Don't make this mistake.

A word of advice out there to any new drivers like myself especially if you are wanting to go where the money is at in the oil and gas fields. I drove with a class A permit for six months doing soil farming, loved it. Got my cdl through school and went to work for a fluid transport company, I loved that as well. I left those two jobs because the first one let me go when i couldn't get my license in one of their trucks (not enough practice time doing the backing) the second one I left because employees were committing DOT violations and nothing was done to address that. So i applied at Weatherford International. They work in the oilfield and when i came in they saw my license with all the endorsements and offered me a job. keep in mind though, I didn't know that you aren't driving but out to the location to rig up and then rig down and drive back. that is it, the rest of the time you are out there banging on heavy iron dragging hoses and what not. Don't get me wrong, I love to work but my take on this is I went through the trouble to get my CDL and I can't use it. Especially in this case because to drive a truck for them, you have to get approved through their main office. No big deal but they seem to have "lost" my information including my road test i took. I got my license to get out there and drive up and down the road. Some people might call that crazy, but I love it. I didn't mind working at the two other companies I had to drag the hoses to hook up to tanks and the truck, but at least I was out driving. Just a word of advice to anyone just now getting their license looking for work.

 

I worked for two other outfits that ran in the oil fields. I don't and didn't mind dragging hoses, chains, tie downs etc. etc. I don't mind getting dirty. As I replied in another post, I look on it negatively because I spent my own money going to school and then to not get to drive at all kind of puts you in a bad mood. Granted I should have done more research on it. I knew there wasn't going to be all driving, and there was going to be some intensive manual labor involved, I guess it just frustrated me when I did everything they asked and they dropped the proverbial ball on their part when they lost my stuff. I know all about the log books and the oil field exemption and 24 hour restarts, no problem on that end. I guess even at 40 I am still naive thinking companies will fulfill their end of the deal when you do your part.