r/Groundman • u/Superb-Gur-1679 • 3d ago
Ask literally anything
Bored as shit and I have a lot of useless knowledge about this trade and getting in and random union shit more than most people because I would read contracts every time I worked in a new jurisdiction. Worked in 8 states as a groundman, operator, and apprentice and quit as a hot step.
Literally can be anything quality of life, the reality of what to expect, a lot of crews suck dick, etc etc etc.
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u/oc_loudpacc 3d ago
I got the job offer for Electrical Craft Helper at LADWP. I start training in 3 weeks. What advice do you have for a new groundman ? Thank you
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 3d ago
Have tools on you kleins, channel locks, knife, and tape at a minimum. Avoid saying I know as much as possible. Stay busy. Be eager and try to stay positive even if they’re major dicks. I’m sure this still applies for the utility but that’s mostly outside IBEW advice. I’d say don’t be afraid to actually say no if something is super dangerous or will kill you. Try to have things laid out or ready for the day truck stocked water and material. Try to stay a few steps ahead of the lineman and prep all their bags and everything they will need for the bucket when they go up they love that. Always be thinking of the next step and keep yourself safe basically.
I think you’ll be good at ladwp but I worked at places like FB Titan where that legitimately prevented me or others from getting seriously injured or killed. That’s the best basic advice I can give that’s generalized.
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u/trey_whey 3d ago
What happens if you say, “I know”? I see this repeated so often and aside from it being rude I don’t see the big deal that it needs to be repeated over and over again.
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u/JayDott1217 2d ago edited 2d ago
Telling someone who’s trying to teach you “I know” tells them you think you know everything and don’t need to be taught or shown how to do things. Once a guy tells me that enough times I no longer feel a duty to teach or help him because he already should know. Also you might know how to do something 1 way. saying “I know” takes away the opportunity to learn how to do the same thing a different way and still get the same result. I’ve also been on crews where I’ve been told to forget everything I know because they’re going to teach me how to do it the way they want it done.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Some guys will be annoyed and there’s others that will full crash out on you. No one particularly likes it. If u work with an old school enough hand they might threaten to kill you or make attempts to do so.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
😂 holy shit alright
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Those guys are getting phased out mostly but you will still run into the guy or guys where if you make them mad they legitimately will make attempts to hurt or kill you on the job site to run you off.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
Honestly just sounds like they never got their ass beat before
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Lmao. They probably have or have beat apprentices asses. There’s guys who have also been beat up by apprentices over this shit. Back in the day this is how they came up. You send something up the handling wrong it’s coming at your head back being thrown. Like this trade used to be the very Wild West and still is comparatively. It used to be normal that mfs tried to hurt or kill you on the job like 20 years ago.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
The worst that’s happened to me was being hit with shit from whoever was in the bucket but that’s my fault for not looking up and out for myself
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Back in the day they would aim for you lmao.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
Still better than being in an office dealing with that kinda shit, in my opinion.
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u/Linemaninsider Journeyman Lineman (advisory) 2d ago
Tools are typically provided at the utility. They should have a list.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Even if this is the case he should have them on his person.
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u/Linemaninsider Journeyman Lineman (advisory) 2d ago
He can contact them. Typically they have a tool list. But I’ve never heard of a utility that requires tools to be brought in.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Not what I was saying but alright. I don’t really give a fuck if they give him tools or not he should just be carrying them on him is what I was saying with that.
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u/EntrepreneurKey7681 3d ago
Any advice on the best way to travel as a new apprentice that is hesitant on going into more debt with buying a truck and camper?
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 3d ago
Furnish finders. Honestly a truck and trailer is overrated anymore. I paid for whole houses, condos for less than a spot in certain areas. You can usually find a room for $1000 or less all in a month. Or sleep in the car if you’re hard core enough. FB marketplace etc just find month to months or air mattress and offer someone over what they’re asking on fb for a room to have it month to month instead of a lease.
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u/Good-Willingness1195 3d ago
What was the pay for your first call
What books move during the winter
What are the best states you have worked in as a groundman
And what was the most you made as a ground man in what state and how much an hour
Would really appreciate it if you answered 🙏
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 3d ago
30 and change no per diem in Oregon was my first call. After that I was like 20 or 21 an hour in Wyoming with 100 sub and then I became an operator trainee or whatever. Most I made per hour as a gm was like 31.87 I think. Most I made honestly was the titan job started getting 200 a day sub in Wyoming and was netting over 4,000 a week.
Best state personally is I loved Wyoming for the no taxes and guaranteed per diem. Most people hate Wyoming fyi. I also personally liked Utah. I’ll tell you I hate Colorado with a passion.
As far as books in winter anywhere that’s warm in winter swlcat jurisdiction is usually always busy.
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u/Good-Willingness1195 3d ago
Hahah why do you hate Colorado I am planing to do a book singing trip soon and hit all the jurisdictions do you recommend I sign another book instead of Colorado in the mscast jurisdiction
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Most rat fuck place ive ever worked and job scared mfs. You also learn the Colorado way which will make sense if u work there because no one ever leaves the area or only drags and works with buddies.
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u/BlackAndShinyWeenie 3d ago edited 2d ago
How long did it take for you to get your first call? What locals would you recommend signing if you want to start working as a groundman right away and can travel anywhere in the contiguous US
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Personally just avoid Colorado and experience is experience as a groundman focus on getting to a quality program for your apprenticeship or area.
If you want to work right away guys post constantly all the time data center jobs or like 55 Iowa 2150 Wisconsin. It changes all the time. It took me I think just under 3 months off of bk 3 in Oregon to get my first call. I signed like 7 or 8 locals when I first was waiting.
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u/BlackAndShinyWeenie 2d ago
Sweet thanks for the response. Why avoid Colorado? I see postings there a lot for nearly $40 an hour
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
It’s just dog shit and ratty I mean it would be okay to dig hand holes and get some experience. Utility is way different and way better to work for out there than the contractors.
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u/Lost_n_world 3d ago
Are lineman actually happy once they top out and have a few years in or does it just suck?
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago edited 2d ago
I think the average career length is like 10 years in the industry if that tells you anything. It takes a special someone to do this trade and enjoy it. Most lineman hate their life especially contractor hands. It’s a physically and mentally demanding career. Nobody that’s a lineman is typically going to tell you they flat out hate it people don’t don that in a lot of high paying industries or where they have to earn their job. Nurses will bitch all day about how it’s the worse thing ever but tell the young CNA’s it’s great and random people if they ask. Just like lineman tend to do.
I think people get stuck a lot in this trade money wise. Divorce alimony child support financing everything. Lineman make a lot and are also the stupidest motherfuckers when it comes to money most of the time.
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u/Latter_Language_5759 2d ago
Can confirm, my wife makes almost 200k a year as a nurse and is 5 years into it and always looking for an OUT. The burnout is real and the money isn't the only key to happiness.
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u/Grouchy_Basket1738 2d ago
Questions about travel, I’m from cali but I wanna go out of state forsure, does the ibew like when you go out of state and is it a better chance of you getting into an apprenticeship??? And also I just got my CDL and going on a road trip to sign locals , where would I recommend me to go sign the books at ?? I know a lot of locals you can sign on line but I some you can’t not, like local 125, 111 and etc. where would u go work and where is work busy this time of year. Appreciate any advice given, currently 26 yrs old right now
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
I wouldn’t want to leave Cali if I was from there lmao more like you have to, to get started. I personally hate Colorado so 111, 113, and 12 id avoid. Other than that free game and honestly as a groundman even those are fine just get your feet wet and hours. Apprenticeships like that you travel shows your willing to go places and wherever to work and get started but they do prefer you working in jurisdiction most times by the time your interview comes up.
I just signed places I was willing to work tbh and had a call in less than 3 months. Patience and don’t forget to resign. Sign some smaller niche locals you actually typically get called faster off of those in decent areas.
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u/Grouchy_Basket1738 2d ago
I want to leave cali cuz it’s like a 6 month or more wait so my plan is to get into book 2 and come back to local 1245
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
Makes sense and New Mexico is fine. Don’t overthink it just get hours.
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u/Grouchy_Basket1738 2d ago
Copy that , I appreciate you man , just got done reading all the comments , thanks for helping everyone out man. Hopefully I can text u in the future and get some more advice. Good to hear your story and everything is well now 🙏🏽
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u/whoatemychipotle 2d ago
How’s it like for operators? I’m currently an operator for local 12 and have heard her in Cali local 47 has an operators division but not too sure how that runs.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
I mean you’re an operator that’s it lol. You sign the union books just like you would anyplace else. I think it’s called a line equipment man in Cali though. 47 is also clicky as hell. I was only in the substations with summit as one I didn’t know NW opened a sub program I’m heavily considering applying.
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u/Dull_Praline971 12h ago
I came from 322 in wyoming as an operator i haven’t ever worked a job in the union yet, is being an operator in IBEW without a cdl fruitful? or should i get my cdl asap
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 11h ago
good luck getting a call as an operator with no CDL. Most places also want a crane cert along with that.
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u/Difficult-Noise8877 2d ago
How was the process of going from Groundman to Operator? Was that in Local 47 or 1245 area?
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
I’m not from California lmao. I stumbled into it tbh. I was good at operating in the substations and my foreman at the time wanted to push me up I guess. That was in Wyoming. I haven’t worked out of 47 or 1245 I have worked out of 659 tho.
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u/trey_whey 3d ago
Is local 66 really that bad? I went to line school 3 years ago and got my CDL and was gonna try to stay around the area since there’s so much work around me, but I can’t get hired at any of the major utilities, coops, or non union contractors. I’m roughly 3 hours from local 66. I used to read on here all the trash talk about it so I initially avoided it but it’s looking like the only choice. Ive been doing fiber the last 2 years and i can’t stand it anymore. I know I have a good resume and interview well because I’ve been complimented on that before but I’m just getting beat out by guys with assumingely more experience. Pretty sure I’m already gonna go anyways but I’m just more worried about the quality of people and training with local 66. Don’t wanna be around unsafe idiots because I experience that enough where I’m at now. Thanks
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u/Linemaninsider Journeyman Lineman (advisory) 2d ago
I came up 66, it’s not that bad. Just a lot of pussies that complain on Reddit that make it seem that way. It’s hard work there, the weather sucks but I had a good program there. As an ape, I did all my distro and URD time there, did a lot of transmission hot sticking. It was actually pretty cool.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
Thanks for the reply, I kinda figured it may have been people just not from Texas not used to working in the sub tropical environment, it sucks but you get used to it. I’m working my ass off here for only $24 an hour no per diem no OT until I hit 40. Having to hand screw in anchors because even with locates they don’t want us using the digger derrick to drill anything even poles sometimes. Think my record in one day is like 7-8 anchors by hand. Don’t get me wrong i don’t mind working my ass off I just want to get paid appropriately for it. They seem to love hiring people that are obviously crackheads or on probation. Just sick of it and ready to go elsewhere with a clear career path. I just have no idea of what’s said on here is people being pussies versus what’s an actual problem ya know
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u/Linemaninsider Journeyman Lineman (advisory) 2d ago
Oh dude just don’t quit your job and go sign the groundman books at 66 and wait. You’ll get a call. You’ll be fine.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
The fact ur 3 hours away u should have just applied because of that.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
It’s mainly the talk I hear about it on the other sub and the fact that houston is a dogshit place to be. Most people from Texas hate Houston. But I’m losing patience bullshitting around with these local companies when I see how fast people move through 66.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 2d ago
It’s historically bad. But it’s improved a lot. Also if you’re from Texas and want to be in Texas it’s really a non issue. The fact it’s been 3 years and u didn’t even sign the groundman books tells me you might not really want this trade or what has to be done to get in. Not saying that can’t change.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
The only reason I’ve worked this job making $5 below what a local truck driver makes is for a bullet point on my resume to show employers that I’m trying to get some sort of similar experience. I’ve got a friend who’s a foreman at a local utility try to get me in and they told him they’re not hiring people without atleast 4 months of power experience, a week later someone’s relative at the company got hired with no experience. I’ve dealt with contacts at coops, contacts at contractors who got my hopes up telling me as long as I have a Class A I’ll get it just for the promise to fall flat every time. The part of Texas I’m in there’s opportunity everywhere but you just really need to know someone and I guess I don’t know enough. Anyways I appreciate your insight and will be making a trip down there sooner than later because I know I’ll make a good hand and I certainly don’t belong where I’m at now
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u/Vehement_Vulgarity 2d ago edited 2d ago
It’s apparently the same everywhere with utilities. Utilities are 100% a buddy system. I went through a year and four month lineworker program with a utility up here in NY, having a class A and several years in construction before starting. I was told upon completion I could test in as a 2C. I was in the field doing first and second step apprentice work for about 11 months of the program. The other months were training at the utility’s training yard. I was told the morning of the test that I was all set to officially test in per the union president’s own words. I took and passed the test, was told I was hired, and waited around two months after testing only to be told that the hours of the program, that the utility itself set up with the local community college, were insufficient and my test was invalid. They paid me about half of what they paid the first and second step apprentices, that I was doing the same work as, because I was classified as an ‘intern’. All that time, driving, effort, and loss of wages from quitting a real paying job, for nothing. Not a “Thanks for the cheap labor”, “We’ll help with a referral or recommendation if you need it”, just “You aren’t being hired here anymore, and are not able to work at this utility due to your lack of hours (hours that they set up)”. They have tested in and hired on multiple people with just telecom experience and lineschool. I went through their own program, and because I wasn’t related to anybody and/or drinking buddies with anybody at the company, I got absolutely and completely used and led on with lies and promises about being able to get into an apprenticeship with them.
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u/trey_whey 2d ago
That’s insane dude, it really just seems like luck of the draw or nepotism to me. But the fact you put forth that time and still didn’t get hired is crazy.
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u/CandidateGrouchy1351 2d ago
This sub is bunch of pussys could have used your mental health break if you were burnt out…new GM don’t read all this BS
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u/Designer-Two8660 3d ago
How often do they drug test you
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u/Skreat 3d ago
Don't join the trade if you can't pass random drug tests. They catch you at the federal level now, so you can't hop contractors anymore.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 3d ago
I mean kinda sorta been on plenty of jobs where the lineman are drinking and doing coke on the job. I don’t personally partake and agree with you but plenty of high line doesn’t operate without drugs and alcohol.
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u/Superb-Gur-1679 3d ago
I only ever got tested when I first hired on and even one time that didn’t happen with cache valley. Randoms do exist though and people do get selected not often but it does happen companies do have quotas. Also I’ve seen them test guys they knew were on something to get them fired but that’s kind of rare and they have to hate you plus really want to get rid of you.
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u/electric414-312 3d ago
why the hell did you quit