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My husband is looking at jobs in ND. We currently live in PA. He has had his CDL for 9+ years and currently drives water trucks to and from the frac sites here in PA. He was also a truck push doing scheduling and dispatching. He would prefer getting out of the gas industry, but is even more interested in getting out of PA. :-)
What kind of work/pay would he be looking at in ND? We would plan to move there with our three children, and because we have animals (2 dogs, 3 cats plus caged critters), we would be looking to buy a home and make it our permanent residence. As cold as PA gets in the winter, I know ND gets even colder. It's a big move and my entire family is here, so we (I) just really want to weigh our options before he even takes a job out there.
I need info to either talk myself into it or him out of it. :-) Thanks!
With a CDL and experience, he should have NO problem finding work. Power Fuels in Watford City is looking to hire 300 drivers and they do have housing, however, there may be a waiting list.
He should be able to make around $100,00 a year hauling water. The better trucking companies offer outstanding benefits and usually a bonus.
There are houses for sale in the area, especially in the new developments. Buffalo Hills, just a mile from Power Fuels, has about 60 homes up with about another 30 to go. Three bedroom, two bath without a garage is listed at $199,000.
We moved from NW Wisconsin and had been there for 31 years. I love North Dakota and have never regretted our move.
Do you know of any companies that would pay for him to travel back and forth AND have free housing? If we did move out there permanently, it wouldn't be right away, and the cost of him to fly back and forth every few weeks would barely make it worth the while, in my opinion.
I wouldn't count on traveling expenses, but housing is often available via company "dorm rooms" or just in the truck sleeper like OTR drivers...
he's just going to have to start calling around.
I would suggest he try it for a season first before you all pull up stakes and move.
Most of the CDL drivers do NOT hang around for the winter there.
They pack up and leave after Thanksgiving and head home for warmer climes as
the winters are especially brutal. Then they come back in droves around Easter.
Companies are scrambling to fill empty trucks this time o year.
If yer hubby can stand the weather then now might be a good time to get his foot in the door.
Temps there recently hit -45 to -65 below for several weeks in that polar vortex thing.
That's life threatening cold.
And the scenery isn't much better.
If he doesn't like the gas industry in PA how will ND be any different for him??
They all basically operate the same way re: scheduling etc. (tho the pay is more in ND).
There they run their drivers in 12 hour shifts for several weeks straight...then a week off.
It's a grueling schedule and I could never do it myself being in my early 50's.
If you look at these YouTube videos of the man camps up there you see most of
the guys are in their 20's and 30's. Some are in their 40's and not to many past 50.
There are many support services outside the oil companies that use CDL drivers on
a much more friendly schedule at much the same pay.
Another thing you need to watch out for are these smaller outfits paying their help
with IOU's instead of a paycheck.
This is becoming more & more common with small companies, father & son outfits, etc.
He needs to do his homework on any perspective employer there.
Check with the ND labor office to see if there have been any "late pay" or "short pay" complaints against the company he is thinking about working for.
And avoid 1099 arrangements like the plague (independent contractor).
The labor office can't help you in such an agreement if you get stiffed on yer pay.
Nobody goes to Williston for the weather or the scenery.
And the last thing anyone wants is to get stiffed.
All the best.
Temps there recently hit -45 to -65 below for several weeks in that polar vortex thing.
That's life threatening cold.
And the scenery isn't much better.
- snip -
Wind chill hit that cold, but real temperature didn't even come close to -65.
I hope to go back up in spring.
I have a friend who runs a support service to the oil comps
without working directly for them.
He needs CDL drivers for same.
He runs a 5 day on/2 day off schedule that I can handle.
And it starts warming up by then.
I hope to go back up in spring.
I have a friend who runs a support service to the oil comps
without working directly for them.
He needs CDL drivers for same.
He runs a 5 day on/2 day off schedule that I can handle.
And it starts warming up by then.
Hey GM...I've been self employed for over 20yrs and I have finally come to the point in my career where it has become nigh impossible to support my family doing what I do (wear and tear on the body). I live on the east side of the state and will have my CDL by this May. You cant stay in business for long without being motivated and good at what you do. I, like most people, want to apply with a reputable company as I have few resources and little time to waste, however, I know that there are more 'hits and misses" than 'dead ringers'.
My family is pretty well entrenched here (Grand Forks) so moving to the west side is out of the question. I have been offered an RV to live in but don't know if that would be a deal breaker for most companies. Question: would my physical address do or do I need a PO box from there or would that even be acceptable? After four months of school, I will have the necessary endorsements for most of the jobs in the field (tanker, hazmat, etc..), I just wont have a lot of time behind the wheel yet.
At this point in time, in the Bakken, is there still a chance for a case like mine of getting picked up with the company you were talking about?
If you are willing, I could sure use some guidance. Thanks
My husband has been working in ND for over 2 years. He's never had anything but his address here in Kansas, and a PO box in Minot.
Thank you ma'am for your input its very encouraging. who are a few of the good companies to work for?
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