I have been working in the oilfield for four years mostly on drilling rigs and i just got a pumping job offer. I don't know anything about the pumping business and just looking for some insight. How do you guys like pumping and also do you make lots of overtime ? I am taking a pay cut , but the benefits were to good to turn down.  I am also wondering if you can make a lasting career out of this I am starting all over and I don't just want a job I am in for the long haul. I have worked in the hottest of the hot and i have worked in -30 in North Dakota so I am pretty versatile when it comes to working in harsh weather conditions . Any insight would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks,

There is a lot of ups and downs with pumping. depends on where you are working, winters can tend to hurt your hours so save up over summer. but after a year or so you will be glad to have the time off. It can be a career if you want it to be, i see guys that do it for a year and then do something that is easier ( like driving a mixer) but then other guys do it for ever and they are now the managers. The company that you work for has a lot to do with it too. some places don't want to let guys move up to bigger trucks and others want to move you up as much as you can do.

In the past this site used to have a hole list of helpful articels. on the left. But the sponsors became more important then the opperators that are filling the forum. So you have to lurn the hard way like the old guys did.

Follow the wave        if you are cut out for it   it will happen 

The next update of this web site will have those articles.  They did not go away because of the sponsors they went away because I have to rebuild the wiki site which was 12 years old.  Dan Superdoffer give me some benefit of the doubt. 

carry sugar some recover or delvo if you can find it and dont ask to use it but know when you can use it because if you ask they will always say no,  carry a prozac and a cyanide pill just incase

since you are new id find something else the job is no longer fun ya cant do this ya cant do that many companies are run by college pukes (young 2nd leutinents i call them) you got safety craming all their b.s. down your throats ya got construction companies doing the same thing, redi mix companies doing the same thing and there you sit with a hopper full of engineered nuclear mix while someone waits to call someone to ask permission to do something. if your married it wont be long and youll be divorced, if your gonna do it get in a union other wise employers will lie their asses off to keep you.  dont waste your time move on you dont need this its an ungrateful profession

My advice: Keep Your Head Cool. No matter what happens, don't let it get to you..

 I have seen some crazy shit over the last 15 years I could write a book about it.. Asshole customers, crazy conditions, insane long days, accidents, mishaps, shit concrete. As long as you stay calm you are good ;-)  

yes it can be a career , a good one , I have supported my family for 26 years , 16 was as a operator/mechanic , the last 10 has been in management , in these years I have worked for 3 companies , all good companies , the heat , the cold , the sometime endless days and nights are tough , but keep your cool no matter the situation , I have been in fist fights with finishers , screaming matches with superintendents over power lines and lightning , have been threatened of many ass whippings , but I stayed the course and it has paid off , I am with the best company in the US and work with a great group of guys and gals. You just have to be made to do this type of work , its not for the weak or faint of heart.