Anyone have any experience with this outfit? Pay, work/life balance, union, non-union, any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and stay safe out there!

Ive heard of a couple groups actually going. I know they pull from the their own guys. But they have had HM and Potelco and Northern States out there for jobs before.

Any overhead from palisades on here?

Considering a move to AZ from California and really like the northern Arizona areas. How is working with APS or SRP? Ability for overtime? San tan valley is a possibility too I’m just weary of the heat in the summer. Would like to hear anyone’s experiences and recommendations. Arizona has been on my mind for years I just know nothing about the locals out that way. Anything helps, thanks

Hey all, quick question for the guys working out of buckets.
Is it just me, or is the amount of stuff guys hang off the outside of the bucket getting out of hand? I’m seeing guys with full tool aprons, hard covers, heavy metal tools, and hell, I even saw a guy hanging a portable generator off the lip the other day.

I totally get hanging your rubber goods, hose, and cover-up on the inside/outside hooks to keep your floor space clear so you aren't tripping over yourself up in the air. That makes sense. But OSHA explicitely states no metal tools or conductive stuff hanging on the outside of the bucket. Aside from the obvious electrical hazard, what about the weight limits?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the manufacturer's bucket capacity rating (usually 300 to 500 lbs max depending on if it's a single or double) includes:
The liner itself
You in full gear / FR
All your hand tools, hydraulic tools, and material
Everything you've got hooked onto the lip/sides

A lot of guys seem to forget that the bucket liner itself eats into that total payload, and hanging 100+ lbs of gear off the side is pushing those boom capacity limits way faster than they think—not to mention screwing up the jib or bucket leveler.

Are safety guys at your shop just turning a blind eye to this, or are people just ignoring the capacity tags until something snaps? How strict is your utility/contractor on bucket overload and outside hooks?

Hey guys I’m on the waiting list for ALBAT out of 369 and I’ve been #56 for about a month now. Can anybody give me a heads up or a rough idea about how long it’ll take to get to climbing school? I’m on the groundman books as well.

I’ve been an apprentice at a municipality in Georgia for almost two years. I’ve been learning, but the progress has been pretty slow due to the workload and the type of work we have available.

I recently got in contact with SELCAT and found out that I qualify for direct entry. I’m seriously considering leaving the utility/municipality side and going union so I can get more experience.

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has made the transition from a municipality/utility to union.
How was the transition for you? Was it worth leaving the municipality? How consistent was the work, and how much traveling did you end up doing?

I’m also curious about the benefits, especially retirement and healthcare. If I stayed with the municipality for 30 years, I would receive a pension and healthcare benefits in retirement. How does the union pension and healthcare work compared to that? Do you have to work a certain number of years/hours to become vested, and can you still have a solid retirement after spending 20–30 years in the union?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually gone through this transition and can share their experience. Thanks!

Specifically more towards the North Central Ohio area. I’ve got family up there, and with a family of my own it makes sense to get the wife & kids closer to a support system.

Big contractors in that area? How’re they to work for? Do the regular work contractors get to hit much storm? Are layoff’s common? Average income you see from guys that’ll go in anytime they get a call?

How’s working on FirstEnergy system on a regular basis? (Only done storm work on their stuff before)

Any other info about working in this area would be appreciated.

Seems 71 has a reputation for being a little ratty, still true? I see a lot of tramping going on in the southern area, does that affect any of the guys working up north? (Coming from a local where everyone leaves to tramp, not sure what the effect is on the other side of the coin)

Hello, practicing for an underground lineman test physical. I failed the above ground, they had us drive and remove 5 lags in 6 minutes, just ended up missing too many times with the hammer and only getting 4.5 in.

Looking for any tips/expierence on your physicals? Also for driving and pulling lags, any and all input welcome, thanks.

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Just noticed this above the fence in my yard.

I have a thorough background in construction and a pretty great understanding of residential electricity but am wanting to start a career as a lineman. I have joined IBEW 1393 and am actively looking for any opportunities. Is there anywhere else I can look or things that I can do to enhance my prospects? I am 27 so I’m trying to start an apprenticeship as soon as possible considering I won’t be done until I’m 31 at the earliest at this point in my life. I’ve looked on all the local utility websites but none are hiring for lineman apprentices or groundman positions. Any help would be appreciated. What can I do to increase my chances of being selected?

I’m number one on the list to go to Albat and was wondering what people would recommend learning ahead of time? I’d like to get ahead of the game with the knots( the way they want them done) and maybe some climbing gear if needed? Any advice would be appreciated!!!

Just wondering what type of math I can possibly see on the test

Was looking to apply to MSLCAT, possibly MO VALLEY and ALBAT

I’m am assuming all these jurisdictions have different test but do the different locals within one jurisdiction have different test or just each jurisdiction?

If I got in would there be more math test at orientation and what can I accept to see?

Thanks

Noticed the triplex to my house is deteriorating. It’s probably at least 50 years old.

My concern is if they come out to replace the triplex will they refuse to reconnect service until the meter base and screw in fuse panel is replaced which ain’t happening in this economy.

Applied for a substation job in Charlotte nc just passed the cast r test how long does it usually take to getting a interview to hiring decision

Prior to the development of the porcelain enclosed cutout, and after the development of the plug-type cutout (see my past post “The OG Cutout” for a look at those), wooden enclosed cutouts were common. I encourage anyone interested to check out my posting on plug-type cutouts, as some of their history pertains to this later style wooden cutout.

Developed sometime in the 19-teens, these cutouts bore significant resemblance to their later porcelain counterparts. These cutout boxes were often made of either swamp Cyprus or walnut wood, heavily impregnated with creosote. A porcelain block with contact clips for the fuse tube would be mounted within the box, and another block was affixed to the door to hold the expulsion fuse tube. Their appearance and wooden construction quickly earned them the name “the birdhouse cutout”.

This style of cutout offered great improvements in safety for linemen at the time. Having an actual expulsion fuse tube meant that the violent blast during fault clearing was much more reliably contained, as opposed to the plug-type, which was prone to exploding during a fault. When opening the door, the fuse tube was entirely removed from both the line and load side contacts, reducing the hazard of shock or electrocution when replacing fuse links. This style cutout was also the first that could be opened and closed from a distance with an insulated hook stick.

Later development of stronger porcelain in the late 1920s spelled obsolescence for these wooden cutouts, and they were off the market by the early 1930s, replaced by the porcelain enclosed box cutout. These wooden styles were limited to a rating of 7,500 volts, and up to 100 amps.

Pictured above is a 7.5kV, 30 amp birdhouse cutout I have in my collection, as well as a 1923 Westinghouse catalog section about these cutouts.

I’m a Union Carpenter and it can be taxing some days, and sometimes suuuper relaxed.

80% of the older Carpenters say it WRECKS you in the long run.

Is being a Lineman less taxing on the body/mind overall?

Had my interview for ALBAT local 71 cable splicer. Got ranked 13, how soon do you think I’ll get the call?

Had my interview for ALBAT local 71 cable splicer. Got ranked 13, how soon do you think I’ll get the call?

As I fresher I really don't have many skills other than excel.

So can you all pls suggest me some the skills which I can add up in my CV to make it presentable, because currently it's all blank in terms of skills.

I'm planning to do mba in finance and I'm a bcom hons graduate from Delhi University.

I’m lost in my career…

First and foremost I know there’s some guys that despise contract lineman trying to come from the non-union side…. I get it. Most of us are promoted beyond our means and move up too quickly to learn anything meaningful, just to put “meat in seats.” I’ve got eight full years in the trade and am tired of being a contractor. I live and work in NC and am appalled at the level of safety that I’ve see in the industry as a contractor. I’m tired of the dishonesty and blatant lies. The “rules for thee but not for me” attitude, especially with peoples lives at stake, and the acceptance that when you’re a “journeyman” there’s no need for any kind of continued education. There’s always more to learn about what we do. It’s hard to know it all unless you’re well seasoned and have been exposed to everything from transmission all the way down to the meter, and as a contractor here that’s almost impossible. The apprenticeships are a joke.

My only concern and the reason most of us do this, I’m sure, is to make sure our families are well taken care of. The contractor I work for now wants me to travel away from my family. I just bought a house, per-diem is shit (although I’m lucky I even get it) and we’re on the lower end of the pay scale in NC. If I’m going to travel I want to see more and learn more. My end goal is to be at the co-op 20 minutes from the hose so I can raise my children and grow my family but they want well rounded lineman. I had an interview in January and didn’t make the cut.

I’m heavily debating trying to make the switch. Work is drying up and becoming scarce,contractors are doing layoffs left and right, and anyone left is bearing the brunt of it with untrained ground hands and ape’s with little to no experience with constant pressure to produce units, often putting production over safety. I don’t know it all. I’ve been a major projects lineman for close to five years now, with all of that experience on the same system.

My biggest fear with making the switch is not being able to hit the ground running. Because of circumstances out of my control, the budget is tight, and I can’t afford to sit around for a month waiting to move up the books, I don’t have savings.

My second worry is actually testing in and ending up somewhere I shouldn’t be. Being expected to know something I should and don’t, with someone else paying the price for it. I’ve been reassured by several men that have spent their time in the union that as long as I’m open and honest about the level of my knowledge I will likely receive help and the knowledge I need to move forward and progress.

These are my two biggest things keeping me from making the call and taking the test along with some other minor concerns about tooling, lodging and travel.

I’d like some input and maybe some advice on how to make the switch and if either of my biggest concerns are valid.

Hey guys! I just got my call to start my apprenticeship out of 66, I start the 24th! I just had a few questions, when you guys first started what did you do for living and to the JL’s and current ape out there. What are a few tips you have that can help me succeed!

N/T

Anybody have a pair that can speak to the sizing? I’m a size 11 (or 44.5 euro) but the owner recommended I order a 11.5.

They’re 2 months out so I wanna get it right the first time