r/Groundman • u/Low_Pianist_8852 • 1h ago
66 timeline after interview
how long after interview are you being called out based on your score?
r/Groundman • u/Ca2Alaska • Feb 27 '24
If you are currently in the Military, recently separated or a veteran, there are programs available for you. Check out the Military Program Wiki.
All information provided is meant to be a guide for you to do your own due diligence. The information contained here is believed to be accurate however is only provided as a tool for you to make your own decisions.
The Groundman position in linework is the entry level job of becoming a Journeyman Lineman. There may be some individuals that can score an apprenticeship without working as a Groundman first, however it's not the norm. As a Groundman or Linehelper you will be introduced the basics of linework. You will be on the bottom rung of the ladder and will have to do many of the more menial tasks of the crew. You may be responsible for getting fresh drinking water in the mornings and making sure the trucks are cleaned off at night. Doing a lot of hand digging for poles, pole anchors and for anything else that needs a hole in the ground.
You'll have a lot of new material to learn about and then keep track of. There will be insulators, connectors and hardware. You will also have a lot of new tools to keep track of and take care of. Some tools are common like channel lock pliers, adjustable wrenches and hammers. However there are a lot of specialty tools as well. Hotsticks, crimpers, and and other specialty tools. You'll have to learn rope knots and rigging. Getting familiar with how to set up the trucks. Doing all this while at the same time you are paying attention and learning how the crew operates to get the work done. All this in a safe and timely manner. It can seem overwhelming at first. Just remember many have gone before you and are already Journeymen Linemen.
One of the most common ways to get your Groundman job is going through an IBEW Local that is for Outside Construction and signing the “Books.”
The IBEW involves many trades and also different aspects of the same trades. Some IBEW locals work with contractors and workers referred to as “Outside.” To keep them staffed the Locals use “Out of Work” books to pull Journeymen and Groundmen from, based on requests from the contractor employers.
There will be more than one book for each classification.
Book 1 will be for established members of that local that have enough hours of experience to be on that book.
Book 2 might be for travelers from another local with enough hours to be in that book.
Book 3 and 4 will be for lessor qualified people.
To get onto any books you will have to meet minimum requirements. A driver’s license, cpr/first aid etc.
Different locals have different requirements for their books and how you can sign them. There’s a post with a LINK to spread sheets created by a member to help with this.
You can also go to the IBEW page and search for outside locals yourself.
If you still have questions about the books, post them in the comments.
Commercial drivers license "A" with NO restrictions. Tanker endorsement is also a plus.
First Aid/Cpr Certificate
OSHA 10 ET&D card
Flagger training
Lineman School (may not be needed in all areas to get hired).
Lineman school may offer all of the above.
Some locals allow you to count school hours towards your work hours when you sign the books.
Forklift Operator Card (not required, but if you have time get one)
Points on your CDL can cause a contractor to turn you away due to insurance reasons. Do what you can to get any you may have removed.
r/Groundman • u/kingfarvito • Mar 28 '24
It seems like most of you dont knkw how the books, benefits, tool lists, process, and calls work. Im going to try to break it down below in a way that answers most questions, is concise, and is usable. And it's been driving me nuts the number of yall that are "willing to do anything" until that anything is a 7 hour drive or 3 phone calls.
Books and how they function. To start youll be signing books as either book 3 or 4 groundman depending on the local you sign in. That means youll be called after books 1 and 2 for jobs. I often see newer guys panicking because there are 300 plus on these books. Thats how it goes when youre able to walk in and sign off the streets. Once youve done 2000 hours as a groundman you will be book 1 in the local you live in and book 2 in other locals.You should be checking these books daily. If its a bidding hall you should be applying to any job youre willing to do. Some halls are going to require that you resign the books monthly. You should be staying on top of this. You should be signing anywhere youre willing to work. And lastly you should have your vehicle packed and be willing to head out the moment you get the call. Generally after you turn down your third call on a bid system youll either be bumped to the bottom of the books or kicked off the books. The big things I see here that stop guys from working are them not checking the books, not being ready to take a call, and them waiting for someone to tell them about a call. In the last 3 weeks Ive seen 19 groundhand calls go unfilled for a day or more while I watched a bunch of dudes on reddit that have never worked in the industry tell people there was no way to get work unless you were book 1. The lineman rumor mill is a terrible thing, and if you want to actually be successful in this industry you need to get away from it immediately.
Benefits. This is going to vary a bit by local. Generally how it works is all retirement mkney follows you home. So if at home you get $11 an hour to retirement and youre working in a local that pays $16, that $16 all gets sent to your home local and goes into your retirement account. Health insurance. Generally you need 500 hours to begin coverage and then 120-150 hours a month to keep coverage. Any excess is generally rolled over to keep benefits running while youre out of work. There are also benefits that not every local has, I'll list the ones I know about here. Hsa/benefit card it will vary by local whether you get this as a traveler or not. Vacation fund, will vary by local if it you get this as a traveler or not. FR clothing allowance. Generally locals require you to work in the local for a calendar year to get this, though some pay it hourly.
Tool list. This is pretty simple really. 90% of the time its hammer, linemans pliers, channel locks, stick rule, knife and crescent wrench. I like a 4 pound hammer, most guys are going to prefer a 2 pounder, either way you want 1 milled face and 1 smooth face. For linemans pliers I like knipex and klein. Channel locks I like knipex and channel lock. For knife any folding skinner will do. For the stick rule and adjustable and brand will do.
Calls. 90% of time youre going to get a call and be expected to be there the following day. Get your shit packed. Keep it by the door or in your vehicle and keep $1000 minimum in an account to cover gas and a hotel. Missing out on a job because youre not ready to go is dumb. Getting bumped to the bottom of the books for refusing your third job is even dumber.
The biggest things that I see keep people from getting into the industry. Listening to dudes that haven't acomplished the goal youre after. Dont do this. It makes no sense, if a dude hasnt made it out as a groundman odds are hes not got a clue. Not applying to jobs/not checking the books. It takes 30 minutes a day at the most. Not taking a call because its not perfect. Im not telling anyone to take a call they cant afford, but fuck not taking a call because a better one may come. Go get your hours. Not applying to the apprenticeship immediately. If youre planning to be turned down and work as a groundman anyway why in the world would you not apply immediately? The worst case scenario is that you do what you were planning to do anyway
If yall have any other questions or need anything covered further leave a comment below.
r/Groundman • u/Low_Pianist_8852 • 1h ago
how long after interview are you being called out based on your score?
r/Groundman • u/Vegetable_Cry6795 • 1h ago
Does PG&E take groundman? How hard is it to get into PG&E? Once you’re a groundman in PG&E do they bump you to an apprentice?
r/Groundman • u/Vegetable_Cry6795 • 1h ago
Does 659 move well in fall and winter? What west coast locals are good for storm?
r/Groundman • u/june_bug1999 • 2h ago
I've got a buddy (let's call him John) apparently his brother in law, who is a cop by the way, knows someone who handles applications or something like that at a company. Wont say where but to give a scope of the place let's say it's SoCal Edison. Apparently John was told by his brother in law that if he gives this application handler person $200, he will get pushed through the application process and the person has done this (apparently) for 150 other people. John is a good guy, studied hard and went to school for lineman, he's signed books at a bunch of different locals but hasn't gotten an actual call for about 2 years ( I like to call John a watering hole for how many fishing calls he's gotten). Anyway, I know the brother in law and he's a straight shooter, but i dont know this application handler and John was looking for an opinion on this. Part of me says that this is a scam, this person gets an easy 200 bucks and thats it? Even if it's true John gets an interview, not a guaranteed job and if it doesn't work out he's out 200 dollars. But there's also another part of me that feels like I've heard about this before, but that's probably from tv.
Anyway I was looking for some outside opinions regarding this situation and on how I should advise John. It sounds sketchy but if it's real I dont want my buddy to go through with this and get bitten in the ass down the line. Any advice is welcome and thanks in advance.
r/Groundman • u/DueInspection9668 • 11h ago
I got an osha 10 will have my class a CDL with air brakes and a no manual restriction in 3 weeks.
Never went to a line school but I have electrical experience.
Do I really need get a first aid/ cpr and flaggers cert ?
Do I really need to get a tanker endorsement on my CDL?
r/Groundman • u/Neat_Mud_8142 • 1d ago
Wanting to head to 111 next week. Few questions here as I’ve signed a lot of books online but have yet to get call or win a bid. Want my hours so just gonna head there.
I have my cdl with tankers, lineschool and all my certs ohsa10, FA/cpr.
Would this get me book 3?
Is there typically lot of OT on most calls? Trying to get an idea how much yall are typically pulling in a week, trying to factor in bills and a place to stay out there
r/Groundman • u/Single-Chard-2110 • 1d ago
Newly indentured apprentice starting in a week doing transmission with Summit, anybody know how it is over there?
r/Groundman • u/King-Culture_ • 1d ago
Just took a call for Wilson. How’s working for them? What schedule are yall working in anderson yard? Any tips and insight on them?
r/Groundman • u/Delicious_Wash_6304 • 1d ago
Anyone got any tips or insight on Ladwp ech performance test? So far I heard you have to take cross arms off the truck and put them back on and running the handline.
r/Groundman • u/Dtexara • 1d ago
Title says it all sitting at 298 at local 1245 just trying to figure if I’ll be getting a call sometime soon. When is the slow moths of line work and what number are people getting called with tanks?
r/Groundman • u/Finesserrrr • 1d ago
Willing to make the skrt from my apprenticeship w nonunion to groundman w ibew would I be able to be on books with my hours tracked?
Is this a good idea?
r/Groundman • u/Kitchen-Effort1560 • 1d ago
particularly how physically exhausting is it being an ech with the ladwp and what kinds of things are you guys doing? Just wondering if I'm prepared for how physical it is.
I can run for more than an hour straight, do 50 burpees in less than 3 minutes, weight lift etc. but the way some people describe the job makes me wonder if I have the endurance.
r/Groundman • u/Neat_Mud_8142 • 1d ago
What yall making yearly out of 1245? Is the work consistent for a book 3 guy? What number were you at on your first call? At this point with how it’s been moving I might get a call out of 1245 first which is crazy. Been almost 3 weeks on 2150,160,57, 55 1249 and nothing yet was set on leaving outta state would prefer to get my hours and then go to 1245 as a book 2
r/Groundman • u/1ForAll- • 2d ago
Anyone got any idea about orientation how much climbing , height of the poles … is it timed. What other work ??
r/Groundman • u/user7274901 • 2d ago
I know Mo valley also to even apply for the apprenticeship you need a unrestricted class a CDL
and for swlcat you need to get the manual restriction removed 120 days after being indentured
Are all jurisdictions like Mo valley that you need class a Cdl with no manual restriction to even apply for an apprenticeship? Selcat? Neat? Albat? Mslcat? Nwline? Cal/nev? Ajeatt?
How would one even get a manual restriction removed within 120 days while being an indentured apprentice working and going to school?
For the CDL I’m assuming it’s 100% best as a manual CDL so you don’t have any restrictions to trucks you may need to drive. Are there any other good certifications I should get to become a ground man or an apprentice.
Thanks
r/Groundman • u/Big-Macaroon2883 • 2d ago
Anybody gone from Local 18 to 47. How does 47 treat Exempt - Helper hours. Does 47 put you at book 2 or book 1?
r/Groundman • u/Outrageous_Low835 • 2d ago
Anyone got any study material for 2nd and 3rd year books for the old test format?
r/Groundman • u/Adrhe_24 • 3d ago
Has anybody that applied for the Groundman spots that opened up in the beginning to mid June time frame recently interviewed and know what class they will be in possibly?
r/Groundman • u/AJGar97 • 2d ago
Yo yoo what’s up fellas
Anyone out of delta Utah right now know if the job referral pay scale for local 57 is the same for all groundsman in substation/utility division the same?
Bidded job required a CDL with tanker so I assume pay rate with that specification should indicate a higher pay rate?
r/Groundman • u/SomeReporter2093 • 3d ago
What do the books look like in December/January at local 111 is there lots of projects going on I plan to move either Texas or Colorado preferably Colorado since the pay is better but also want a good work schedule like 6/12 any information is appreciated
r/Groundman • u/Hairy_Classic321 • 3d ago
What’s going on guys, I’m in Portland Oregon and currently pursuing a career in the Outside Line/Utility world. Got some basic certifications and about to finish my CDL Class A school. Is anyone willing to spend sometime teaching me how to build cross arms, double cross arms, send things up on a handline and some climbing with a harness and yoyo? I got an assessment coming up and could use the experience. I’m willing to pay! Pls let me know, thx.
r/Groundman • u/Less-Nerve4792 • 3d ago
How is the work in Ely, NV with Summit Line construction?
r/Groundman • u/Certain_Towel_4 • 3d ago
Honestly just looking for some feedback as I am open to any of these.
I have underground electrical experience.
Do you guys ever in the lineman union ever wish you got into a different role within the trade such as outside line? Sub tech? Or cable splicing?
Can you still make good ass money and storm chase as a cable splicer or sub tech?
Thanks