i am not sure if this is normal but to me it is. .as i have stated in the past, i just started about 3 months ago with a lineman apprenticeship which is a 7000 hour on the job training program. right now i am doing a job fairly close to where i live but when this job is done i am not sure where i will be...could be pretty much anywhere in the state of iowa or southern minnesota and i have to go if they want me there. we have good benefits and very good retirement...about 19-25% of what we make gets put into a fund and that does not come out of our check. starting out i am making $21.xx and hour and at the end of 7000 hours would be about $30 plus overtime after 8 hours. so to me it seems like pretty good money that i am making now but hotels and such can be expensive. i am with local 55 so now i have a couple questions...what kind of benefits could i expect? how much pay? any other info is welcome. also, i am not real happy with the linework and have been wanting to pump for the past 3 years so i think it could be a good idea for me to do it. what do you all think? richard

p.s. i also own a curb grinder and figure i could pick up work seeing as how a pump goes along with concrete and so does the grinder..i think i am on to something...

thanks for the informational reply speedy. also, i am 23 going on 24 and have been in the construction industry building houses, pouring concrete, and running heavy equipment along with other construction related things since i was 16 so i have knowledge in the field. also, i am going to try to get on with a company for now because i dont have the funds for a pump myself. i went along with an operator 2 weeks ago for one job and he let me run the pump...not actually pumping...but we were waiting on a truck so i drove the boom around for about 15-20 minutes.

Hey Max,

It sounds like you are doing pretty well right now. Yes, pumping is a great way to earn a living. Iowa winters are pretty tough (as we both know) and things don't come to a halt, but they sure do slow down.

I am not in your boots. If it was me I would pick an area with severe winters, and keep my job and save money until the construction pickes up a bit, then clear out of the oasis in the corn field.

Kansas city.... may be ok, Dallas, TX would be better. 1 day south on I-35 and you are in the middle of more people than live in the entire state of Iowa. More jobs, more opportunities for a hard worker like you to make it in the pump bizz.

just a thought.

Lots of Good pump companies in the DFW metroplex to work for and gain some experience.. Times are a litte slow right now but as soon as we dry out we will be rocking.

Russ