So you want to haul crude oil in the badlands of ND?

Talked to my friend a couple of hours ago, and of course the story changes (he isn't the brightest bulb on the tree); now he says it's bagged sand and he'll be pulling a drop deck or flatbed. When he gets to Sidney he has to unload the trailer and turn around to do it again.

That's the story now, we'll see what it is when he actually gets there.

 

Now the drop deck makes sense!!!! Ceramic sands are coming to the area on rail and have to be transported that way. Most is made in China or Russia, get put on a barge to US or Can, then put on boxcars, then get put on trucks. Lots of handling for sure. I'm sure it's supersacks of ceramic they are movin. Now we're on the same page...

 

hauling oil and running a vac truck is only "ok". if you want more interesting work, and better pay get on with one of the oilfield service companies. you still drive a truck, to get you and the equipment to the site. but its the service you do when you are there that pays the bucks. eg, Sanjel, Calfrac, BJ, Schlumberger. i don't know what you have down there but do a search for oilfield services directory. in 2008 when i was at Calfrac i made 92000 in 11 months. our $ isn't that much less than yours. as too the OP man can he stretch it. I'm pretty sure if he is scared down in ND, and yes i've been there, he would poop up here. but hey if you can't poop behind a rock it might not be the job for you either. if you work for one of the services that 100k a year is the starting point, as you move up to lead hand, supervisor, aquire knowledge and skill you move up, eventually keeners, drive around in pickups telling truckers what to do

 

I agree that the a service company (Halco, BJ, Calfrac, SLB, Sanjel) is the way to go for a "career", but most truckers aren't willing to go back to driving school for Halliburton or SLB for $14 bucks an hour when they could drive truck for a crude,water, sand hauler and make $28 and hour. By all means go to the big red machine if you want to be a boss. If you want to make $$ go to a trucking company. Most truckers in ND make 80-100K per year and don't have to work 100 hours per week like the frac crews. Some frac crews do work 2 weeks on and 1 off but you are HOOKED UP for those two weeks! Pick your poison. If you want to be promoted on finishing "modules" or "competencies" then go to a world wide service company but if you just want to make cash and don't need a week off every 3, go to a local trucking company. Just my two cents...

BTW - Halliburton starts drivers around $14 per hour in Williston. That's a lot of hours to make $100K. Not reality until you move up to a supervisor position.

 

Pardon me for being clueless; but could you explain the difference between the two?

 

Service companies such as Halliburton actually "service" the wells. They frac or cement oil wells. They have specialized equipment to do this work. Trucking companies just haul the products the service companies need to the the servicing work. Make sense?? Most trucking companies don't have specialized equipment they just have water tankers, pneumatics, or flatbeds. Go online and look up oilfield service companies and you will see what specialized equipment looks like. It's confusing but there is a huge difference in the work and equipment involved.

 

hey ac22 I'm wanting to go up there 2 williston what r some of the better company's to apply 4, i have not driven n 3 years but have 13 years driving cement mixer.bullet trains here in Vegas hauling sand doubles i do have class a plus tank hazmat endorsements clean mvr how long is work gonna last up there do any of these smaller company's provide housing or maybe live in truck any info much appreciated

 

I'm looking for a company or O/O to contract (lease) with in the oilfield hauling water or maybe crude. Have own authority, tractor, and a lease for new tanker all set up. I will need trained, no oilfield experience. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7362776.html