Pipeline help

[Tugg28]

I recently finished a pipe welding course at trade school. I have 2 years prior experience as a welder in a railcar repair shop. Im wondering if anyone has any info on pipline crews that might be hiring helpers? I'm currently a computer repair technician, so a helper job will actually be a cut in pay for me, but I want to eventually own my own rig someday and I know the best way to learn something is to start at the bottom plus I'm no stranger to hard work. Well any info would be appreciated. Thanks

[sourdough]

Right now you are in the right place to get on the back of a pipeliner's truck. OK is going crazy compared to most places that used to be. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding someone to get on with. Go down to the local filling station and count the trucks. Find the gas station with the highest volume of rigs, and start asking questions......

[Tugg28]

ThAnks sounds like an idea, I live close to a busy hwy with a truck stop,ill try that out

[farmall]

Good call. There's not a huge career path in PC repair, but the old welders are retiring or moving to management.

People can afford to throw away PCs, but the world is built on welding.

[ironlion]

what are you talking about farmall? welders ARE a disposable commodity....just pull in with a premadonna attitude and find out....you will get run off quicker than you can drop off the mansion at the nearest park! seriously though, i have been at this now for 25yrs and not too many people are coming up behind me to take my place, so entering into the workforce as a welder is a great idea for the right person, it is not all big paychecks and easy living though and when you start out many of the salty old dogs will give you a rash of shi7 so keep your head down and your azz up learn all you can as a helper and dont forget to SMILE :D when they are giving it to you good cuz one day you may have one of their kids or grand kids to give it back to when they are crapping their pants and drooling on themselves sipping iced tea in a rocking chair ;)

[Tugg28]

@ironlion, ain't that the truth!!! There are a lotta guys around where I live that just throw a welder in the back of they're daddy's dodge and call themselves welders. But unlike those guys I wanna learn the right way to do stuff. I'm old enough now to understand there is more to welding than just taking tests. I wanna be able to hold down a job once I get to the point of having my own rig. That is why I figured I would put in as a helper first. Unfortunately I have yet to find any leads on a job. I mean it's like u have to be a friend of a friend of a guy to get on anywhere! I'm ready to learn I just need opportunity to prove I can make a hand.

[rodstub]

There are more and more welders retiring everyday, this is true. But, everyday there are a ton of welders that will work for minimum wage. These men do not care about trying to keep a living raise available for everyone, they will work for pesos and rupees and whatever is used for money in Indonesia or Russia or Eastern Europe. Remember welders, this has an impact on all of us, union and non union alike. And, it is both political parties responsibility to protect American jobs!

rodstub

[farmall]

welders ARE a disposable commodity

The good welders I've met never lack for work. It was a hoot at my last job fielding calls from people wanting to hire my boss! :D

The only reason he and the CWIs who worked there took a pay cut was to be at home for a while, and they still had that itch for the road and the money. (The state squandered its workforce training budget so the training program we worked in folded, but they already had gigs lined up.)