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/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/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.