starting fresh - what would you do

Im preparing to head to Texas to get into fracing. Should I get my cdl before heading down, or will a company train me? Why is the turnover rate so high if you don't mind me asking? Is it that hard? I'm not afraid of hard work or getting my hands dirty. I'd like to make an informed decision before doing anything. Thank you all.

 

I would get your cdl and hazmat before going if you can. The turnover is high because it takes a certain kind of person to frac. It's not usually that hard but the hours can get to you. We've worked 20 hrs a day everyday this week and it gets hard mentally.

 

So how exactly does that work? You must have some down-time during the course of a 20 hour shift, don't you? Naps on the clock?

I'm pretty sturdy, but I don't think there is any way I could do heavy, or even semi-heavy labor 20 hours a day, day after day. How do you guys work it?

 

There is down time for sure and we get paid for the drive to location and back but lack of sleep is a big issue. There not a guy out here today that's had more than 20 hrs of sleep this week. You get used to it after awhile.

 

Where does everyone sleep? On site? A hotel? In the trucks? Im trying to paint a picture in my head of what im getting into.

 

most likely the trucks...

 

You won't sleep in the trucks very often cause its a liability issue for the operating company. You'll either stay at a hotel or mancamp. Unless your somewhere like midland and they may want you to have your own place to stay cause you'll be back at the yard everyday.

 

So, if lack of sleep is a big issue, how does this work? If you are either in transit, or on site for 20 hours, is the downtime scheduled, and for how long? Are you in transit for several hours? Or do you work until something breaks or you run out of work?

Sorry I'm being dense, but I just can't see most people working 20 on 4 off for more than a day or two, let alone several. I believe what you are saying, but what you are descibing are basically combat zone conditions.

Something has to give or people would be getting hurt left and right. And equipment damage rates would be huge.

 

would you say it's "easier" to get hired on a FRAC crew with NO PRIOR frac experience: IF you have a CDL with all your endorsements? Or it doesn't really make a difference?

Do you frac guys go into double time (after 12 hours?) or is it just overtime?

anymore specifics you can give on rest on those 20 hour days (like the length of the break- 1 hour? 2 hours?)

 

Well most companies your on the clock from when you leave the hotel to when you come back. If you can catch a nap sometime in the day and still do your job good for you. I'm in the data van all day. I sit I front of a computer and track sand and chemicals while we're pumping and when the stage is over I go outside and do physical work till were ready to frac again which is usually 30min to an hour. I don't get many breaks but a lot of the guys outside do but their in the heat. Last night I slept for about three and a half hours and caught a twenty minute nap on the way here. We'll frac for about fifteen hours today and then rig everything down so it will be a 25-30 hr shift.
i know it sounds crazy but it does happen and it gets easier over time. There's great money in frac but its not for everyone. It takes lots of mental toughness. Guys with military experience usually do really well.