is school necessary for a lineman job

[goose95]

i am enrolled in the sltc program in ga this may. i just got off the phone with a guy that does underground and i could get a ride with him. he told me that going to that school is a mistake. he said that underground is where its at. just seein if i could get some advice that takin a 20000 dollar student loan for this school is the right thing to do. any advice would be appreciated thanx

[linemanfrog]

i am enrolled in the sltc program in ga this may. i just got off the phone with a guy that does underground and i could get a ride with him. he told me that going to that school is a mistake. he said that underground is where its at. just seein if i could get some advice that takin a 20000 dollar student loan for this school is the right thing to do. any advice would be appreciated thanx

I cannot speak for the quality or worth of SLTC, but I can speak about linework. There is so much more to linework than just underground. Regardless of where or how you get your foot in the door, training is the key to being a quality worker. If your aspirations are to do no more than underground then that guy could be your ticket. However, if you are wanting to learn a trade that can take you from coast to coast and everywhere between doing all sorts of work, then I would suggest looking at the linework trade. Distribution, transmission, underground, overhead, every aspect of the trade from setting meters to tying in circuits at the switchyard and more are what makes a lineman a lineman. It is a multi-faceted job that you cannot learn in a one dimensional atmosphere such as a company that just installs underground.

Just my opinion, but good luck with whatever you decide. There are contractors and utilities that may hire you without the school, but I am sure that school will improve your chances of landing a quality job that much sooner. 20 grand is a large chunk of change, but if it helps you attain your goal and provides you with a lifetime career that you can be proud of and enjoy then it is a small price to pay.

[lewy]

Underground is more important now than it use to be, but the O.H. isn't going anywhere, too expensive to convert existing as well as building compared to U.G. If you are going to just do U.G. you better learn how to work with lead, that is the only part of the U.G. around here that a lineman cant work on.

[joe b]

i am enrolled in the sltc program in ga this may. i just got off the phone with a guy that does underground and i could get a ride with him. he told me that going to that school is a mistake. he said that underground is where its at. just seein if i could get some advice that takin a 20000 dollar student loan for this school is the right thing to do. any advice would be appreciated thanx

This is just my 2 cents

I can say this all of our apps. Go to sltc before they ever get in to the crew for the most part this school is by far one of the more technical schools out there, I have worked all aspects of this trade

1 transmission/ pretty much go anywhere and everywhere make a lot of money lots of work
2 distribution/ same as up top / also not everybody can do this
3 substation/ good work not near as much as above just cause a lot does most subs in house
4 underground/ it is great work but just remember there is a lot of people doing underground work one reason it's not as hazardous day in and day out

This school is the first step into a life change full of opportunities it teaches responsibilities, communication between men, it puts u in a different category as far as starting an apprenticeship school which I highly suggest because the work force is a lot younger men then what it use to be when u had a 15 to 25 year man teaching u the tricks of the trade were now its a 1 to 15 year man teaching u the trade BIG DIFFERNCE not knocking the young guns cause I'm a young jy I was just bless to come up under the old school guys!!!!!!!!!!

There is more trans/dist. Work than u can shake a stick at and it's going to get to better and better because utilities have put off work for years and years and now it's coming to a point were it has to be rebuilt all across the country and believe me by the time our generation gets a lot of it rebuilt there will still be a lot of **** out there that is still standing and waiting for the next generation to build not counting what we build in the next 30 years

Just by my view yeah u will probably stay busy doing underground/ but u will have a lot more options and make a heck of a lot more money going to this school

Just remember that storms ain't going nowhere and ur willing to hit the road for 2 to 3 weeks here and there off and on through the year u will make more money in 5 to 6 months than utility/coop/muni. Hands Will in 2 to 3 years depending on we're u go and how much u want to work


If u just look at the weather channel almost every week they are talking about power outages and guess what them guys putting it back up are the ones doing all aspects of the job "lineman"

Good luck on whatever decision u make and whatever u do make sure to put safety as ur no.1 goal for each and every day

[Hebrew]

As a person who got training on the job then had school,I would say take school first.Some of the older guys used to do things that were good and right without knowing why.In addition,not that it is all,but having a piece of paper that says what you have learned can make the difference if you are looking to move up the ladder.

[goose95]

thanx for the info guys, im 28 and have been in dirt work (grading) all my life,grew up in it. the one thing i have got to say is i like how everyone in this trade helps everyone else out. im used to people saying well u better learn and no one wants to teach you. i appreciate the info i think school is the right thing cant wait to start a new career thanx

[Lineman North Florida]

Before you invest $20,000.00 in school you might want to get with someone who works in the industry and have them work with you a little on climbing and heights, I have seen quite a few wash out because of the climbing and that's a lot of money to shell out if your not sure, it's not for everyone. Good luck.

[reppy007]

Before you invest $20,000.00 in school you might want to get with someone who works in the industry and have them work with you a little on climbing and heights, I have seen quite a few wash out because of the climbing and that's a lot of money to shell out if your not sure, it's not for everyone. Good luck.

That is so true...20,000.00 spent only to find out that heights become an issue isnt the road Id want to see anyone take....glad mine was free.

[goose95]

when the economy took a sh## i had my own biusness same old story as everyone else lost it all so i worked putting solar up for 5 years. ive hung off the side of buildings 400 feet in the air to run wire, i think I'm pretty ok with heights they dont bother me. and i have spent a year trying to get on with pike or tecco or fpl or anyone for that matter. no luck and everyone has said go to this school. and its only 12000 grand for school but still goto pay thoose 15 wks of bills that im gone(will be close to 20000 all said and done). 2 kids still goto eat u know if anyone knows how to get on without school im all ears but most companies have said they want schooling.

[goose95]

and ive had my class a cdl for 10 years just need a job

[joe b]

I'd never recommend a man go to a "line school." Never. Personal opinion.
Especially for 20K. Are you kidding me!!!

Spend some money getting a CDL, then hire on with a Line contractor like Meyers, Irby or Pike. Go from there.

Just experience, from watchin, personal experiences of men wantin to do what you're doin.....

I'm very sorry for being this way but I would have to totally disagree

Yeah spend some money get ur CDL and then go learn a lot bad habits

Don't get me wrong on this I got a lot of friends who work for these companies but they will all tell u they didn't get near the experience they needed to do what they do they were just the lucky ones that didn't get hurt or killed yeah working in the bucket 6 months after they started

Lets put it this way what would you have done if you guys hadn't went to elementary,grammar,junior high, and high school etc etc etc etc etc etc.....................

I know that pike and some of the others ain't the only ones getting people hurt but u sure see a hell of a lot of accidents from these outfits and I know alot of this is lack of EXPERIENCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go to school man they will be a lot of union and nonunion companies there to hire you when u graduate,the good thing about school is they will teach u the basics of this trade so u kinda know what is a big no no!!!!!!! Instead of jumping in head first not having a clue and learning some very bad habits


Just my 2 cents

[Hebrew]

Still think 20K is a lot;too much.One school I looked at their fees was $12,000.That included tuition,training manual,climbing gear and certification.

[goose95]

ya this school is 12000 with gear everything. but i goto pay my bills while im gone so probably less than 20000 just a ball park

[Bighorn Ape]

go to school... i did, now im on my way to making that big 100-200k a year to do an awesome job that i love. took a couple years of working for a **** contractor to get to a good power co. I guarantee ya if i didnt go to lineschool id still be wishing i could get hired....do ya really want it or just kinda? ;)

[goose95]

ya i want the career, the fact that everyday comes with new challenges. im pretty hyped up bout it just wanted to ask a few of u guys thanx for all the help ga hear i come

[joe b]

Sent u a pm

[wantafastz28]

It really depends on what your experience is, if you dont have any line work or related construction experience, i would consider going to a school... maybe not one that expensive though? I was at line school last year because 5 years prior to that i tried getting on with utilities thinking my prior climbing/underground/ pole experience from the cable company would help me out a little and it didnt. I got my interview for an apprenticeship during school, explained to them ive spent money, time away from home, and all that good stuff just to hopefully show them im serious about the trade. If i didn't have that i dont think i would of been the 3 that got hired on out of the 30+ they interviewed.

Another option is maybe doing some legit groundman work. Id also stay away from companies like pike, bird, and other unsafe contractors, not only can they put u in harm by letting you do things you probably shouldnt, but ive seen quite a bit of work by companies like them that had to be redone and was flat out wrong... not saying all non union contractors are like that, but make sure you look up safety records of companies before applying for them... the few people that ive known worked for pike have washed out of the company i work for currently for not being able to follow simply safety rules because they were stuck with old habits.

[loodvig]

Will this school help you find work when you get out?