Anyone hauling sand in texas?

Sand trucks are in demand for one specific reason....they're using 4 times more sand than just 9months ago. We've had wells in the last few months using over 500, 000 lbs per stage, where a year ago it was 100, 000 -150, 000.

Producers have found using more sand stimulates the well producing higher initial outputs and leveling out the decline rate. So, now we need more sand trucks to service the same number of frac crews.

This has also led to a sand shortage. Not enough sand storage in the area plus difficulties getting trains from the mines. If we have another bad winter this is going to be a very interesting subject to monitor.

As for rates, ours are probably average, and I am looking at about $320, 000 gross this year. I look more at consistency rather than just a high rate, and we've been consistently busy and look to be busier yet as our customer wants us to take another crew on. We have barely enough trucks to cover the 2 we have, especially now that we find ourselves running all over South Texas picking up sand because suppliers and transloaders keep running out.

 

Those rates are BS. My old boss worked like Hell to get $1500 a day. Nothing compared to rates a few yrs ago. Not terrible and can make a go of it. But used to be much higher. Bad economy has way too many pneumatics in TX back stabbing each other. And of course the rumor/lies about super high rates. Make sure and work out ALL extras. Detention. Storage. Reroute etc. They are giving these away for free at many places. Living in truck stops desperate for any work.

 

Mileage was always where the money was. And detention. Waiting 18 hours in line used to be the norm when BArnett was going strong. FTW to Mentone and that area at $1 08 a mile was sweet.

 

I was chatting with a frac crew supervisor on site today about this and he basically confirmed everything you said. His exact words were "the more sand we get, the better everything goes".

It's great for those who want to push sand cans around West Texas, but sucks for us on site because it seems like they're constantly loading up the sand kings and sandcastles and that stuff is blowing all over the place. I wear my respirator just about any time I'm out of the truck now. Oh well, you gotta take the good with the bad I guess.

 

That's a really good thing you're doing, and I hope you're driver(s) appreciate it.

 

Hauling sand has good and bad,,lot of fly by night outfits,,long hours and at times lots of delays..health issues from the fine sand in your lungs to falling off the top of the pneumatic trailers,,not to mention the hoses that can get heavy when plugged with sand,,be ready to work hard for many days straight, 14 to 21 days with out a day off,all hours day and night and 12 hour days for weeks,, as an O/O you must install a air blower $5K or more plus installation and pneumatic trailer costing as much as $60K (used are hard to find) The work should last a couple more years and then level off..Better to haul water sometimes the haul is both ways,,fresh in and dirty water back out. Oh expect to live in your truck,,in ND some companies provide housing,RV trailers etc. It is difficult in most places to find your own housing or a place to park an RV at a reasonable price..in ND even the food is very costly. As a new hire you will get the worst loads and worst hours.