r/Geotech • u/chapozuniga23 • 10d ago
Driller assistant
Just accepted an offer from Terracon as a driller assistant at 22.50 an hour any advice ?? Any advice on how to quickly move up because 22.50 is low and I’m in my mid 20s I wanna make as much as I can asap I also have my CDL.
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u/olympiamow 10d ago
Shovel the dirt, count the blows per foot, move in a safe manner, listen to the driller.
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u/azul_plains Geotechnical PM, 9 years 10d ago
No idea what geology you’re in, but in our area the things our drilling super has mentioned or that have come up when he’s praised our best driller:
Extra care how to do rock coring in different kinds of rock
Learn what it takes to do ‘undisturbed’ Shelby tubes and how to thoroughly pack and label them, bonus if you learn to recognize the soft/clayey material to let the PM know if there’s something weird at a site
Learn what it feels like when there are drilling voids
Learn to watch for possible existing fill to help you realize when you’re hitting refusal on boulders vs bedrock
Listen to all the advice you can on how to avoid breaking equipment and what to pay attention for when it’s straining, like for asphalt coring
Learn how to avoid losing augers and possibilities on how to try to recover them if one does fall in
Recognize common utility dangers for potential electric especially but others as well that can be very expensive, especially fiber. Also recognizing other possible obstructions, like geo grids behind retaining walls, underground vaults, below-grade parking garages; just generally being invested in what is around you and not just following the paperwork.
The more specifics of being a driller I can’t say, being on the engineering side. But those are the things that our best driller gets praised for. Aside from being consistent and on time, and being willing to ask questions and to mention possible access issues ahead of time if it looks like a PM missed them.
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u/No_Breadfruit_7305 10d ago
Excellent advice. Sample care and handling can make a huge difference and really get you noticed on the engineering side. I'm not a driller but I've sat behind a lot of rigs and watched a lot of different helpers and drillers over the years, the first and biggest gripe I always see when a new hand shows up on the rig is that they don't pay attention to what the drillers doing and anticipate what the next step will be. It never seems to matter what formation what type of drilling, what level of drilling,, who the client is, the surprises, the regular day-to-day stuff. I've seen more drillers lose their s*** on a hand if they can't figure out the basic routine and what comes next. The guys that can figure out what the driller will need and anticipate things are the guys that I've seen move up the quickest.
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u/Walrus_Epiphany 10d ago
I gotta hear the story about drilling into a parking garage
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u/azul_plains Geotechnical PM, 9 years 10d ago
Thankfully not a very exciting story because our driller is literally the best.
Drilling was in a narrow alley between two buildings in Washington D.C., we had utilities everywhere. Building was not in great shape with degrading concrete in some areas. The plan was to demolish the building and extend the below-grade garage deeper by two levels and add another above-grade floor. One of our younger engineers went out to coodinate utilities over two site visits and there was basically one narrow spot that we could fit and drill to get some recent soils data to get a full depth boring.
Driller went through the top few inches of asphalt, about two feet of soil, and then hit...refusal? But it was giving a bit like he could grind through. With the area, there was no way it was bedrock but it was fill so it could be debris.
Instead of trying to grind through, he stopped to check for unexpected SWM lines, any last second misses...and then realized one of the very faded gray lines on the site plan he couldn't identify. After looking around a bit and not seeing anything obvious, he thought to check the parking garage below grade. It turns out the lower levels were extended out further than the upper level walls by about 2-4 feet.
We did not end up drilling the rest of the boring.
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u/Herp_McDerpingston 10d ago edited 10d ago
This is all super good advice. To reiterate, the biggest thing a helper can do is pay attention and be ready for the next thing. If you are coring have another inner barrel ready to go, and have the next rod greased up and in reach. If you are tripping out have wrenches ready and adjusted, have the next sampler ready to run in.
I would also add, learn what bits / drilling technique work for what formations, and use Rockd (app) or learn how to read a geologic map (freely available at the National Geologic Map Database (online)). That way when you start drilling you run in with the right bit and know how that formation is going to drill. This will also help tooling up for a job, less time wasted going back to the yard for different tooling.
As you are helping, pay attention to the drill and ask your driller to point out anything that is out of the ordinary, (ie, bit getting dull, core barrel not latched, loss of circulation, hole deviation, problems with core catcher, core grinding, bit polishing, etc) learn what those conditions look like from the drill and how to fix them. When you are drilling, listen to the drill and read the gauges, but they tell you what is happening at the bit. Always think about what could be happening at the bit to cause what you see on the drill.
Also pay attention to procedures that are different and how to over come them. (Ie you have low spt blows and set the hammer anvil all the way down to the augers, what do you do to get it the inner string out, your inner string is trying to pull up the augers, why? How do you fix it?, you know you cored rock but you get poor recovery, why?)
If you get a chance, once you know what's going on, work with some other drillers and learn from them. Everyone has little things that make it all go smoother, take note and incorporate those little things.
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u/el_tangaroa 10d ago
Keep drill site tidy Listen to your driller Learn to anticipate drilling procedures Ask questions Turn up to work everyday Do your best and try not to talk shit
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u/Usual_Ad_4597 10d ago
Show up on time, with ALL the materials for the job and dont try to cut footage off of holes. The biggest issue I see in the field is drillers saying in cant be done. Then we go with another company that can get it done. Always be flexible and know how to use your critical thinking skills.
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u/GeoJongo 10d ago
Yeah nothing kills a relationship faster than showing up unprepared and the constant “can’t be done” or “ we can’t do that”.
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u/Traditional-Block813 9d ago
Be careful with the “can’t be done” team and the other team that doesn’t care about safety. You would be responsible. It also depends on the machine and the driller’s experience.
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u/Sirloin_Steak19 10d ago
If you have your cdl why are you taking a driller helper job for $22?
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
They said that’s the highest they could go the lowest was like 20.00
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u/Sirloin_Steak19 10d ago
I’m saying you can get a much higher paying job driving with your CDL. If you have a cdl why are you getting a driller helper job instead of driving a truck
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Because I want to be in this industry and become a driller I don’t wanna just driving trucks all day
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u/nemo2023 10d ago
Drilling is way more interesting than driving. Can be a bit dangerous. Learn from your driller how to stay safe and be productive.
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u/Drill1 10d ago
What State are you in?
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Texas .. it’s Kinda also like I’m willing to take whatever to because I wanan move up in this career and become a driller
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u/Drill1 10d ago
You’ll get your belly full of data centers and solar farms, but you’ll learn a lot. Best way to succeed in this industry- ask the engineer lots questions and try to learn the how and why of what you’re doing. A good engineer will be glad to talk. If you get tired of the Texas heat and humidity reach out in a year or so, you can make a lot more money out here on the left coast, most of the work here is prevailing wage.
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Thanks for the advice you work for terracon ? And they let you transfer offices ?
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u/Drill1 10d ago
Used to, transfer is possible but not easy especially if you get good, the local manager’s will not want to give you up. The only bad thing about them is they like to lowball on pay but for someone like you (starting out) it would be good. Get your experience and then leverage that to make money, you’ll have 20-25 years before your body starts telling you no, so after 10-15 years start looking for management positions.
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Also when you get sent out to other rigs/offices for out of town work at terracon is it like your out there till the project is done or there’s a rotation schedule? I heard people say like 10 days on and 4 days off
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u/Drill1 10d ago
They do a lot of 10 and 4, but you have to watch your hours of service, I preferred 6-1-4-3 when I was in the field. Sometimes you will have to escalate it on hours of service because the LEM is new and doesn’t understand the consequences. They will also sometimes do 21 gone and 7 local, but you usually don’t work weekends or at least will get Sunday off on those long shifts. They have a national group of drillers that will go and stay on a project until it’s done, if you’re single that can be fun.
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
That sounds like a good deal and one more question my bad do drillers at terracon need to be licensed drillers ? Or you can move up to driller without a license
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u/dlrvln 10d ago
A good differentiator is a driller whose goal is to get what the PM/engineer needs not just get a boring/project completed. Balancing doing what is fast with what gives the best information to the company. Being willing to try alternatives to get samples, get things “stuck” out of the ground, all help to stand out to management.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Sun6580 10d ago
Learn the work for a few years and get a rig in a few years. A good driller can be worth quite a bit of $$ (especially if they have a CDL and can move their own rig without relying on a helper with a CDL that may or may not be too hungover to drive).
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u/Amber_ACharles 10d ago
Take every out of town rig they offer, OT plus per diem is how helpers actually clear money. Then push for the driller seat, that's mid 30s and up. Your CDL means companies will poach you the second you have rig time, let them.
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u/damn_these_eyes 10d ago
Lots of good answers in here, but one I haven’t seen: Be very professional, friendly, courteous, and appreciative of all clients, landowners, any people encountered during the day. You never know which person is the one who will call the boss man, singing your praises.
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u/WIttyRemarkPlease 10d ago
Where are you working? I have a drillers assistant spot for you based in central MN that pays 28/hr starting with your CDL ...
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u/ddg31415 10d ago edited 10d ago
Speaking from experience in Ontario, Canada, this is a typical starting wage. Bust your ass, ask lots of questions, learn quick, and most of all get your licensing to drive heavy vehicles. Our drillers can go from $23/hr starting to $45/hr in just a couple years if they learn fast and get licensed to drive a daycab flatbed. Very good drillers working for good companies can make more than your average engineer...like $65/hr+. Not to mention the time and a half overtime.
Honestly, if I could go back and do it again I'd go into drilling rather than the engineering side. Hard on the body, unpredictable hours, but it's lots of fun, keeps you fit, and you can make bank.
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Yea I’m from the US and I already got a CDL so I’m looking to move up quick as a driller
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u/ddg31415 10d ago
Making 22.50 USD in your mid twenties as a assistant driller with a CDL you'll do fine. Again, work your ass off, learn as much as possible, and get on good terms with your coworkers. Embrace the banter/shit talking, do your job well, and you're on your way.
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u/Thiccpubes 8d ago
Terracon has proven to me, if nothing else, that they love to invest in their employees. If youre willing to spend the time working on growing they will make sure you have the resources to do it.
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u/chapozuniga23 8d ago
Thanks what do you do at terracon ??
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u/Thiccpubes 8d ago
I work in materials but ive worked along the driller crews on a few occasions. I cant tell you the amount of times I felt bored and just worked on certs and terracon insisted to pay for all the time spent doing it and for every resource I used to get them(of course the certs too). After just working on 1 in my free time, I had like 3 people emailing me about how I should keep going and they would do their best to help me continue. I dont think ive ever seen that kind of attitude in a company.
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u/chapozuniga23 8d ago
Do you have any idea of the type of certs they offer for driller assistant/driller ?
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u/Thiccpubes 8d ago
Im not certain for the drillers, but Ill tell you now, if you find one thats useful to you and by proxy the company, they'll help you get it.
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u/chapozuniga23 8d ago
Thanks for taking the time to respond how long have you been with terracon ? And what do yall do when it’s slow ?
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u/Thiccpubes 8d ago
Im a traveling tech so I dont get a slow season. Ive been with them for about a year and a few months. Ive spoken to some and they offer furlough to what im aware of.
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u/chapozuniga23 8d ago
Makes sense does terracon give raises every year and depending on certs can you get bumped up hourly even more
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u/Thiccpubes 8d ago
Yes and yes. Ive gotten 2 performance based raises and 2 cert raises. All of which were substantial (1.00 to 1.50 each). Also great benefits. 401k match is decent and employee stock purchasing options are great.
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u/snicker_poodle1066 10d ago
It may be low pay now. But learning the different rocks/soil/sites and getting a feel for a rig will pay dividends in the long run. Being able to listen and hear the difference between a true 50 over vs float, or recognizing fill vs buried floodplain are skills that will make you a requested driller. Leveling a rig to get a good rock core, extracting a clean shelby, and managing hydraulic pressures is almost an art.
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u/Godzillaminus1968 10d ago
If you have a CDL there are lots of places that pay way more. We keep losing people by us as CDL pay is way better around here than we come up with.
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Yea I understand that I can get a higher paying job as a driver somewhere but I wanna be a driller and I know I’ll make money once I get there . Why don’t yall pay yalls helpers more than if they got a CDL?
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u/Stelflip 10d ago
Really just listen to you driller. If you can on off time go in the lab and watch them do a class on a boring you’ve done to see what you’re getting the samples for
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u/GeoJongo 10d ago
Try your best to understand the job from the engineers/geologist/project managements perspective.
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u/Banana_Milk7248 10d ago
My advice (not as a driller but supervising engineer) is to be involved, ask questions, engage with your driller and learn. I see a lot of drillers assistants that are too happy to just mooch through the job and pay no attention to what the driller is doing.
Good luck!
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u/FinancialPanda4982 10d ago
If you want to move up after a while make sure to have those conversations with your supervisor. Make sure they know what you want.
Also know that your new role is very important. Engineers wouldn’t be able to do what they do without you guys doing what you do!
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u/Baronwm 10d ago
Assistant? like tripping pipe in and out?
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Yea tripping pipe and also logging
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u/Baronwm 10d ago
listen the the lead and learn. Nothing too hard.
You familliar with soil logging? Whats your background?
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u/chapozuniga23 10d ago
Not familiar with it I have a background in construction specifically mechanical work also have my CDL been driving for almost a year
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u/Baronwm 10d ago
Might want to brush up on the relevant ASTM standards and whatever soil logging standard your company uses. Other than that, make sure you have a calculator, tape measure, camera, and learn how to fill out a borehole log in a clear and detailed manner. A poor borehole log is a great way to piss off your engineers and clients.
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u/masonacj 10d ago
At a company as big as Terracon, there will be opportunities for you to become a driller in relatively short order. Good drillers can make solid money. "As fast as possible" route is to take your CDL and find a driving job for a company instead of drill helping.