It has been almost 4 years since my last post.

Many, many things have happened since I last published an article. My only excuse? Change. Everything changes from day to day, month to month and year to year. The boom ended for me the beginning of 2016. That's when I packed up and went home. Six months later I was back hauling water and have been ever since.

I've slowly multiplied and am glad I've stuck with it through the lows of 2016 and 2017. Work and rates have picked up through 2018 and 2019. With Trump in office, I predict we have, at least, 6 more years of potential stability in th Shale oil industry. Who knows what will happen beyond that.

For any of you still plugging away like me, join me once again on this journey as I try to share it with you. Nothing in life is easy and the sooner you accept that fact, life gets easier. Water hauling is a constant juggling act of what to do and what not to do and when to do it and when not to do it. Daily choices can literally lead you to success or failure in this business.

I'm here to share my journey with others and if you glean something from my travels that can help you with yours, then have at it. I began this journey in 2012 and here we are 7 years later. My how the time has flown. I began as a company driver and now have a small fleet of trucks and trailers. The American dream is possible, but it's not easy. The secret is to keep going when you think you can't.

Now is Not The Time for Men of Weak Constitutions in Todays Current Oilfield Environment

There is no joke that the OPEC nations are trying to destroy American oil industry. The powerful OPEC members are even defeating the weaker OPEC members. We as American oil men must stand strong against the all out war on our energy independence. Times are tough in the Bakken right now and many have had to move on to greener pastures. Oil has fallen through the floor and OPEC strongholds are doubling down to beat us back further.

I pray that the oil companies who have invested in the Bakken formation hunker down and weather the storm no matter how nasty it gets. Why? Well, because that's the American way. We fight when we're cornered. We must stand strong even if we don't turn a profit. What did I just say? Yep, you heard right, we must keep producing even if that means using our own money instead of the profits from sales to keep us a float. The difference between our resiliance and theres is that most of their entire economies rely wholly on oil. Americas economy is more diversified and so our staying power doesn't revolve as much around oil production.

The one thing I've learned is that we've had our ups and downs, but we seem to always find our way out. Am I nervous? Sure I am! Do good times last forever? Of course not! Do bad times last forever? Of course not! My grandpa put this cycle into perspective for me once upon a time. He said, "I've been through the great depression. I've been through the great world wars. I've survived many recessions, but life goes on regardless." His 90+ years of adversity-laden experience gives me great strength when dealing with the in-my-face problems that I encourter from day to day.

I remember reading a book years agon by Donald Trump and a little phrase in that book stuck with me. I can't remember exactly how he said it, but the jist of it was him saying that the reason that he's been so successful is because he always puts out little fires. That's a profound way to deal with adversity. If we put out little fires, we won't have to deal with blazing infernos. This for me, means that if I'm paying attention to what's on the horizon, what life dishes out shouldn't be too much of a suprise. I hope those of you who rocked the Bakken through the good times were smart enough to save some money to make it through the slow times.

There may come a point when the effort is no longer worth the investment and a smart business person will recognize this tipping point and make the necessary adjustments. The oil industry throughout the U.S. is going through a tuning phase. Companies have pulled back and are moving cautiously forward. Budgets aren't what they were a year ago. Jobs aren't what they were a year ago. Everybody is feeling the squeeze, but it doesn't need to be the end. Companies are keeping the most productive employees and letting the lazy ones go. Systems are being scrutinized to make the process more efficient and cost-effective.

It's important to see these changes so that you can make the necessary adjustments to your own behavior. Become part of the solution instead of the part of the problem and you'll find that you're value to the company you're a part of will increase. Think of ways you can be a better driver, a better mechanic, a better listener, a better partner. If all falls into chaos all that matters is food, water, clothing and shelter anyway. When times are tough, Americans bear one anothers burdens so we can make it through and be the better for when the greener pastures return.

Think of ways that you can lift up those around you. Keep a good attitude and spread that attitude around to those you work with. Go above and beyond what's expected and don't quit a good situation. Those who stick it through the hard times are often rewarded during the good times. Life is about relationships and good ones are built on honor, integrity, trust and loyalty. I'm not trying to get preachy, but the oilfield can be one of the most unfriendly places on the planet. I remember getting stuck one day and truck after truck after truck passed me in sub-zero temperatures as I tried to flag someone down to borrow a snow chain binding tool.  Why?

This roughneck mentality is required to survive through the hardships of everyday oilfield life, but the asshole part of it is ingnorance at its finest. Truckers are a tough bunch and have a natural inclination to be loners, but deep down we all long for the same thing--belonging.

American Oil Is Going To Come Back Bigger And Strong Than Ever Before

OPEC members have gambled and they have lost! I've said it before and I'll say it again, the U.S. oil shale play is here to stay and OPEC tried to oust us and failed. They are failing so bad that they are blowing through their foreign cash reserves like pigs at a feedlot. If they really wanted to hold the U.S. back then they should have never allowed oil prices to stay so high for so long in the first place.

During the years of high oil prices we were able to fund exploration, drilling, fracking and now the infrustructure and wells are here to stay and produce oil and water. The only way OPEC can survive long term is if oil prices climb and that's the one thing that they don't want, because if they do, then U.S. shale producers start booming again. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Greed screws anybody who uses it to hold down forward motion and America is all about building, growing, strengthening and winning. This country wasn't built by losers, but by winners who gave a damn and never gave up no matter the costs. North Dakota has been absolutely life changing for so many good hearted, hard working Americans that it just can't be reveresed, because the money has been made and these live will never be the same.

OPEC members nations entire economies thrive only when oil prices are high. They tried flooding the market and the succeeded, but what will they do when they run out of cash reserves? Who cares! That's not our problem. We have enough problems and what matters right now is that eventually prices will rise and U.S. oilfields will rebound. Many companies that have overextended their debt to income and asset ratios have folded it's true, but many are have saved for these rainy days and they are still hiring good drivers.

I was completely broke when I made my way to the Bakken oilfield and made my way with HARD work and more of the same. You can too! There is never a guarantee, but I personally know alot of men who have come to North Dakota to change their stars and they're succeeding. What's the secret? Turn off the radio and the television stations that are blaring negative messages about the impending implosion of our country and get your ass to work.

Stop making excuses and get started by reading the ebook about the best job in North Dakota. Everything that I did to make it to where I am today is in this book. If you want a copy click on the paypal link and buy one. I personally email each copy. I was once complaining to a truck fleet owner out of South Dakota about how hard and expensive it is to run a business and here's what he told me. "If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!"

I just sold a copy to a guy in Florida who is tickle pink to start hauling water in North Dakota and he told me that he had already found a company to work for. He told me that he believed the book was really helping him formulate a better-informed game plan as to how he was approaching potential employers. If I had known what I know now I would be so much richer and that's why I shared my knowledge and experience in the ebook. I give you the questions to ask employers so you can cover your ass from the get go.

Bakken Boom and Bakken Bust and Bakken Boom Again

There are over 15,000 wells actively pumping water and oil in North Dakota...water hauling jobs are still plentiful in the land of milk and honey...

It's true that there has been a slow down in the fracking sector which has resulted in a loss of fresh water hauling jobs, but there is still fresh and flowback water to haul...production water isn't going away and companies that are contracted to haul it are the ones you want to work for.

In my ebook I explain why, but the short of it is that production water, just like oil is consistent. Nobody really knows when the price of oil will come back up, but now is the time to get in before everything gets tied up. The Bakken boomed so fast that most of us who experienced it are just now catching out breath.

The micro-bust is weeding out the dumb companies from the smart ones who stored up during the years of plenty. Many oil companies hedged themselves against the future and are still getting high prices for their oil regardless. This foresight is blessing the trucking companies that service their wells.

High overhead-burdened and over-leveraged companies are suffering the most, but the Bakken loves us and we love her and there are still water hauling companies offering high-paying jobs to those who want to get paid for their driving talents.

There is a common thread woven through all of the conversations I have had with the old-timers who have been through the ups and downs over the past quarter-century and the thread is this: "It'll come back, it always does".

What does that mean for all of those wondering if they should take a water hauling job in the Bakken? It means that now is the time to position yourself for what lies ahead. Companies are always looking for topnotch drivers and are willing to pay them accordingly. If you were smart enough to put some money away during the good times, you'll be ready when she booms again.

If you're still one of those sorry drivers still making below $20/hr back home, then North Dakota is still your salvation. Housing is still ridiculously expensive, but find a company that let's you live in the truck during your shift and problem solved...more on that in the ebook.

You-Got-The-Job-Deal-Breakers For Drivers Seeking Water Hauling Jobs In North Dakota

Too Many MVR Violations- When a beaver fells a tree, branches break. These breaking branches are the natural consequence caused by the law of gravity.  Points against your cdl are death to your water hauling career. Sucks that cdl holders are held to a double standard when it's their very livelihood that's in jeapordy whenever the laws of the land make you suffer the consequences of breaking them. Fight every ticket. Don't admit guilt and don't pay the fine. Hire a lawyer and fight the bureaucracy--no exceptions. If you don't,  those points on your record can cost you a job.

Poor Communication Skills- Stay in touch until the job is yours. Check your voice mail, your email and your texts. An employer will move on to the next applicant if you don't keep up with the correspondence during the hiring process. The way you stay in communication during the hiring process says alot about how you'll communicate once employed. A guy that doesn't answer emails, texts and voice mails in a timely manner might just miss that big opportunity due to his own indolence.

Lack of Experience- To succeed in any industry, you have to pay your dues. The only true way to pay them is time. I remember not being able to get a driving job because I hadn't had my cdl long enough. Wasn't that I lacked the experience, it was that there was no bureaucratic evidence of such. It's a waiting game unless you know someone who knows someone who doesn't have corporate policy breathing down their neck. I provide my insight on dealing with inexperience and some ideas for getting some in the ebook. Don't get disheartened. We all have to start somewhere. Never live for the destination, enjoy the journey to the destination--that's living.

Lack of Commitment- A driver responds to a job listing and says he's really interested in working for such and such a company. He sounds like he'd be an awesome asset to the company. The employer asks, "when can you begin"? He says, "Well, I'm going on a vacation in a week and will be gone for two weeks, so I can begin in three weeks." The employers says, "thank you for your time, don't call us, we'll call you".
If you're gonna do anything of monumental import during your lifetime, the most important ingredient for success is committed action.

Disorder in Personal Life- So a guy says I'm interested in the job. The interview goes well and the hiring process begins. As things progress it becomes clear that a shoe string is holding this guys personal life together. He reveals that he's behind on his cell phone bill. He says he'll borrow money from a friend to afford the gas to get to and from work. He blames his situation on his ex wives and the messy divorces.

One red flag after another just keeps popping up and the more this guy talks the more you wonder how all of the disarray in his life will carry over into his work life. There are plenty of drivers who have their crap together. Why hire those who don't? To succeed as a water hauler in North Dakota I suggest the following: You have to have a car, a smart phone, a provider with excellent coverage, able to text and send pictures, enough money in the bank to make it to your first paycheck. The less needy you are, the more appealing you'll be to worthwhile employers.

Ignorant About Water Hauling-  For your own sake, educate yourself about hauling water so your skills, experience and hard work are not taken advantage of by fly-by-night trucking outfits. The ebook will give you this education.

Greed- this is most common with job hoppers. These are the water haulers who have become spoiled by the glut of money they made when times were good, but then bounce from company to company always searching for greener pastures when times get slow. Problem is that the oilfield is kind of like a climate with four seasons where green pastures don't grow year round. There are situations where a guy shouldn't stay with a crap company, but good companies will have ups and downs. By sticking with a good company, when times are good they usually reward the guys who stuck it out with the better more consistent work. More on that in the ebook.

Hauling Water in North Dakota as a Truck Driver has Changed Many Lives Forever

According the International Energy Agency and contrary to the rumors of an impending bust, North Dakota's Bakken shale reserves have staying power in the oil price war that's going on between OPEC and the U.S.. For any of us truck drivers who might be fearful about the oil boom going caput, don't give up hope just yet. The bakken shale oil play can still make oil companies money even when prices dip below $50 per barrel. In some areas of the Bakken, the break even point is around $30. This is good news for anyone considering a move to the Bakken oilfield. The OPEC oil barons thought that by flooding the world market with oil, they would put U.S. oil producers out of business, but their ignorant game is only going to hurt their own investments.

What does this mean for us water haulers working in North Dakota? It means that production might slow down a little, but even with the projected 30% drop in production, the Bakken will still double it's 30,000,000 barrel per month output over the next five years. Another 15,000 wells will need to be drilled during that time to reach the projected 60 million barrels and if a driver has the skills and credentials to take advantage of this opportunity, I highly recommend that you do. My goal to benefit from working as a truck driver was set in 2012 and I'm not the only one who has gotten ahead because of making that decision. Many of us over-worked and underpaid truckers came here with high hopes and luckily landed jobs that have led us up and above the poverty line.

If you feel like you haven't a clue about how to proceed in the water hauler job hunt, please consider purchasing and reading my ebook, "The Best Job in North Dakota". On occasion, some of the over 400 readers who've purchased the book write back and share their thoughts about its contents. Here are just a few:

"I just came across your site while searching for cdl jobs. Just wanted to show my appreciation for the amount of information you shared on your website. I hope you are able achieve your goals as well as help others break into the industry. Be safe out there. Thanks for the great read."

"I've been reading your blog and recently purchased and read through your ebook on water hauling in North Dakota. Thank you so much for taking time out of your hectic schedule to write down what you've learned while working in the oil fields. The pictures and brief videos have been awesome as well. I am in a situation like you were before you left for the Bakken. I am at a job that pays decent enough and is a good driving job. But I want to do more than just get by. I want more for my family. I'm serious about getting up there and getting started as soon as possible. Thanks again for your insight and encouraging others to get to ND and just do it!"

The U.S. is facing a tough job market right now, but many of us have beat back the odds and found success in North Dakota. We live in uncertain times and while there are no guarantees in life, my objective for writing and sharing the ebook was to help minimize a drivers risk before heading to the Bakken for a job. Some who have read the book decide not to come and have thanked me for opening their eyes to the risks of working in the North Dakota oilfield. Imagine the cost they might have incurred if they hadn't spent a few bucks on the ebook first. 

This work isn't for everyone. It takes a special person to be a truck driver. Days are long and mostly lonely. A guy has a lot of time to think about life while maneuvering the backroads of the oil patch. Balancing work and family has always been important to me and you'd be surprised at how many of us water haulers find ways to balance our lives. It's always a little easier to balance life when a guys wallet is full of benjamins. I remember when times were tough and paycheck to paycheck was the norm. 

I pray that God will continue to bless us all as we seek ways to work so that we can better support our loved ones. May you have a Merry Christmas this year and always keep your eyes open to the fact that there are always opportunities open for those of us who keep the faith and never give up trying to better ourselves and the lives of those around us. 

The Bakken Oilfield in North Dakota has reached 15,000 producing wells which have secured thousands of truck drivers with high paying, long-term truck driving Jobs.

The worlds oil market has reached a surplus causing oil prices to plummet. The rig count in the Bakken is still nothing to laugh at as crews keep drilling through the shale, but many of these over 180 rigs have unknown futures as to where they will drill next. The insane boom has allowed many oil companies to get a toe-hold in the region and the 15,000 wells in production are here to stay. These wells pump over 30 million barrels of oil each month.

Some truck drivers might be thinking that a move to work in the Bakken isn't what it once was, but there is still work to be had and this work is here to stay. Trucks haul the oil to tank farms where it sits awaiting shipment by rail. Lets do the math. The average oil truck hauls around 230bbls of crude per trip. So this means over 130,000 truckloads of oil are hauled each month. Along with this oil, all 15,000 wells also produce a water byproduct called brine or production water. The amount of water produced varies from well to well and this salt water is much heavier than oil, so it requires even more truckloads.

Most produced water weighs in around 10 lbs. per gallon and weight restrictions allow most trucks to haul around 115 bbls. So this means that if the 15,000 wells in the bakken also produce 30,000,000 bbls of water each month and the water haulers can only haul 115 bbls per load, that's another 260,000 loads of water being hauled each month. Combine the oil and water truckloads and we're up to 390,000 loads that need hauled each month. I understand that some oil and water is now being piped directly from these well sites, but the pipeline infrastructure is still underway and well behind schedule.

These numbers don't include the hundreds of thousands of other fresh water truck loads servicing the fracking and support roles that transport the many specialized supplies and materials required to continue the drilling and maintenance of the field. Why am I sharing this information with you? Because there are still thousands of job positions available for any truck driver with the mind and skill set to take advantage of the opportunity. Many older oil plays throughout the United States often have contracts tied up with the locally-owned existing trucking companies and so there is little room for new competition. This is not the case in the Bakken Shale oilfield.

Opportunity is still knocking on the doors of the prepared venturers, but unless oil prices boom again, it's now or wait till the next time. Relationships are being solidified on all fronts and there has never been a better time to get in on the action. Tie up your resources and set your eye on this opportunity. I am a water hauler and started as an employee. My story can be found in my ebook, but water hauling isn't the only truck driving job in North Dakota. If the timing is right for you, I don't hesitate in the least to tell you that a guy can still get ahead in this business.

I see this time as the great fine-tuning of America's latest "real" investment in the future of energy self-reliance. The infrastructure is solidifying on all fronts along with the business partnerships that will continue throughout the producing lifespan of these wells. When world market oil supplies diminish, prices will come up again due to demand. Get in now while the getting's good and when the next boom happens, you'll find yourself in a great position for financial gain.