Old School

[RDawgs]

Does Anyone else get tired of these young mouthy apprentices that know it all....... And can't Climb!!!!! But you would think they have building power lines there whole life. I've been doing it for 25 years got a 4th year that can't climb and whines when has to! Another wanna be!!!!!! None of these young kids no Old School but they will tell you they do! I'm Just Blowing off some Steam! Work Safe!!

[mx-5]

make this "know it all mouth" climb accessible poles,lineman's bucket..sounds like the good "old" brace and bit time..cut old pole with hand saw etc etc..he'll get the drift..;)

[arkansas traveler]

there are a lot of theae young bucks who think they know it all. they cant even grunt, dont know how and where to hang a handline. been doing this for 38 years. they've got instructors who haven't a clue about linework. i try to instill the proper way to do things but, these kids think they know everything. it's frustrating but, there are some of these young men willing to listen. these fellows are our future.

[lineman1010]

i hear ya i have a 5th step who thinks he is a jl his answer to everything is i know, well he doesnt know if he did know he wouldnt be messing up, i was on my hooks with him changing out an arm told him not to air mail it send it down on the handline and he couldnt even tie a half hitch its sad i hate when u tell them something and there answer is i know, worked with a 19 year old apprentice down on hurrican ike all he did was bitch and cry about climbing said his legs hurt tried everything to get out of climbing he was with a 60 year old lineman who got so sick and tired of listening to him cry put his hooks on and got up there and stayed up there for 3 hours after that happened the forman sent that kid home, there is no need for a 60 year old lineman to climb when he has a hot apprentice unless the lineman wants to, but then you also have those young bucks who are willing to lean and wants to learn. those are the apprentices that you wanna teach that are the future of our trade. i could go on and on about this but i will stop haha. they only thing we can do is try to show them they dont know and make sure they dont do something stupid and make it home every night with all there fingers and toes

[mx-5]

let em cry..but make him stay in his hooks...don't like it,bid a cable splicer..;)

[hivolt132]

you guys sound like the ones crying.

[graybeard]

So heres another one who wants to make coments but is too CHICKEN SHIT to post a profile.

[wtdoor67]

I thought it was a better system when the apprentices came from the truck driver/equipment operator /grunt ranks. Alas, those classifications are no more. When they came from those ranks they had worked on a crew, knew the material and tried some climbing and of course experienced storm breaks and late night calls. The linemen knew them and had a taste for what kind of hand they would be.

It was simply too logical for management to deal with. Now you have to teach them to tie knots, run equipment, and all the other little things that they used to know when they started the program. I tell you, it's a little aggravating to take some guy off the street and start him from scratch. Of course they sometimes give them an abbreviated crash course of perhaps a couple of wks. to try and get them going.

It's goofed up anymore. I haven't experienced hardly any of these line school grads. Probably some alright. Went to a deal where we taught the co. apprentices on the same facility as the line school people were using. I watched some of the line school people. Pretty sad I thought. The instructor was a joke I thought. Like someone else said. Seemed to be a guy who couldn't cut it elsewhere. My, my, my.

[rcdallas]

Hey now, not all of us that went to a lineschool are what you describing as smart ass know it alls!!!

But I hear what your saying about not knowing how to climb or doing anything old school.

Been noticing some of the younger then me ones who don't climb or know how to tie a knot let alone how to use a damn handline let alone how to roll one up... bucket babies is all I can them becoming, it pisses me off...

[Swamprat]

I thought it was a better system when the apprentices came from the truck driver/equipment operator /grunt ranks. Alas, those classifications are no more. When they came from those ranks they had worked on a crew, knew the material and tried some climbing and of course experienced storm breaks and late night calls. The linemen knew them and had a taste for what kind of hand they would be.

That's exactly right mr. brown.

But...It's a "New Day" in Linework.

Us old Fu$ks, and our opinions...gotta "step aside", to political correctness, and bein worried about Law suits and shit.

Back in our day, there was "Respect". With a bit of Fear, for mouthin off at a Jounenyman Lineman.
All that shit's gone nowdays man.

It's the "New Linework"...
Controled, regulated, systemized, unionized...and of course..."Politically Correct".

Hay. It's "Progression". It's All good.......:p

Ya can't Spank your kid no more either. That's,...."Child abuse".:(

[Swamprat]

Hey now, not all of us that went to a lineschool are what you describing as smart ass know it alls!!!

But I hear what your saying about not knowing how to climb or doing anything old school.

Been noticing some of the younger then me ones who don't climb or know how to tie a knot let alone how to use a damn handline let alone how to roll one up... bucket babies is all I can them becoming, it pisses me off...

Dude.....

If ya wanna be a "Lineman"....you sound like the kinna guy that might just make one.:cool:

Though, in this day and age....I'm not sure what the fu$k that means anymore.

Good Luck my man. It's STILL the Greatest Trade to ME personally.
I just don't like what I see it becoming.....:(

[graybeard]

Got to stick up for the line school guys the work here. They went through a 9 month (I think) program at N.W. Iowa Tec in Sheldon Iowa. The ones I've worked with WANT TO BE LINEMAN.
Got to agree with wtd 67 though that when guys came up through the company program and we used to have truck driver groundmen. After spending time in that job you knew when they bid a line job that thats what they really wanted to do.

[LEAFMAN]

It's not just this trade, it's in every job. The kids now a days have no respect for anybody. We have a young apprentice that doesn't know when to shut up. He gets told but doesn't listen. Also that fact he the forman's son, he thinks his shit don't stink.

[johnmmcrae]

We hired some kids from the line schools out west. When they spend their own money,time and energy to break into this trade (17 weeks $8k) we seem to get a more motivated kid who has an idea of what this work is about.... Still not like the ole days though!

[tramp67]

I went to a 9 month line school years back, several years before getting into the apprenticeship. Fortunately for me, the instructors were a couple retired linehands from a local utility, and spent years on the construction crews. They knew their stuff, and made us do everything the hard way first, before using the new equipment - hand dig holes, set with pike poles, drill holes with brace & bit, all that stuff. Good program, I hope they kept up with it. Worked with quite a few apes, some really good ones that want to learn, others just there for the money, and they know it all. I guess our chance to weed out what we get is when we fill out our evaluation forms for the apprentices. Times are kind of slow right now, with apes on the books. Maybe the apprenticeship programs will start cracking down on them a little harder...
If you feel that strongly about a particular ape, maybe a call to the apprenticeship office would be in order. They only know what we tell them!

[lineman1010]

i would think a line school would be a waste of money. out here in new england we dont require going to a line school. after the apprentices take there test and have thier interview, the ones who did good on the interview will get scheldued for boot camp, where they go and learn how to climb tie knots, get a little fimilair with the stock, and how to make it up they get certified in cpr and first aid and they also do pole top and bucket rescue. they dont go out to work until they do this. they usally have about 30 guys start and after the first day of climbing atleast 3 dont come back. its a good thing this way you are not getting some one who cant cut it . it weeds out all the guys who were in it just for the money and they come out of this camp with a little bit of knowelgde but then you also have those kids who come out of boot camp and they think they are a lineman because they made it through that haha

[Larry the Lineman]

hell i see all the experienced lineman all pissed off here and i wanted to say some things on these f@#ken hands that bring their feelings to work but you guys nailed it on the head. i only started lil over 9 yrs ago when the old timers i broke out under were starting to be (politically correct) half ass nice guys cause they had to due to the sissy's that broke out in school and still on there mommas tit would file grievance . they dont relize you trying to teach them a great trade and how to live long enough to pass on the legacy of what a lineman is and be safe i miss those days when you show up and the lead was all about get'er done and you had to keep up or you were gone.Ive been fortunate to be thought a great deal in this trade and live my day for more

so you wanna be a lineman?

Larry the Lineman

[electric squirrel]

Nobody wants to hear from you here........E.S.

[Tsplice]

I think anyone that want's to try this trade should have to be a grunt for no less than the first six months.Wether they went thru a school or was hired off the street should make no difference.That gives the older guy's time to "feel them out" and see how " receptive" they are to being taught the right way to do things.If they are serious,it's easy to teach them,if not,they are easy to pick out and be let go.I am a firm believer in teaching someone how to crawl,before they are allowed to walk.;)

[RDawgs]

Thanks! For all The Replies, God Bless You brother Journymen! You Young Know it all people! (politicaly correct) LMFAO Better wake up, we are here to teach you to stay ALIVE AND LIVE A LONG LIFE!!!! You Don't KNOW it all. We Want To Help BUT YOUR MOUTH GETS IN THE WAY! Work Safe!:D

[Larry the Lineman]

[QUOTE=electric squirrel;59902]Nobody wants to hear from you here........E.S.[/QUOTE


may be rat but I'm proud to be a lineman that gets to see his family every night and see my kids grow up

[electric squirrel]

Are you proud that your driving down wages and taking away jobs from other real lineman that have put in the time and effort to go thru an apprentice program. You go out and work in the oilfields for next to nothing and think that's the whole world of line work, I think maybe you should think about whats gonna happen when them oilfields dry up.E.S.:cool:

[Larry the Lineman]

just because a man chooses his family over the union he's a scab? bullS#$T! if a man wants to work let him work! this union crap has gotten way out of hand . now days SOME you people wont give a man a choice to work or not. you expect him to roll over on his family for a measly two hundred more. as for me if the line is down and someone needs to put back right damn skippy i'll be there .and shame to the man who wouldn't. I WOULDN'T CROSS A PICKET LINE THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE THERE FIGHTING FOR THERE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS FOR A REASON!!!