Troubleman jobs

[Lineman8641]

Just saw that Duquesne was posting for Troublemen jobs. I know they have posted here before for the same position. Usually Troublemen come from the Line gangs. It just makes more sense that way since they know the area and how the system operates. Does anyone know why they post for that position here? Maybe they are additional jobs. Or maybe they don't treat the Troubleman job with the respect most companies do. Just wondering.

[Pootnaigle]

In times past a troublemans job was a preferred job. It aint no more. Often they are forced to work alone and with a heavy work load that never includes the time spent working trouble. More than likely every member of the line crews turned the job down because they know what it entails. There is no one to spell you off,a lot of time spent on call, and the supervision wants to play 20 questions every time something dont go their way.

[Lineman8641]

I hear ya Poont. When I first started the T-men were like Gods. No one messed with those guys. And when a T-man job opened up, it rarely went past the most senior Lineman. But these days, with the shift work and workload, you can make more $$$ in the Line crew. And who would want to work a midnite shift for straight time, when if you need a crew, 5 guys may show up on OT, plus get rest time the following shift.

[Swamprat]

My last job was Troubleman. It was the sweetest job I ever had. 3 days a week, friday, Sat and Sunday, 12 hrs. 7 to 7, payed for 40. It was basically a "fill in" contractor job cause I was a contractor, workin on their property.

Me and my truck driver, filled in the holes in their schedule, and was evidently cheaper than callin out their guys on the weekend. I loved it. It got boring as sh$t sometimes, but then they started givin me turn ons and cut power stuff, and other piddly jobs to do between calls. Even got overtime, when the storms start rollin in in central Florida in the summer. They usually wanted me to stay till 11 pm, when their own night time Troubleman came on. Yup, Troubleman, use to be the sought after job for Linemen as they were gettin older. That really says alot about the company if they have to go out and Hire a Troubleman, rather than promote from within.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmmm I know of at least one utility that sunk so low as to give several of those vacant troublemen jobs to apprentices that didnt fully understand what they were getting into.No second man and just very basic knowledge of the job.All those that were qualified knew better than to take the job.

[rob8210]

Apprentices as troubleman, and working alone to boot. Now that is a scary thought, are they still alive?

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmm a couple moved on and two got run off and One is still there although he is a journeyman by now. And he was by far the least knowledgable.

[Swamprat]

I always thought a Troubleman workin alone was just wrong. I mean really.
All they would basically do is refuse transformers or laterals after patrollin em. Anything they would do, even with secondary, could leave em dead on a roof, or dead in their bucket. The Troublemen I worked with in my last job....worked alone. Basically, if it was anything more than a re-fuse, or a service "fix", they'd call in a crew, as they should.

At least I had an app/driver with me. I don't know. I just think a Real workin Trouble Truck, should have 2 men on it. A Lineman, and an App. They can at least do some real work. Otherwise, a one man Trouble truck to me, is just a glorified "inspector" so to speak.

[gumbo]

I don't know if it's still run that way, but about 1994 or so__Detroit Edison went to a one man trouble crew that worked some primary troubles__depending on complexity, they'd move phases and change insulators, whatever needed done. (Their system was in a sad shape....probably still is). They have a lot of upside down transformer locations (secondary over the primary) so even on secondary calls they were in the zone. The rule that got them by was to be in constant contact with the dispatcher on a wireless headset. I never thought too much of that setup. Never heard a sad ending story from the practice, but I haven't been there since '98 either.

[PghApprentice]

i work for duquesne light, our troublemen are usually one man operations who work swing shifts. not ideal especially if you have to go nto right of way. we got some good ones and some not so good troublemen, but if you were interested in the position it is one man crews unless you are doing switching etc.

[reppy007]

I think in the next few days Ill do some checking into that job,if its still available,just to see what details i can get out of these guys..from past experiences its really difficult to talk to other guys that know linework,its usually a conversation with human resources or some other desk chicken,but when you can talk to feild personal it helps a great deal,at least for me.