Time on the Road

[iwlv433]

on average how much time do you spend on the road as a lineman. What are the pros and cons where do you stay, do you drive your own vehicles, what is the life like.

[bren guzzi]

Over here in Scotland. We are away from home for ten days , and home for four.
I live in ireland and fly over on a Sun eve work 10 days and fly back thurs afternoon.
We are renting a house on this job because we are on this job for about 8 months 3 of us share this house. Some of the gang are in caravans .
We use company vechicles to get around. We are going out to an island off the west coast on weednesday 2 hour ferry trip. Whilst out there we will be put up in a hotel.
If ya don't enjoy travel. Then get a job in an office.
I've traveled the world as a linesman. And I am still traveling. My advice. "Get your self an ugly wife" then ya don't mind being away from home as much"

Only jokeing. (My missus is gorgeous). (And she's a computer) HA HA !!!!!

Since being in scotland we have rented houses, mobile homes, log cabins, etc etc. Where ever I lay my hat ...... That's my home. """". :)

[reppy007]

I havent been on the road nowhere near as much as Bren has,but this is what Ive seen.......being married is harder,or it was for me...being away from my wife ,pets,home and closest family..........bills at home still need to be paid,I had direct deposit,so my wife would write the checks here at home..........you meet some really good people and some bad people with some bad habits.........lots of the guys I met where from the mid-eastern section of the usa,with drug habits......they couldnt leave the substance alone......some couldnt even pass a drug test............they were even some that had warrants for their arrest.....meaning you can run but you cant hide....not for long anyway.......if the company pays for the hotel thats a plus,per diem is a plus.......if your single it can be a plus if you like traveling and want to make good money........seeing how other places do things is a plus.........the hotel i was in was great,the company paid for one month,,,,,,,met a few welders from N. Carolina that really had it made.Their company paid for everything.......they would stay at certain locations for around three months...........where I was ,I was the only lineman with a vehicle........every situation is different,I even rented a couple of places........some guys shared a motel room.....could have been 5 to a room,i dont know.......but Im glad I didnt find out either.......on the other hand an ugly wife could be a plus.......I can say that cause Im divorced..........thanks Bren:D

[bren guzzi]

Just rem. "A wife is for life"


"An ex wife is forever."

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmmm for a single guy life on the road could be a great experience,, seeing the world on somebody else's dime.It dont and never will have that homey feeling but it will pay the bills.
For a married guy I aint so sure its a great idea. you are subject to be upended at any time and unless you maintain a home somewhere you may have no other place to go. That gets spensive. If you take the lil woman with you that mite help but not many lil women wanna live in a camper or a motel room miles ways from their momma. If theres children involved the entire idea sucks from every angle
Its like anything else ........ what you make of it

[reppy007]

Just rem. "A wife is for life"


"An ex wife is forever."

..............i wanna be a crybaby,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,waa...waaaa..waaaa:o

[bren guzzi]

..............i wanna be a crybaby,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,waa...waaaa..waaaa:o


Caught mine with my best friend.........


GOD I MISS HIM... Ha HA. !!!!!

[BigClive]

Different area of work, but initially I loved working away and would work 4 to 6 week jobs without a single visit home. I didn't really know any better back then and since I was living with my parents at that point I liked being away. Then I got a flat of my own and it got a bit more complicated. I'd get home from being away for weeks and find a pile of bills behind the door with the threatening letters because they hadn't been paid! (All in the one pile of mail.)

On one hand it's easier to work away from home if there's someone there to look after the place, but on the other hand, any trade which involves a lot of work away is a real marriage breaker. I'm finding it hard to think of ANY of my co-workers who managed to keep their marriage on the rails.

Then again, if you're single and intend to stay that way (like me) then it's as good a life as you'll get. I do sometimes think that it would be nice to live in one of those shipping container style offices with the metal shutters that go up over the windows and lock from the inside. It means you could lock it up, travel for a few months and it would always be there and secure for you when you wanted to chill out at home.

[reppy007]

Caught mine with my best friend.........


GOD I MISS HIM... Ha HA. !!!!!

........Caught her with your best friend or caught your best friend with her.......you have my attention where is he now................if shes ugly then he did you a favor,what are friends for anyway?

[iwlv433]

Im just curious i applied for cal nev jatc i dont mind traveling just wanted to know how much was involved thanks

[bren guzzi]

I found linesman heaven. :)

A lot better than a most of places I've stayed.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmmmm so very cool and lottsa places to hang yer banannas

[reppy007]

I found linesman heaven. :)

A lot better than a most of places I've stayed.

Been wondering where all the hippies went,now I know.......I can just see lineman living in those trailers,after a wild friday night out.:D

[evanlepage09]

So are you saying your always on the road and traveling? Or can you be with one utility company or contractor for a whole career in the same location?? How hard is it to stay in one location?! I'm from Cincinnati Ohio I'd like to do my apprenticeship locally and work within 2 hours or so of Cincinnati region.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmm If you are lucky enough and can put up with and endless amount of BS and get hired by a utility then yes you can stay in one spot for the most part. But understand they dont hire a massive amount of people

[BigClive]

The same applies to just about any construction trade these days. Plumber, welder, joiner... You travel all the time.

[reppy007]

..........this must be mostly city owned outfits......some utilities......now they want you to be within 30 minutes of the barn,,,,,,,,,or service center.....thats if you re-locate.