Finding A Job In North Dakota : The Bakken Oil Drilling Boom
90Oilfield Trash
When Sarah Palin chants, "Drill, baby, drill!", she's thinking about energy independence...and jobs. Jobs, jobs, and more jobs. Everything but Steve Jobs. Although if you're a guy named Steve who needs a job, an oil drilling boom area is a mighty fine place to start.
Here and now, in November of 2010, that means North Dakota. There's black gold in the Bakken formation, folks, and no reason you shouldn't get yourself a piece of that pie.
However, if you're saddling up your mule to head on out thataway, don't be putting blinders on until after you've found the employment you're needing. Because it's not just the drilling rigs that are hiring. In fact, unless you at least know somebody who knows somebody or you have a bit of past experience on the rigs, you're unlikely to crack that particular walnut without help. Even the lowest worm, as a rookie roughneck is called, generally needs a reference to be accepted for one of the roughest, toughest, dirtiest, hardcore, best paying jobs on the planet.
So? Not to worry! There are dozens of other employment opportunities generated by an oil boom, and most of them pay pretty well, too. I should know. Of my three oilpatch related career stints, not one involved working for the drilling companies--yet that didn't mean I wasn't on and around the rigs.
Service Contractors
Drilling rigs generate a lot of economic activity, no small part of which involves the contractors who don't actually do the drilling but do provide crucial ancillary services. In June of 1981, I found that out.
At the time, desperate for work and facing absolute financial disaster, I decided to drive to the town of Glendive, Montana...on a hunch. At the time, I hadn't a clue about oil booms--yet, based on a tiny classified ad in the Billings Gazette for a virtually worthless, out-of-my-interest-zone Glendive job, I'd become certain the town had a job waiting for me.
I pulled into Glendive late in the day, cruising around, finding nothing...until, beside the road that runs north to Sidney, something significant caught my eye. My first thoughts were,
"...Ungh! Many big red trucks! Maybe they need somebody to drive one of 'em!"
Turned out they did. The following morning, after a rough night sleeping camped out in the shotgun seat of our tiny Honda Civic, I walked into the manager's office and was hired on the spot as a bulk hand, hauling tanker loads of dry cement to drilling rigs in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and--once--to South Dakota.
The Workover Rigs
The Halliburton job ended in October of 1982. America had been going through a monstrous oil industry slump like you wouldn't believe if you hadn't lived it, and I got laid off. It was a spooky thing, because a Montana winter was on the way and our little family of four had exactly $600 in savings--which, of course, soon became $0. Having been around the drilling rigs for the past 15 months and change, I had some street cred with the drillers...but they were out of work, too.
Fortunately, two weeks and a whole lot of shoe leather later, Western Oil Well Services took me on as a worm. Western specialized in workover rigs. Those aren't drilling units; they run stuff up and down the well holes after said holes have been drilled: Tubing, rods, pumps, fishing tools, whatever's needed.
Before long, I'd graduated from worm to derrick hand, working mostly on a "flying deck" some 50 feet in the air.
It was a good job. We made it through the winter, our eldest son graduated from high school, and all it cost me was the loss of one fingernail after I dropped one end of a 200 pound chunk of steel on my left index finger one pitch-dark, predawn, subzero morning.
Well worth the price.
Production Transport
The oilpatch slump continued to worsen. With prospects in Glendive looking less than cheery by spring, I began to look around for some other way to make a living...and eventually left both Glendive, Montana, and the energy industry behind for a time.
Twenty-three years of time, as it turned out.
But I went back to the patch in December of 2006, coming out of retirement due to having entirely spent the inheritance my Mom left me when she left planet Earth. Since leaving Western Oil Well Services, I'd had a number of white collar jobs, been an OTR (over the road) truck driver, and even built a business that grossed something like two million dollars in its day. Yep, lots of cash had come along over the years, all right.
Not one dime of which stayed around long enough to say howdy.
Production Transport (P.T.) hired me that time. Servicing the gasfield drilling boom in western Colorado, P.T. is a local outfit running fresh water to drilling rigs and frac jobs plus hauling tainted "production water" to authorized disposal sites. My job was to pull tanker trailers like the one in the photo or, sometimes, jockey the shorter but no less necessary "bobtail" trucks that could get into places the longer tractor-trailer combos could not. It was grueling work, all-weather, nasty steep twisty winter-cold, tricky conditions... even more so after I volunteered to become a charter member of the company's first-ever full time night shift crew. Even some of the day shift drivers shook their heads about that, unable to comprehend why anyone would want those hours, but me? I loved it and stayed with it until it was once again time to retire.
Best job I ever had.
Okay, back to the point: There are more jobs available servicing the rigs--whether the drilling boom is located in North Dakota or Colorado--than are available on the rigs.
Oh, one more thing. If the job you get turns out to be with Production Transport, feel free to tell 'em Ghost sent you.
UPDATE 2012: No idea why I didn't embed my Third Generation Oilfield Trash video for your viewing pleasure prior to this, but here you go. When you start wearing down from the unbelievable amount of reading below (over 900 comments by Jan. 12, 2012, many with some serious meat to them), you can at least take a break with having to leave the page.
Third Generation Oilfield Trash
Update Jan. 16, 2012: CRIME WARNING
Each and every job seeker heading to North Dakota should be keenly aware that where you have an oil boom--just as with gold in the gold rush days--you have both increased opportunity and increased crime. The recent murder of teacher Sherry Arnold, kidnapped from her hometown of Sidney, Montana, underscores the point:
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
Sherry was taken while out jogging. Police eventually got a break in the case, and two men are currently being held in jail in Williston in connection with her disappearance. The FBI is asking land owners to search their properties in both states (Montana and North Dakota). So far, all they've found of Sherry herself is...a single running shoe left behind when she was nabbed.
I STRONGLY URGE EVERY READER TO CLICK ON THIS SHERRY ARNOLD LINK. Please read the article and watch the video. The life you save could be your own.
Personal shock: I was watching the video...and suddenly heard the speaker say that these two suspects, Lester Vann Waters, Jr., 47, and Michael Keith Spell, 22...are from our previous home town of Parachute, Colorado.
"PARACHUTE!" I yelled across the house to Pam. She got it. We lived in Parachute from March of 2007 through March of 2009 when I was driving water trucks for Production Transport. These guys moving from one boomtown (Parachute) to another (Williston) is an indicator they're most likely oilpatch workers or one sort or another.
While the names aren't familiar, it's entirely possible I'd know them to see them. We could have worked together on one job or another, and we no doubt shopped at the same grocery store--there's only one in town. Pam could have brushed elbows with them at the local Family Dollar store.
Dang.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
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king, no one is likely to call you from this Hub--but if you choose to use it as an info resource, you can find out quite a bit about how to go about tracking down possible employment in North Dakota.
looking for oil or gas field job ret marine engr class a cdl hazmat tanker double/triple endorsement clean driving record heavy equipment back ground plumbing electrical exp My wife passed away 2 years ago . no kids at home I'm 6.1 220 lbs excellent health can be on the jobs in less than 2 weeks 847 226 9908 king1stsgtret@yahoo.com
Billy Zhang: It doesn't work that way. Nobody picks up the phone and "sells an oilfield". To learn how the industry DOES work is far too complex to cover here. Figure on at least a few months of serious study if you want to really know the ins and outs.
lawdawg: Back atcha on the appreciation. For what it's worth, viewing activity has dropped off for my Hubs across the board, no more than 1/2 of what it was a couple of months back. The topic doesn't seem to matter--fiction, how to, desert wildlife, political, trucking, etc, all hammered equally.
No clue why. 'Tis what 'tis.
Sorry to see the activity die off on the blog.... still thankful for the way it helped me..... now that I am in the door... the possibilities are endless. I already have had offers for jobs with other companies paying more....thanks for the blog Ghost!
Wanting purchase meduim to large oil fields,willing to pay premuim market price for such fields anywhere in North America.
If you have aviable contact backbaylobster At Yahoo.ca
cell 506-754-6606
mgalt: Your comment was deleted due to its blatantly promotional content. As you can see if you look below the "Post Comment" button,
"Comments are not for promoting your Hubs or other sites."
Makes sense. In my experience, the bulls and the cowgirls are the TWO most dangerous entities in the arena....
Thanks Ghost
I do appreciate it, and I will contact Job Services.
Whenever I went to a rodeo, the only competition I liked watching was the Bull riding ... After that, I usually spent all my time checking out the Cowgirls in their Wrangler Jeans
No, James, I got that; you didn't confuse me.
On the rigs, both drilling rigs and workover rigs, the entry level jobs are usually for "floor hand", otherwise known as (when you're just starting out), "WORM". It takes time and experience on the job to work up to the other titles: EXPERIENCED floor hand, derrick hand, tool pusher, driller. I did end up a derrick hand on the workover rigs pretty quickly in 1982-83, but it was a small company, there was some turnover, and they needed a guy who didn't mind working 50 feet above the floor on a flying deck.
But there are dozens of oilpatch jobs RELATED to the rigs for every one job ON the rigs--and for those, I wouldn't know where to start. Our readers are finding sucess as drivers, working with coiled tubing, wireline companies, frac outfits, you name it.
Again, as I keep repeating, I recommend talking to the Job Service folks AND checking out the online newspapers.
Sorry Ghost
When I say job titles, I mean the name of specific jobs they normally hire for in the oil field. If that helps, not sure if it does ... lol
You've got a great page here, with a great service. I appreciate it :-)
James
James: I love upstate New York--been through there a few times, back when I was an OTR (long haul) truck driver. But definitely, you gotta go where the work can be found.
As for job titles, I'm not sure I can help much with that directly--but the counselors at Job Services SHOULD be able to do so if you just let them know what you've done and ask, "Uh, what might that FIT out there, eh?"
Or something like that.
If the heat and possible tornadoes don't bother you, Texas might also be an option. Odessa/Midland is popping pretty well, at least so far as I've heard recently. Pay is less than ND, but housing is much more available (and also therefore much cheaper). Plus, fewer cold weather issues.
Not the weather is likely to bother you per se, but it can be nice not to have to worry about those extra layers of clothing--especially when you're buying them.
In North Dakota, there has been some action at Minot and also a bit at Dickenson. In eastern Montana, the small town of Sidney is ramping up a bit.
Overall, were it me in your shoes, I'd DEFINITELY hit the online papers for any areas in which I thought I might be interested.
Hey Ghost
Doesn't necessarily have to be Williston, could be an even smaller town where oil is involved. I have experience in construction, but have no idea what a newbie would be looking for (the titles of some of these jobs) ... But I can learn.
I'm in upstate New York and their is nothing here ... Unless you want to work part time for peanuts
James: It's potentially doable. I'd recommend you review some of the posts over at the "Spillover" site. That's a second page with this same title but with the word "Spillover" added. That'll give you a fairly current picture of the situation in Williston--though MOST of the folks commenting ARE looking at having their CDL's (Commercial Driver Licences).
Also, it couldn't hurt to give Job Services (state jobs office) in Williston a call. Just ask them what they might have on tap that you could apply for. And then check out the Williston Herald online (classifieds).
What about coming to Williston just to find work? Not necessarily a truck driver. Thank You
Anthony Shivers: Please scroll down to read my response to Yuvraj Singh.
We don't hire people, by the way. The people who visit this page are LOOKING for work, not offering jobs.
I'M INTERESTING IN APPLYING FOR A JOB WITH YOU ALL. MY PHONE NUMBER IS 850 557 9875 OR 850 557 0359. I AM A REALLY HARD WORKER I WEIGHT 221 AND ENJOY WORKING.
With the reckless on you record, you're better off not even thinking about getting a CDL. Employers are pretty narrow minded about convictions like that, in part because their insurance company underwriters will usually have screaming hissy-fits. So, definitely tackle it from the non-driving angle. It'll save you a lot of wheel-spinning grief.
As for the other job types, you might want to (as soon as you can) get your resume on file with the Job Service office in whatever town you choose to tackle. That may or may not get you the job you need, but it's at least a starting point.
Hello.. So thank you for all the information i was just wanting to know what are the chances of getting a job in the north dakota oil fields without a CDl license and no real oil field experience i am wanting to get a CDl but i have a reckless driving incident two years prior do you think if i get my license i would have a better chance of landing a job with that conviction or just go and see what happens. Thanks
Yuvraj Singh: By the numbers:
1. No need to write in all caps. On the Internet, that means you're yelling at us. Hurts our cyber-ears.
2. Nobody is going to call you. It doesn't work like that. But if you take the time and effort to read the comments (all 1000 plus) on the Hub and also the several hundred on the Spillover page (same title as this plus the word "Spillover"), you'll have a pretty good idea of who's hiring and who's not.
I AM CDL A DRIVER I DRIVE FOR TRANSAM TRUCKING AS A LEASE DRIVER FOR 2 MOUNTHS AND I LEAVE THE JOB BECAUSE WHAT THE COMPANY SAY YOU NOT MAKE THAT MUCH MONEY. I AM LOOKING FOR OIL RIG ANY JOB IN NORTH DAKOTA IF ANY ONE HIRING LET ME KNOW MY EMAIL IS LOVEISALONE28@YAHOO.COM.
Jered: First thing I'd recommend would be for you to review the "Spillover" Hub. This one got so long (with more than 1,000 comments) that I added a second page (same title, add "Spillover) where most of the folks are currently posting.
Dickinson (from recent reports) seems to be a bit slower at the moment. Williston is still more active, but one company reports receiving over 150 apps from drivers PER DAY. It might be a good idea to call Job Services (state job hunting office) in both towns, see what they have to say about the jobs market in their areas TODAY.
Some people have had luck with putting in apps before showing up personally, though most often as part of that one-two combination process.
About driving as a new venture: Piloting a big rig is about 90% attitude. That is, if you're committed to learning it and don't give in to your personal Fear Factor easily, you CAN most certainly learn the trade. A CDL (driving) school is a good idea for that--although at least one company will hire and train you ONLY if you've NEVER had so much as a CDL permit.
Go figure.
Hope to see you over at the other Hub. Lots of active posters there will be more than willing to help you out as they can. Some of them are job seekers, and some are people who've actually landed jobs but continue to share their insights.
And: YES, DO ask the hiring offices which methods of application they prefer. That DOES help.
Very insightful article. ALso thanks for all the continued feedback you've provided.
I'm currently a school teacher and am heading out solo during spring break to scout jobs in and around Dickinson with the aim of getting on housing lists so I can get to work at the end of school (early June) and make the family's wait to join me as short as possible.
Several questions:
1) I have never driven a commercial truck - is this too big an endeavor to try to pick up?
2) Should I spend time now filling out applications (I can't be there to work until the 2nd week of June)?
3) The other idea I've had is to try to get on the phone with some hiring offices at companies in the area and ask them what's best: a resume, a personal visit, or both.
Has anyone had luck connecting with the hiring decision-makers ahead of time?
DakotaSteve: I'd say you're good to go with just the CDL. Any other certifications a company wants you to have will usually be earned on the job.
Of course, I could be wrong about that. My #1 area of expertise was water hauling, and our company provided things like First Aid and H2S gas training, but there could be some specialty stuff on the rigs I don't know about.
Hey Ghost, great site! I've used it a lot in the past couple months, moving from Washington to Williston.
I also found this guide really helpful: oiljobsnd. I know links are bad so I won't add the "com"
Also, I'm licensed to drive just about anything, which is how I'm finding work, but any other advice on certifications that are handy on oil rigs?
geezer62: Thanks for the heads up on the Eagle Ford.
Daniel,
the Eagle Ford Shale reserv south of San Antonio is probably even more of a boom thatn North Dakota for fracking.
They are beggin for trucks and drivers.
check out the jobs in that area for owner operators or drivers.
a lot of them need leased trucks for hauling crushed rock, sand, oil, water, vac trucks, you name it.
some of the companies are located in san antonio, Houston, Corpus Cristy.
Many of the same companies that are up in Dakota.
Do some searching on google and you will find a place to go, AND you wont be freezing there.
I have 3 trucks sitting in new town work slowed up a lot for us does any body know of a place looking for leasors
I think it also depends on who you work for, columbus. The outfit my husband is driving for just lets the guys park their personal vehicles in the company lot.
columbus: I don't know the answer to that one. Hopefully, one or more of our readers on the scene can fill us in.
Thanks, Ghost. But I was wondering if you could also answer this as well -- Thanks:
Also, I was wondering if you can park your vehicle up there while you are on your off shift. Does anyone know how much a place would charge for parking your pickup for two weeks?
Stuccoman: No big on the double post. Happens to me all the time. Besides, they weren't identical, so I don't see why we shouldn't just leave them both in place.
Besides, it kind of tickled me to hear your take on the Petes. Never been a big fan. A few years ago, at least, some of them tended to come up with computer issues that would curl your hair.
Thanks for the confirmation on the school.
Sorry did not mean to post twice. I did not think the first one posted.
That is the right school Aaron is the guy to talk to.
Ghost,
I test drove a lot of trucks. Peterbuilt was the most expensive out there not a fan of the clutch in the them.. I sold a few toys to make it happen but paid cash. My freight liner was the best deal I could find 3.58 gear ratio 470 horse Detroit eaton fuller 10 speed APU with arctic pack 1year 100'000 warranty including injectors.
I cant't rember the name of the school but it is in commerce city talk to arron. I wil get the info and post it. Later. My buddy in Williston just got his msa approved with xto and waiting for contracts. Unfortunately things are going to be slow for the next six weeks they are saying.
Rumor has they have moved a lot of the fracking rigs south and few are offline for serviceing.
If you want to haul water in Texas u need a water hauler permit takes 3 to 6 weeks to get it.
I will keep you up to date when things break lose. My friend will be looking for more o/o.
Stuccoman: With the 1 year warranty, doesn't sound like you could go wrong. I've never run a 10-speed in the patch--13 and 18 only. When you've been hauling a while, let us know how that's working for you, eh?
Yeah, fracking definitely goes in cycles, feast or famine to some degree. Never famine "forever", though.
Commerce City, eh? Just Googled "Commerce City CDL School" and came up Colorado Transportation School on Dahlia St. Don't know if that's the one, but it does look pretty good according to the website.
Ghost
Test drove a lot of trucks . Got mine from Ryder 3.58 ratio eaton fuller 10 speed with 470 horse detriot carrier APU with artic pac heavy duty axel 1 year warranty including injectors . I have a buddy who just got msa approved from. Xto . Unfortatly the fracking has slowed for the next few weeks. So am waiting for things to pick up. I will get the name of the school and post later. It is in commerce city Colorado. Will let everyone know when we start working .
stuccoman01,
could you fill us in a little on who is hiring the vac trucks, and the pay scale for truck and driver? by the hour or by the load, etc.
Thanks for your help.
Stuccoman: I'm impressed--and maybe a little bit envious, too. Never been a big Freightliner fan per se, but the Century COULD tempt me...nah. (*slaps self upside head*) Forgot. I'm retired.
Sounds like you're well on your way. Presume the Freightliner came with heavy duty rear rends and springs?
Could you maybe post some contact data for the $1,000 CDL school? I'm betting some of our enquiring minds will want to know.
Sorry forgot to add this. I found a school here in Denver that will short version of. CDL training if you have permit and some practice. They will do a 20 hour driving class for around $1000,00
Ghost,
Been reading this so long and the stucco company has tanking. I bought a vac tanker in tx passed my CDL permit test on Thursday flew to Oklahoma city meet my friend there.as he drove down to pick my trailer up. After an hour on the road he set the cruise and told me to drive. This was my drivers training to abaline tx then Denver. (nothing like country roads in tx in the middle of the night to learn on.)Trailer has new challenger pump all the latest dot approved led lights and now in Williston I bought a freight liner century it being out fitted with a wet kit. Mean while the guy I bought the trailer from called and said If I don't like Williston . He has work in tx. Need to finish my CDL. And I am ready to roll.
geezer62: Understood, and yes, I'd very much have preferred to pack. Fortunately, night shift (my full time preference) actually seemed safer, at least to me. Wildlife, but not the dangerous human kind--and then again, I just don't look like a "tempting" female target.
We had several lady drivers on the night shift, too, but our company was not stupid. They were sent out in pairs (two trucks) always, and a third (male) driver was never very far away. Plus, we got to know the well sitters and such that we'd encounter, and everybody networked pretty closely together.
Williston, though, is an entirely different story.
kelseyb: You keep that pepper spray handy, for sure--and whatever else you need to give you an edge in a pinch. As the ancient saying goes, "Better to be tried by twelve than carried by six."
It did--not freak me out (not much does that, though Obama comes close). Bum me out, let's go with that. It bummed me out that the alleged kidnappers (of Sherry) turned out to be from my old working home town of Parachute, Colorado.
Some men do realize the dangers of OTHER men to women in general, of course. Your comment triggered a recall of my 4 years in the San Diego area. Walked a lot the first year there--no money, no wheels. 4 miles to work, 4 miles back (insurance office.)
Hiking down the street one Saturday in Normal Heights, I came upon two men attempting to "assist" an elderly lady into her car. She didn't want the help, and (to my experienced eye) the guys definitely had evil on what passed for their minds.
I stopped right next to them, saying nothing but watching them in the reflection from the front glass on an antique store. My clear attention--I wasn't hiding it from the men at all, just not pushing them into a corner any harder than I had to--made the "little guy" nervous pretty quickly, and he took off like a jack rabbit.
Which meant it was time, the numbers now being even, to turn and eyeball the bigger, more aggressive dude directly. He didn't like it...but he didn't know what he was facing, either, and pretty soon he too stepped back. The lady got her car door closed and took off.
Whereupon I headed on down the street...whistling.
The "target" lady never even knew I was there.
becida: And a hearty thanks to you, too, for sharing. It's the readers that have made this page into something special.
4 wheel drive- When I worked at a front end shop in Bemidji, MN all the trucks (and SUVs) were 4 wheel drive.
In 5 years I did see 3 trucks that were not, 2 of them were visiting the area & the last one was a 1962 Ford a guy got from his Dad.
I'm guessing that ND is a lot like MN & most of the trucks/SUVs on the used car market will be 4wd. Cost wise you may want to research before you go...
(This is a great place to read about the ND oil boom, thanks Ghost for taking the time to share!)
I'm a mother here in the oil patch and I run daily!! I run with my 8 month old daughter. I was scared before Sherry went missing and now that that happen so close, I'm beyond freaked out. I wish men would realize that starring at women like they are a piece of meat is NOT flattering. It is down right disrespectful and scary! I now run with one hand on my pepper spray and the other on my phone to send out an emergency call to family through a downloaded app with gps. Plus, just down the street there is a registered sex offender on seven accounts. Now that is just down right freakin scary!!
That's why I have always been self employed. So I can earn a living AND protect myself and family.
kelseyb: Yes, the housing situation is one that can't be ignored.
About your concealed weapons permit comment, though: I'm a Life Member of the NRA and a huge believer in the Second Amendment. Our home has always been adequately defended, no matter where we went--although the only trigger-pulling of note (so far) occurred in Colorado when my wife was having a REALLY bad night and put a .22 round into the ceiling.
One of our cats used to sit on the living room floor and stare up at that hole for minutes on end.
But ON THE JOB, forget about it. A concealed weapons permit won't do you one bit of good there. Yes, there are people who pack in the patch. But if you get CAUGHT with a firearm in your truck, you'll be fired on the spot. It's an absolute zero tolerance business.
If you plan on relocating to the area for work, make sure you have housing before you come.... ND does not have favorable weather conditions! Also, if bringing your wife get a concealed weapons permit and some pepper spray!
joeb: What Lawdawg said. It can be tough "gearing up" again after a divorce, as I should know (having had six of those suckers), but the material is here if you can cowboy up and actually put it to use.
Columbus: Your comment posted both times, so I deleted the 2nd one for you.
4WD pickup availability is a topic we've not discussed before on this page. I don't know the precise situation in ND, but it's not a bad idea to round up a vehicle like that BEFORE getting to the oilpatch. There are always dealers catering to 4WD drive buyers in nasty-winter areas as well as drilling boom areas, but why compete with the other eager buyers with money in their coveralls if you don't have to do so?
I bought both of our 4WD vehicles--a '96 GMC pickup and an '01 Subaru Outback--in Montana at a time when I was NOT driving offroad.
If you need to research the situation, though, a quick check of the Williston Herald Online should give you a pretty good idea within minutes.
Ghost or anybody. Does anyone know how available 4WD pickups are available up there? Are there many used car lots up there that would have these things? Also, I was wondering if you can park your vehicle up there while you are on your off shift. Does anyone know how much a place would charge for parking your pickup for two weeks?
Joeb....generally on this hub no one will call you at all. The hub is designed for you to read through and for you to find information to use to get tour own job. No one is just going to call and hire you. Read all the posts and take that information and call and do your own search on the internet. It has taken me and a bunch of hours and comittment to get a job in the patch. Start by registering at Jobsnd.com good luck to you.
I have a situation at home that I need to get away from (divorce) nand i'm looking for a change. I was a construcion guy for the last ten yrs. I am smart, strong and have a very goog work ethic. If someone who's looking for a very good worker, willing to relocate, i'm your guy. Call,txt or msg joe Boesch 651-775-3126
Montana406: Your comment and link were deleted as SPAM.
Or register for free at the jobsnd. They have hundreds of CDL jobs posted on there.
It'll take you some hours of study, but if you call up the link at the bottom of this page (more than 1,000 add'l. comments) and trudge your way through ALL that, you'll find quite a few numbers to get you started. Also (as is mentioned any number of times), you might want to Google the classifieds for Williston Herald Online; they always have something.
Man alot to read up here lol. BUT I see alot of ppl talking about getting their CDL's!?! YAY for you! I would run up there though if your just starting out. It is a lot to try an do. I would say maybe start off with a OTR company like CRE or Swift. I went though C R England and both of them are hiring right now. You can put an app in an hear back from someone in no less then a day or 2.
I keep looking an looking gerrr!!!! Me an my B/F are OTR drivers with Covenant right now an we have heard some things about ND an well.... I just cant seem to find a phone # or web site to put an app in. I am from NC he is from MT.
Everyone's gone over to the spillover hub, bb. This one's gotten too long.
I'll answer the power washing question on the Spillover Hub....
I am now looking at mobile hot power washing.
I wanted to have a better understanding of the demand.
Who wants / needs power washing?
At 135$ to 200$ per hour why don’t they buy their own power washing rigs?
Did you witness a lot of this power washing activity going on out there?
Douglas Macarthur: Glad to hear you say "things are better" in ND housing-wise. Readers of this Hub who are up there looking right now aren't finding it all that easy yet, though.
And while I made that same point (in the basic Hub) about needing to know someone to get a job ON THE RIGS (as opposed to getting a job with the various service contractors), that's been shown to be only MOSTLY true. Buried in the more than 1100 comments on this page are a handful of success stories by people who did in fact get hired on a rig (as a floor hand "worm") WITHOUT knowing anybody in advance. It does NOT happen often, but it does happen.
There is housing in ND I live in montana. Been working the rigs for about a year now. When I first went there I slept in my truck. Now it's better. FYI you have to know someone on a rig to get a job
carpenterswife: Sorry to hear that, but of course it really is true that "a man's gotta do what he's gotta do". I've hung myself out over the edge of the cliff so many times it's ridiculous, and numerous times the short term results were ugly in the extreme.
It always works out in the end, though, for the guy who keeps hammering hard enough to crack the bricks walls hefaces.
Well my husband lost his 16 an hour temp job over going to the interview in Boulder. It was w/SOS for Schlumberger sp? Got 2 interviews and was told this morning that they weren't making any job offer to him at this time but would keep his app etc. Agent acted like it was a sure thing. I did not want him to do this-but it's done now. Union carp w/ 20 years exp and 38 /yo looking for non-union work (there's no union work).
NY to ND: I believe (were I in your position) I'd start with the Job Service office in your chosen town, then (if the interviews weren't happening fast enough) get some fill-in work with a temp outfit if possible. There are definitely labor jobs around. If you pull up the entire Hub (more than 1,000 add'l comments) and study same, you'll find a few possibilities--burying pipeline, for one.
BakkenBound: Great post and absolutely essential heads-up advice. Thanks...and congrats, too. Sound like you've got the kinks worked out.
I normally prefer IHC over Pete...but not with a decade of difference in ages between the two! Five years is approaching senility for a truck in the patch.
Merlyn + Jay: Good for you; the jobs are definitely there. As of today's tally, the # of rigs active in North Dakota is 204, up from 200 the last time I checked--and up from 40 in 2006.
We are looking for tanker driving jobs in the North Dakota, Eastern Montana oil fields. Jay is presently driving OVR. Has just a seat belt violation on the MVR etc. Jay was a engineer long time at Pella Window,knows house building, drafting, diesel mechanics. Merlyn has had over all 4 years truck driving OVR,driving record completely clean,strives all the time for improved safe driving,does a lot of fixing,fabricating,some lite mechanics. Merlyn started driving in 1998 and ended driving in 2004 still drives a grain truck of his own. He is currently studying to get tankers, haz mat, doubles and triples on his CDL. The doubles and triples when comes to ice is a bit dangerous for various reasons. We are serious about doing a good safe job.
Finally have found a place to sit still that has wireless internet. I arrived in ND a couple days after Christmas, I had been in contact with a lease on trucking company (leased on at Wylie Bice Trucking) in Killdeer, I Had a job on my first day there and started training, my trainer was great, we worked long 24-36 hour shifts hauling fresh water, everything was going very well. I compleated my training but than had to wait for my truck to be repaired (previous driver lost the rearend),I then got my truck but work dried up for about a week, during that time my bosses fuel account went past due, so i gave him the benifit of the doubt, 8 days later, bone dry fuel tanks, plenty of work had been dispatched to me, and not one returned phone call from the boss. My patience as gone as the fuel I approached the GM at Wylie Bice, He put my trainer/coworker and I in different lease on trucks on the spot. "Word to the wise" watch out for deadbeat truck owners and dont think twice about searching for a new opportunity if it just doesnt feel right, no need to stick it out just to run out of money or head back home with your tail between your legs. But on the upside of things my new boss is very established and has a better Pay/perdium package, a FUEL CARD!!!, and better equipment (went from a used up 99 international rat trap to a 09 pete 379 with cat/18sp and condo sleeper). I hope to switch over to oil hauling as soon as possible, seems to be much more consistent than hauling water. Wylie Bice seems to be a good company to work for, they are not taking anymore lease on trucks at the moment, they are always taking driver apps (must complete in person). They are located just north of killdeer on Highway 22.
Hello faithful followers of the Oil Boom Hub, I am just starting my quest for employment in North Dakota. I have read some very helpful and interesting comments just scrolling. For those with more specific knowledge, what advice could i get on where to start looking first. I have many years of experience in labor intensive jobs.For example, I have off loaded many of the crabbing vessels you have seen on the show "Deadliest Catch".I have worked on the dock crews and on fishing boats for 8 years in the Bristol Bay area and Bering Sea. I have also worked construction and tow truck driving. What do you folks think? Where should I look first. No CDL , dont really even want a driving position, I dont really enjoy driving
robert lobue: Nobody here has the time or the energy to do ALL of the legwork for you--heck, robert, we don't even know what you have for work skills! BUT if you'll take the time to read AND HONESTLY STUDY this entire page (including the additional thousand-plus comments you can pull up by clicking on the appropriate link), you'll come up with a LOT of ideas.
After that, if you have specific questions, we'll be happy to help you as we can.
cale in MN: GOOD LUCK! (Wished you luck kind of loudly, but wanted to make sure you could hear it.)
Thanks for the reply. We're on the same page.
Im going as soon as i can. Wish me luck.
i want this oil job if anywon knows a way for me to work there then call me or email me at robertlobue@yahoo.com
Gary: That does look good. If it's half what they're claiming, the $10 for the packet would be a real bargain.
Was wondering if any of you have visited this site or ordered the packet? I came across it yesterday while looking for jobs and info on the Bakken. Looks like a good resource to have..
www.oilboomnd.com
If you can't handle the cold in the North Dakota region, then check out the Eagle Ford Shale play in south Texas. Same kind of boom that is expected to last 20 years, only it's not cold. The wages are slightly less though.
Hard demand for all CDL A drivers with tanker and hazmat endorsements.
codycarroll: It's a lot of work for any of us to contact you with the information, BUT if you take the time to call up all the additional comments on this page (more than 1,000 beyond those shown when you first call it up), and dig through ALL that stuff, there are a lot of clues.
I'd keep a pen and notebook handy as you scroll. :)
i would like to move out to nd. im from wisconsin 24 and need a new start. any help on how i can go about a job and housing????? facebook me at dougy1022@yahoo.com or email me. or call my cell phone at 608 214 5624
Helpingmyhubby - Ghost started another Hub since this one had gotten so big. If you go down this hub, he posted a link to it. He also started putting the newest comments first.
Glad Kevin found some temp work. Hope the other works out soon for him.
Am I really the only one that has posted in the past 36 hours? Or did something happen where I can't see anyone else's?
Ok, well this is Kevin's first day with Bakken Staffing. He got there at 5:45 am and was hired (for the day). He is working at a mancamp, that is being built in Tioga. I think it is a lot of general pick up type labor. But, they provide breakfast, lunch, pay miles to drive there and he gets $15 an hour. Beats sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
After work, he is going to call Frac Tech and see what is going on and when his start date will be.
Kevin is still waiting to hear some start dates. He ended up applying at Bakken staffing and is there now to try and earn a little while waiting. Money goes fast when you aren't making any.
Okay, thanks to FitnezzJim, I switched the settings for the Comments section on this Hub in two ways:
1. When you first call up the page, you'll only get 100 comments--should load much faster.
2. Now the most recent comments will show first. I'm not comfortable with that, but it's necessary to allow me to moderate the new comments without calling up the entire monster remainder (more than 1,000 comments).
Hope this helps all of us, once we get used to it.....
biggdaddy: Thanks for the Gold Spur data. Sounds great (except for the part about the old Werner trucks, maybe...:)
Cale-in-MN: The odds are with you IF you have enough cash on hand to survive in ND for a while. I wouldn't quit a $16 per hour job to make the jump unless I could tuck $2,000 in my pocket (single) or $3,000 (family).
No references. The only giant outfit I worked for was Halliburton, and that was clear back in the eighties. In Colorado, that's a small regional company; they don't operate in ND.
Philipp: ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you head out from Kalispell toward North Dakota in the middle of the winter, you'll be hungry by Missoula, starving by Billings, and froze to Philippsicles by the time you hit the North Dakota border.
I understand the Kalispell situation really well, having grown up on a ranch in western Montana. But you need to find a way to hunker down for a bit, seriously. The housing situation over there is very, very tough and expensive. Finding a job is doable in most cases, but not necessarily an overnight proposition.
I once hit Portland, Oregon, with $167 in MY pocket. Portland is no North Dakota, but I still nearly didn't make it.
oct 8: On thing I can tell you for sure: You do NOT ever hit triple time in the oilpatch. Time and a half, no matter how many hours, and that's it.
carpenterswife : thankyou for response! i was trying to head to colorado myself, as the recruiter told me no problem! now the recruiter told me today all jobs gone in colorado because i have a New cdl A & no experience, he wants me to take ND? as everyone knows were do you live?? And Pay keeps changing? 15:50 16:80 $20 and overtime allwasys mystery time and a 1/2 then heard only 8,25 added? do you hit triple time?? Recruiters cant stick to one story?
I heard Colorado isnt as cold as ND ? dont know how true that is? But I do know thanks to ghost Places to live are slin and none!!
It was going to cost about 5,000 to relocate to colorado but at least you get apartment for 1,000 a mos.
So If i found something in stlou for $16 id be happy waiting for colorado! any direction or advice be very appreciated! Thanks
HEY MY NAME IS PHILIPP AND I HAVE 120 DOLLARS IN MY POCKET. I LIVE IN KALISPELL MT, THE JOBS HERE ARE SLIM. MY QUESTION IS DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HEAD TO WILLISTON WITHOUT A CAR DURING THE WINTER.
oct08 Its with a place we been in contact with for a while. He will probably get fired when or if we go to Colorado for the oil field position interview. He wants to go baddd and work in the oil fields. You gotta look everyday around here and it might take a month of daily searching. Good luck.
Excellent read Ghost! Im a hard-workin' 25-year old in the best shape of my life. I've been an equipment mechanic in several fields for 6 years and know how to repair smaller piston pumps, compressors and generators.(electrical, hydraulic, pneaumatic, drivetrain systems, etc.) If i take the gamble, quit my $16.hr job and move to ND, you think my chances are decent? I can fix damn near anything I get my hands on, including vehicles.
Thanks for your response,
-Cale
MPLS, MN
P.S.-Any references with the companies you worked for that are operating in ND?
Bigdaddy....please see other hub for my comments and questions to you. Ghost wants to top this hub its too long and start again on the new one.
To Caprpenters wife: was wondering the job in StLouis for 16 an hour,is that by fluke he landed that job? I relocated to stlouis 9 mos ago have yet to find a job that pays over 12 an hour and those jobs are all taken?
love this hub!any drivers with cdl and experience google Gold Spur Trucking Stanley,n.d.they are a good sized player in the parshall,new town and mandaree area when it comes to water and crude.hiring right now!$20 an hour,over 40 time and a half,$30 per day stipend and 12.50 for pre and post trip.housing in minot.trucks are old werner trucks.
carpenterswife: The "one accident" will depend entirely on the individual company--or more precisely, on the company's insurance carrier; they make the rules for that.
Haven't lived in a man camp. Have eaten in a few with hands that did, but that's all.
suzeca: Yeah, me too, even on the desktop computer. Can't imagine trying to do that on a phone.
ok good deal. i hate scrolling thru this thing, specially on my phone.
The day after getting a job here in StLouis, an agent in CO called & gave him interview this week in Colorado. If hired, they'd send him to train for cdl and other stuff in Wyoming for 3 weeks, then up to Williston man camp. Its 15 days on 6 off @ 15.50 an hr with 90-100 hr week. If he goes to the interview he will most likely lose the job he's starting tomorrow. Must decide by Tuesday Night. This is w/a staffing company. Over the phone he wasn't asked about accidents-only tickets. Will one accident last year hurt (no tickets). This job is 80%-90% labor and the rest driving.
Anyone live in a man camp before?
helpingmyhubby that's so great and it hasn't been very long!
Heh. That "MVD" switch in AZ has ALWAYS bugged me.
As for MIGRATING TO ANOTHER HUB: Yeah, kinda sorta. This one is the Big Dog for tons of info and initial searches, but for NEW COMMENTS STARTING NOW (1/22/2012), the new page should be easier to navigate. HERE'S THE LINK:
http://ghost32.hubpages.com/hub/Finding-a-Job-in-N
It looks the same due to the shortened link, but it's not.
Some of the bigger truckstops have a doctors office inside it or else you can go to a clinic. Probably find one in the phonebook or a place that does drug tests might know of one.
Are we migrating to another hub ghost?
You can get the manual online. Thats what i did. Downloaded it onto my computer and studied out on the road. It has everything for all the tests plus info on how to get your background check for the hazmat. Just go to the dmv site in your state.
"who wants anything to do with "Motorized VD"? HAHA.....! you're such a silly ghost.
And DOT physical is usually around $70 and its no big deal.
JeffreyGordon: Thanks. I'm going to be writing & publishing a new Hub to catch the "spillover" from this one...because its massive usage is making the posting of comments (especially for me as I scroll up and down between questions by readers) to get the job done. This one will still be very much in play, of course.
kdhays: On the CDL permits: What you said. And as Lawdawg and others have mentioned, be clean or don't bother. An experienced driver can sometimes squeak by with, say, one accident on the books...but not a rookie.
Ann Marie: To get your CDL permit:
1. Head on down to the DMV--or to the MVD if you're in Arizona, which is ridiculous--who wants anything to do with "Motorized VD"?
2. Tell the person behind the counter that you need a manual to study for your Commercial Driver's License.
3. Take the manual home and STUDY HARD. It may be a "piece of cake" for some, but even though I'd driven big rigs in the 80's, it took me eight hours or more of "cracking the book" to feel ready for the test in 2001.
4. Go on back to the DMV and ask to take the test for your CDL Learners Permit ONLY. It's "all paper", no driving.
5. In the meantime, look into getting a "D.O.T. physical". This is not a rigorous thing, and a LOT of doctors can provide what you need, which is a "Medical Certificate" stating you're healthy enough to drive a truck. (Which is truly a bad joke; we've seen some mighty unhealthy truck drivers out there on the open road, especially.)
I've been licensed in different states over the years, and some of them (I can't speak for all) require the Medical Cert. before they'll give you the permit.
Ok, I tried to delete that last comment, because after posting, I realized that you can't read the entire article because I am not subscribed. But, worth researching, if you want to head up there and you are a construction person.
I know I have read some people that are in construction and looking for a job. Look at this article, you could go to Minot and do jobs at people's homes and be your own boss...
lol, suzeca sorry about that.
Man am I ever clean.... squeeky : D
...cept my credit*
Darraq were you typin while you were driving for crying out loud i could barely read your post
Here in IN you get your CDL physical first the go to the bmv and take the test, they have practice tests online. And I was going to concur with lawdawg, even the cdl school asked all the questions first, dui, felony, drug test, apptitude test. I am sure these better companies aren't gonna take you unless you're clean. I'm guessing that is why the hiring process takes so long, 1 out 5 they hire can't pass and they have to start all over on the next guy or girl. Don't waste your money and their time if you're not clean.
Jason James 2 hours ago
Dear Applicant.
Tanol Oil & Gas Drilling is seeking energetic, self-starters for positions which includes:
Rig Engineers,Welders,Plumbers,Riggers,Customer Service,Technician Derrick Man,Trainees,Project Manager,Rig Supervisors,Log Analysts,Mud Loggers,Drilling Consultants,Computer Operators,Nurses,Doctors/Medics Etc.
Experienced is required but we are willing to train all workers without any drilling experiences upon their arrival in Ghana.There won't be any telephonic or email interview for reason best known to us.
Remuneration
1.Free Personal furnished accommodation
2.Free Personal Company Car with a driver assign to take you around
3.Free feeding allowance
4.Free medical care
5.Opportunity for career training oversea
6.Free access to inter net facilities with a personal lap top and a mobile for with Airtime
7.Free Visa. Air ticket (On Company assignment)
8.Free traveling Allowance (On Company assignment)
9.Monthly Salary($7,000-$19,000)
10.One Month Upfront advance salary Shall be paid to Employee upon completion of traveling arrangement.
Contract Duration: 24 months-(Two Years)
Method of Application as follows:
1) Full Name:
2) Residence Address:
3) Position Applying For:
4) Nationality:
5.)Passport No:
6)Certificate of Experience required via attachment(IF ANY).
Please note that application through online Job Space will not be responded,all reply should be directed to the given email address for immediate reply Email: tanoloilgasdrilling@gmail.com
Jason James
Recruitment Manager
Tanol Oil & Gas Drilling
19th Harbour Street,M.K.Plaza,
Takoradi-Ghana
Tel: +233-249 822 156