so much but next time I may skip my break and work 7 weeks straight through. I learned I can take the train and be in Chicago in 24 hours. It'll save wear and tear on the car and I don't have to be awake driving. Many fly, but I'm a huge fan of terra firma and the train ticket doesn't need to be bought three weeks out, amongst other things.

    All kinds of gigs and compensation packages out here and there is more than just driving a truck. It's just so much easier to make money out here. Back in 'the world', every place has to fight costs to make a profit and that means fighting against paying you anything more than they absolutely have to. Thusly, truckers often lament their hourly pay probably comes out to $5. Not out here, and OT after 40 is the norm.

    You may chain up, you may toss the logbook out the window, you'll deal with traffic and mud and sub zero temperatures...I'm not saying the work is easy, I'm saying making a wage that gives you some options in life, that's easy.
     
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  7. sexystuff911

    sexystuff911 Light Load Member

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    Feb 26, 2013
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    Hi trkrslady!

    The hiring in ND is very aggressive. The state has started this construction season with a 25,000 person labor shortage. You can't throw a rock in Williston and not hit a company that isn't hiring!! And yes, the money you make trucking in ND is much better than most people make elsewhere. Just make sure he signs up with a reputable company. There are lots of fly-by-night companies that will promise you riches, and then not pay you. Be wary of ads on Craigslist. Use NDworkforceconnection.com instead. This is a state run employment agency, and the companies that advertise on their site are legitimate.

    Honestly, there is no "best work" for him to get his foot in the door. The world will be his for the taking! There are sooo many jobs, and so many types of trucking available that he doesn't need to pick from the limited range of his previous experience. He can choose the job that appeals to him most. Companies are very willing to train people.

    Is he a young, healthy guy who likes to work hard and come home tired? Hauling water, crude, and frac sand is very physical work. Most of these jobs pay percentage of load, and so the harder you work, the more you make. I do caution you, however, that the work can be sporadic. Run like hell for a week, and then sit by the phone and wait for a call for days on end...

    Jobs like side-dumps are easier, but side-dumps run day and night. If he's not a night owl, he may not like it. Belly dumps are primarily day shift, and the work is easy. You just drive all day. There's no hoses to drag or tarps to strap down. And, belly dumps are usually dispatched in packs. There's a lot of camaraderie amongst the drivers. I also have a friend who work in completions. Mostly, he runs chemical loads between ND and TX. It's like OTR, but the pay is better. He is paid salary ($75,000 a year) and is very happy.

    There's also flatbed and heavy haul. Both look fun, but are too physical for me. I don't have the upper arm strength to throw straps and tighten chains, and so I know little about these lines of work. Winch trucks and vacuum trucks are also plentiful in ND. Unfortunately, these too are lines of work I know little about.

    Another line of work he may want to check into is Operating Technician. This position is common at companies like Baker Hughs, Sanjel, Schlumberger, and Halliburton. These are the guys that haul fracing equiptment out to sites (rig moves), set it up, and monitor it. The entry level requirement is usually a Class A CDL and 2 years experience. The pay averages $65,000 to $75,000 a year, and the companies will send you through extensive training with the intent of advancing you. And, these jobs usually have the most generous home time on a rotating schedule. They pay for both your travel home and back, and some even pay your wages while your off duty.

    Moving to the oil fields with your hubbie will not be a good idea until he's stable with a job and knows what his housing situation will be. Although many companies offer housing, few of these places will accommodate a couple. I'm not saying family housing doesn't exist. But, his best bet is to hire into a company, get settled, and check things out first. ND is like a candy store to a fat kid when it comes to careers. It's not uncommon for people to change jobs several times before they really figure out what they want to do, and having a spouse in tow during job changes would get complicated quick if the company didn't have family housing immediately available.

    If he's really interested in the oil fields, I caution you to start looking into it right away. Most of the jobs in ND tend to be somewhat seasonal. Things really slow down around November, and fewer companies will be hiring if it gets too late in the season.

    I hope this helps! Working in ND is truly a blast! I'll be happy to answer any other questions, if I can.
     
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  8. sexystuff911

    sexystuff911 Light Load Member

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    Hi passingthru69!

    I actually called a few tow truck companies before I saw your post. None would tow the truck as a gag, not even to the other side of the parking lot. Apparently, their liability would be very high if something went wrong. And, they said I didn't have the legal authority to move the truck unless I'm its owner, or owner of the freight its hauling, a representative of the company he drives for, or an employee of the lot where it's parked.
     
  9. sexystuff911

    sexystuff911 Light Load Member

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    I just realized that I've been posting all over TTR, but have neglected to update this thread! I'm currently back home in N. California. My Dad's health has been failing (he's in his mid-80's) and I wanted to be near him. I was really stressing out that something would happen to him, and I wouldn't get to say goodbye or tell him how much I love him. I only have one Dad, and my time with him is limited. I'm taking a break from the oil fields. Family means more to me than money does.

    I'm starting a local/some regional job tomorrow hauling merchandise for a department store. At most, I'll be away from home 2 or 3 days at a time. The pay is decent, and I like the company. They are very small and family oriented (I'm working for a service provider, not the department store itself). Everybody is friendly and they seem to care about their employees. And, they are located fairly close to my house.

    Honestly, I miss the oil fields! I miss the company I worked for and all the friends that I made! It was a wild adventure, I had a blast, and it did wonders for my confidence! But, like I said, I only have one Dad (my Mom passed away last year) and his time on this earth is limited.

    I want to say "Thanks" to everybody for all their help and advise. You guys will always have a special place in my heart! Until later (I hope to return to the Bakken, some day)...

    THANKS!!!
    Sexystuff911 (I'm not sexy! hahaha!)
     
  10. flightwatch

    flightwatch Road Train Member

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    Holy 1 1/2 year old thread bump batman.

    On a serious note though, is anybody still working up there??
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 16, 2015
    Reason for edit: Removed deleted quote
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  11. GSOK

    GSOK Light Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2013
    Vancouver WA
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    surprisingly, yes
     
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