Oil and Water Jobs in Central and Northern Oklahoma

I must report some changing conditions that have altered my view of Plains All-American Pipeline, one of the employers I favorably reported on at the start of this thread. I no longer recommend them for consideration, and the following paragraph details the reasons why.

The three drivers reporting to me their experiences have told me of compensation changes at Plains' Enid district, in Northern Oklahoma. It appears the commission structure is questionable due to micromanagement and a tendency of middle management to "adjust" numbers filed by drivers as to their hours worked and barrels hauled. The drivers have no right of appeal when these adjustments are made. All three drivers with the same story are in good standing with Plains. While these people like the benefits Plains offers, they simply cannot afford to stay there due, in part, to compensation that is lower than advertised and does not reflect actual hours worked or barrels hauled. They are all currently interviewing for hourly positions in the same skill set, with other firms in competition with Plains.

The bottom line is twofold. One, management is not forthcoming in their means of approving driver compensation. Two, Plains' claims of $70,000 per year average driver earnings is inaccurate. $300 per day was claimed by management as the average daily gross income that new drivers could expect after training. My contacts tell me that $200 per day is closer to the truth.

In my opinion, $200 per day is inadequate for anyone working safety-sensitive functions in a 12-hour day out in the oilfields, anywhere in America. I have referred these drivers to my contacts in North Dakota, where $450 per day is average. One was pre-hired over the phone, with my referral, pending a clean drug medical and drug test.

My purpose in posting this correction is also twofold. One, to provide current information as it is available. Two, to encourage oilfield workers, drivers in specific, to reject lower wages. There are plenty of people out there paying as much as they were two years ago. Do not settle for less money.

 

Issues came up, and I have been delayed. I would like to get back there ASAP but a major something must be in place before I return. No, it's not the money.

 

Agreed, there is more life in OK. More everything...

However, the peak summers in OK are almost as unbearable as the Winters in ND... just too nasty to stay outside for very long, in either place.

Also, I would rather make the monthly trip to the Billings Costco and eat GOOD all month long rather than buy a $12 burger or $20 pizza (no good pizza in Williston!). If one goes to work in ND, they can spend their earnings on women and eating out, or save it (better yet, send it) back home where less of it will be spent before you get back there. If a guy likes throwing his money away on temporary things, that is his right. I have no interest in doing so.