Wow, just think of the Track you could build with that huge equipment! It is interesting how much of the suspension is built right into the seat itself.
Sweet! Yea the amenities make all the difference for sure. Now that I’ve gotten in a few older Betty’s since these, I realize how good they were. One hot dusty day in anything open cab is all it takes to change a persons whole outlook on life 😂. Shoot, the cabs can be a curse too though. I was in a 637d scraper a few weeks back, and the AC didn’t work, nor did the windows. Rough days make the good ones great though, what can ya do..
I am impressed by your videos. Is about 3 weeks now, start watching your contents. Good job done,keep it up. But if we can send mails to each, aside this platform.
Sweet, how’d it go? This is pretty much it; slightly varying circles all day, haha. Even though I’m operating scrapers at a housing development now instead, the job is still doing circles, just more complex 😂. Man I miss haul truckin at the mines!
Lol 😂 very bouncy!!! My backs feeling it today definitely, hopefully that goes away.. but ya like you said varying circles killer OT and everyone is pretty kool so far definitely glad I got this position!
😂😂 No kidding, huh! We were only like a 6 man crew on the mine under a contract, but we had our own blade on site, we could and should have. I had no idea how at the time, and our couple support operators were pretty limited beyond the dozers. Plus they were constantly pushing piles to keep us MSHA compliant with berms and all that. Still though-…
pretty cool thanks for sharing. really would love to get into the seat of one of these for work. any recommendations on how to get to that point? i've got experience in construction but from the "desk jockey/paper pusher" side of things.
Haha, hey that’s something at least! Any experience is potential for a foot in the door. I would recommend finding out what heavy equipment union(s) are near you and get signed up if there are any. Where I’m at in California had a 2000+ person waiting list when the company I work for lettered me in. It could take a little bit of time to get called with no “ins”, but better late than never, they’ll call eventually. You can also try contacting companies directly and letting them know your experience and interest, especially if they’re non-union. They may get mad, but maybe your timing will be just right and they’re needing some extra help 🤷🏼♂️. If you live near any mines, they would be a good place to try, as haul trucks are used there the most. 👍🏼
@@7b7decker7 awesome thanks for the response i live in suburban Virginia right outside Washington DC where there are zero mines (lol) but unions are where I will start. Construction is booming in my area, but in the less established /populated areas around me.
It varies depending on what equipment you’re operating, but pretty good. We’ll put it this way, I make twice as much doing this as when I was a journeyman machinist beforehand.
Usually on the job, but depending on the apprenticeship path, it may take some additional schooling as well. If you happen to find a non-union shop that plays with these bigger toys, that could be an easy way into a seat too. Generally speaking though, yes to on the job training.
Anything is possible! I would recommend trying to apply at a local quarry. They may be union, so you’d have to find your way in that way, which isn’t a bad thing.
Agreed! This was definitely not by choice, I usually run them as stiff as I can. (It also may have been one of our “repaired” seats too, I don’t remember.) Since the rig keeps a data log though, for example when the “seat out of adjustment” alarm goes off, I couldn’t really set it where I like it. Simple fact is if I turn up with an injured back, and the log shows the truck yelled at me several times everyday, it’d be on me for improper operation. Not worth the risk, but I do agree it’s better when you’re not driving a pogo stick, haha
Be ready to do a lot of circles, haha! Depending on the demand for work in your area, I would say get your name on a list with your local union ASAP, as that list may be pretty long. OR, you could try to contact some construction companies in your area and ask them if them if they’re looking for workers. I’m sure having dumping experience will help tremendously, so definitely let them know up front. The haul trucks are usually considered entry level equipment, but dang it they’re fun! Weird at first, but once you get the hang of the articulated aspect, they’re pretty badass.
Surprisingly there was very little training, I was even behind the wheel alone after just a couple hours. If you’re already used to truck driving and dumping, the operation side of it should be a piece of cake to get used to, it’s the construction side of things that gets a bit trickier, especially in neighborhood development and paving. I know the union offers 1-2 week courses on the different equipment, but I haven’t been to any, so I’m not much help on how they work, unfortunately. They’re required if you join through the apprenticeship program, but I was able to get in as a 60% journeyman, so I’ve just been learn on the job.
This dork when I first started out 🤣. Used to have a really bad habit of jumping out of equipment without it, which is an EXTRA big no-no at the quarries in California, so I’d always just keep it on my head. Outgrew that luckily, our necks take enough beating without the extra weight..
True, some require straps too, it’s crazy. All day would definitely kill me. Got loaned out to a different company once, and NOBODY wore them anywhere on that job. I couldn’t do that either, lol.
😂😂 That’s a fact! It kept making me stomp and let off the throttle like I was learning to drive a stick shift, lol. I always ran them as stiff as I was could without it telling on me for the seat being out of adjustment, so I think this must have been one of our “repaired” seats.
- [ ] Oh boy, the RU-vid safety sheriff is in town, everybody go hide till he’s done flexing, lol. Another bucket load, with no tailgates as such, would result in spilling freshly blasted rocks onto our haul road. We tried and 4 was what worked. More means you spill sharp jagged rocks out of the back, and it’s just a matter of time until blown tires cause a rig to go down and block your main haul road, stopping everything. It happened more than once. Not to mention super expensive tires that they need to operate, even if it’s not blocking the road. So how are production and expenses doing at that point? We didn’t have enough guys to have a blade hand sweep all day either. As for my hard hat, this was a mining quarry, and MSHA is a lot more strict than common job sites. Special certifications are required just to be there. I take it off sometimes on other jobs, especially in scrapers, but after breaking 2 lids in an unreasonable amount of time when they became projectiles in the cab, yeeeaaaa no… There’s more than just your way to skin a cat bro, thanks for stopping by. 🍻
@@7b7decker7I am on a Volvo a25g (a smaller version of what’s in the video). I will have to say I’ve never been in a CAT but I learned in an older terex rock truck and a 15 year old Volvo a25d Volvos are like the Cadillac of the articulated dump truck world. I’ve been in a newer John Deere 310e personally I didn’t like the Deere. The type of work we do is mostly commercial for data centers and warehouse sometimes residential for houses. I don’t work for a union not sure if there are any union companies where I’m at never looked it up. I just got on some years ago with a local company in my area. I’ve seen a comment saying something along the lines of the ho (Excavator) should’ve filled your bed up all the way. I have to agree with you that if your truck doesn’t have a tail gate you don’t want rocks spilling everywhere. As you said tires are expensive plus the day goes by slower when less material is being moved. It would be different if you were hauling some dirt but not blasted rock. Good video I know it’s a few years old I hope you’re doing well
