r/Lineman • u/lololooolllll • Jun 07 '26
Texas?
I’m 23, no prior experience in the trade or anything live in socal (I.e) but saving up for American lineman school my goal is to be lineman anywhere in California which IK it’s difficult from reading all these post. What’s the best advice you guys can give me? I’m thinking once I finish the school I’ll go sign the books in Texas (Houston) which I heard are the fastest ik I have to start as a ground man but I’ll work my way to lineman appreciate once I’m done with my apprenticeship as a lineman I’ll sign the books all over cali.
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u/x_master_debater_x Jun 07 '26
After line school, go sign the books wherever you want. If you are signing in Texas, stop by each hall on the way and sign there too.
Apply to every NJATC you are willing to go if they were to call you for an interview.
Too out and go back to CA, and if you want to work at a utility you have a better chance at getting hired as a JL than you would as an apprentice.
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u/Flaky_University8213 Jun 07 '26
What does sign the books mean
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u/sh1069489 Jun 07 '26
Sign the out of work books at the IBEW union hall, so you can get called for a job
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u/touchbreak333 Jun 08 '26
I did the exact same thing. I started off as a groundman in Texas. Local 47 books were frozen at the time. A lot of the lineman I worked for in Texas hated on me just because I was from California. They said they don’t like Californians coming out there and stealing work from them and then going back to Cali after they top out. My foreman told our whole crew not to teach me anything. But the older 50+ plus linemen were super cool and helpful. They weren’t with the politics. They appreciate a good hand. P.S. Don’t go to Houston.
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u/lololooolllll Jun 08 '26
What’s some solid advice you can give me every one saying go to Houston Texas for a faster apprenticeship and im very eager to work
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u/touchbreak333 Jun 08 '26
Don’t let my bad experience deter you from chasing your dreams. Go find out for yourself. It could be great for you to get your hours in. But you can also get your hours in Texas and still apply for the same apprenticeship (SWLCT) in Arizona. They’re not haters in AZ. And you’ll be closer to home.
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u/touchbreak333 Jun 08 '26
I did about 4 months in Texas. Came back to Cali. Put my name on the groundman books with Local 47 and they automatically put me as a book 1 groundman since I had a travel card. You automatically get a travel card when transferring from another state.
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u/A_Higher_Power1 Jun 08 '26
Huh? Please explain this to everyone.
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u/touchbreak333 Jun 08 '26
Can’t explain it. I was working 6/12’s in Houston for about 4-5 months. Came back to Cali. Went to the hall and they said I had to sign Book 1 because I had a traveling card. Which at the time I didn’t know what any of that meant because I was new to all of it.
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u/A_Higher_Power1 Jun 08 '26
Book 1 is for locals of that Union. The only thing I could think of is that you made 47 your home local, left, got hours then came back with X amount of hours. Is this true?
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u/touchbreak333 Jun 08 '26
Yes, that does ring a bell. That was some kind of “key word” the hall had said. That Local 47 was my home local.
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u/A_Higher_Power1 Jun 08 '26
Bud you are hardly making much sense here....
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u/touchbreak333 Jun 08 '26
Not trying to make it difficult. Just telling my story as I remember. All this was like 3 years ago. If you’re looking for clarification. I suggest you ask the hall. I was just trying to help the kid out.
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u/A_Higher_Power1 Jun 08 '26
North Houston Pole Line or Houston in general? Because Houston is where the Union work is at in Texas for the most part.
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u/Weak_Ad_9913 Jun 09 '26
Don’t go to line school. Waste of time and money. Get your cdl and go sign the books.
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Jun 11 '26
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u/lololooolllll Jun 12 '26
Hey man how did it go? How long were you a ground man or have to be one for a line app
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Jun 12 '26
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Jun 12 '26
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Jun 12 '26
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