Nuverra/PowerFuels

Does anyone know about the williston location for nuverra/power fuels? I am contemplating on stopping by that office because i am in williston right now. But i read a few bad reviews on that location. Also, i do have an interview on Monday for a frac crew company but im not sure if i want to do fracking, its probably more stressful as well.

 

Nuverra is a great company to drive for you can make a lot of money with them. They have locations in many different cities in ND and offer housing in some of them. I have worked for this company for 4 years and not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

Frac fueling is an absolute gravy job. But..the driving experience will amount to very near zero if thaw important to you.

 

I just realized that you said frac crew not frac fuel..sorry about that.

The frac crews work hard sometimes....mostly during rig up and rig down. They stay fairly busy at other times...and they hang out alot too.

 

4607 2nd Ave W, Williston, ND 58801

(701) 577-1001

Power fuels

 

I don't know many of their drivers and such but I can tell you they are slammed in my area. I keep having to throw trucks on their flowbacks because they can't handle all the work they have right now. We are in the same boat at MBI, its a good time of the year to get a lot of hours.

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on Nuverra / Power Fuels Also Known as Badlands (according to their paycheck stubs)​

First you interview and they will set you up for training and they will offer you $15 an hour, and 19-23% Commission. And give you sign on bonus paperwork.
The low down on their training. (as of Spring/Summer of 2015)

• It's mandatory no matter how many years you've driven. They want you to learn the "Nuverra Way". If you've done water or crude hauling before it's nothing new, only their paper work (which is A LOT) and their computer system which rides with you in the truck is new. Of course their safety policies that they are sticklers for.
• The training is 2 weeks. Base pay for trainee is currently 15 an hour.
• Expect a $500.00 check at the end of your first week of training.
• They will put you in an apartment if you need housing. BUT find a roomie because they will take $1,350.00 per month PLUS deposit out of your pay check every single pay check. What does this mean for you? It means prepare to be broke the first month. They will give you 80 hours of training at $15 an hour for 2 weeks. Then they'll take half the apartment rent out and break up your deposit as well. The first paycheck was $255.00, for two weeks.
• You'll have a place to live, unfurnished, brand new, with outside storage and trash and water included but you WILL have to get a letter of credit from your electricity or pay a $200 Deposit. *The Good News* The electricity is super cheap, we're talking first month was $12 bucks.

After Training and your first 30 days.
So you made it through training and sat through "classes" listening to how to do the job that you've done for years.. now it's time to roll out... Not so fast. Nuverra has 3 different schedules to choose from. But THEY CHOOSE at first, not you.

• 5 on 2 off
• 6 on 1 off
• 23 on 7 off
• They're hours are 7am to 7pm Days or 7pm to 7am nights. (nights make $5 bucks an hour, but note sounds good until the snow hits)

Other things to know in your first 30 days

• You'll not have your own assigned truck.
• Safety Inspections are mandatory at the start of every shift
• Dispatch takes forever to get your assignments to you, Expect to get your base pay of $15 an hour while you wait though.
• The commission is based on the job not your ability. So if you are assigned a job that pays 19% that's it, you have no choice. You do it. Some will be up to 23% there's no set standard it is a per work order payment system. It's like if you have your own business but drive a company truck, some jobs are higher paying then others. The checks never stay the same.
• Expect $1400-$1800 paychecks after your 30 days biweekly after housing expenses and taxes.

If you're from out of state, you'll want the 23 and 7 but you'd better make it very very clear to them that that is what you want or good luck ever getting that schedule. And make sure to kiss the wife and kids goodbye.. for a long time. Because those from out of state will not be back in 30 days almost guaranteed. You'll not have the money to go home. Not yet anyway.

Into your 60-90 days.
You've stuck it out, you're hanging in there. You've gotten paid enough to have a roof over your head and to eat, if you're out of state your wife has now gotten a job too to help the home-front. Things start to look up now. The paychecks FINALLY get larger, you're learning your way around, you're doing your work orders faster, and you're about to get a raise at 90 days! You're safety bonus is on it's way (which is 1% of what the truck makes so keep track of what your truck is making to know what your safety bonus will be, the pay stubs are very detailed and will tell you, just add them up for 3 months) You'll get paid the big $1k for the other part of your sign on bonus.

The Good Times Roll!!
Bring on the Cash! You've stuck it out for 3 months, the wife will soon be able to quit the job she's had for a month, the paychecks get a lot larger, the insurance benefits kick in, and you're starting to know the area better. If you would like to move in to cheaper housing, (if you can possibly find it) then do so.

• Medical Dental life Disability
• Stocks
• The money DOES get a lot better.
• 90k -110k is a good possibility now.

Bottom line - Don't take this job if you are on your last dollar, because you'll lose everything you have. If you're from out of state, make sure to have some reserve money to keep the family ok for two months. The money is there but they make you prove your worth for 3 months until they show you the money.

 

Good read.

 

how's business been the last two months vs the start of the year? what about for you LittleLadyTx? Thanks for the in-depth report too, very helpful.

 

bknight left MBI and ND altogether a couple months ago (he was a dispatcher in my yard). Water has picked up a little bit, but the big problem we have is the pipeline. Everything is being put on pipeline, so our jobs are slowly being eliminated. Production water is just about gone, the only work is service, flowback and fresh... but until fracking picks back up full-steam, those will be under highly competitive bids.