Anyone making any money hauling frac or water around Midland/Odessa?

Sand and water are always up and down. Water haulers are always trying to underbid their competitors, and they don't keep contracts for long. Sand is busy when the frac jobs are being done, but there are rate-cutters there, too. Crude is more steady money, especially if you get on with the first purchaser (the company buying the oil).

 

I've hauled sand since 2012, mostly in west/south Texas. It's not a gold rush like it was, but as an o/o I have steady work and can more than pay my bills.

I know Maalt has a few wells running right now and the guys seem to like it there.

 

Are you currently hauling sand as and O/O? In the Midland/Odessa area? I can get a truck and trailer and was thinking of hiring a driver to haul for me out there, while I stay at my "inhouse" job. Im currently in the Shreveport area. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

I am currently a o/o. I don't exclusively work west Texas. I work down south in the eagle ford play, as well as in the Permian, and New Mexico as far as that goes, but mostly just Texas.

I don't see why you couldn't do it, but just a few suggestions that some people might not agree with. Spend your money on the right stuff, big blower, good (read as: dot complaint, no leaks) trailer, and a truck you don't care about.

The lease roads will tear up your truck fast, and as a guy who's owned 7 trucks with drivers in them at my peak. most guys will tear them up over the stupidest stuff. (Load paid late, lease rd too bumpy, you ran recaps, etc)

In my experience, expect to burn about 30% of your gross on fuel, 25 -30% to your driver, about 10% (fluctuates) on maintenance, and your profit around 30%. With most trucks I've seen/ talked with/ heard, it's about 5k gross weekly. If there's a specific question you have I'll try to help with it.

 

ciscologistics

 

Kinda feel like I may have loaded behind that truck today. Lol

 

Thank you "THISXSTYLE"
What size or model blower would you recommend? I see different sizes and models available, from 800 to 1200 series. What might be some things that help with keeping a good driver happy, so he might be more inclined to stay and work for you rather then drag up and go to someone else?

 

In my opinion:

Blowers shouldn't be smaller than a 10.5

Blowers I buy are the Gardner Denver cycloblower 12 and 12.5 (think the model numbers are t5cdl12 and t5cdl13) and the tuthill t850 and t1050.

I'd stay away from the paragon p857, drum d807, Gardner Denver t5cdl9l. These blowers can offload sand, but you'll be glad you had a bigger blower when you want faster offload times and more of a push when you clog your line.

Drivers are just normal guys. It's easy. Pay on time, every time. Keep your insurance and crap up to date, don't treat the truck like your piggy bank. Keep their paperwork to a minimum, so they can do their job, drive.

If something breaks, fix it. Don't make your driver suffer because you don't deem something necessary. West Texas gets cold, and its hot as the devils butthole in the summer. Make sure both a/c and heater work.

Don't complain or nag without a good reason. If he's off, don't bug them about working until they're due back. Oilfield hours are odd, just because you may be awake, doesn't mean he may be.

Adding to this, make all rules known, if you advance cash, the max amounts and delivery method, as well as repayment terms. Same for pay. Also, don't lie about what he'll be making. If your truck is averaging 3k a week, then let him know to expect 900 on average. Don't tell him 2k.

In other words, honesty and respect.