Lineman Forum: Line-work career - Lineman Forum

How long has everybody been doing line-work and what have you done? Myself I'm still at the same place I started. Started in Sept. 77 on a Hvy Contruction crew for 2 yrs, then a service crew for 2 yrs, then another Hvy Cont. crew for 3 yrs, back to the service crew for 6 yrs , then as line foreman on a service crew for 2 yrs, then as foreman on on a Hvy Cont. crew untill present. Was offered service trk at one time but turned it down. Might have been a mistake I dont know.

Husband has been in line work since '79. It was at an Electric Construction Co. owned by two brothers in our hometown. When the brothers split up(4 yrs later), hubby went with the one that only had ONE son. It was a good move at the time, even though he left a wife and two toddlers at home. He worked out of town a pretty good bit. We both thought it would be best for his career.

And it was. He went from grunt, lineman, foreman to crew supervisor. When he left this company after working for them over 20 yrs, he had close to 11 crews spread out from AL, GA, and So. FL.

He was thinking of benefits/retirement about 5 to 6 yrs ago. He asked me if I would be willing to move to Gainesville, FL when a job came up at a utility co. there. I talked him out of it and told him to wait at least until our children graduated from high school.

We both grew up in a small town in N. Central FL and have never lived anywhere else. When another position came up at this same utility, he asked me again. I said, "It's your time dear. The kids are grown and there ain't a thing keeping me here. If this is what you want, go for it."

He did. And he hasn't regretted it. He worked as a lineman again on an 8 to 5 job and working trouble one week out of the month. Then a month ago another opening came up. He didn't even tell me he applied! LOL! I didn't know until one Friday afternoon his buddies were calling him and congratulating him for getting the job as foreman.

Dej`vu. We are starting all over again. But, at least it's not as tough as it was 20 yrs ago!

i started in 98 at the age of 18 with pike. thrown into the fire with 19,900 volt reconduct jobs. rest is history or forgotten say what

I'm sorry it was cut short 'Bama. But, it ain't the end. You might think so, but it's not. No, I don't know how you feel, but I have a handicaped brother that can't walk at all. He is in a wheelchair and has been in one for over 22 yrs now. He was only 19 when that farming accident happened. He had been married for only 2 yrs when it happened and in less than 10 yrs, she left him. No children, no wife....only his family and very few friends to help him.

You remind me alot of him. You have the greatest outlook on life and such a positive influence on others. You might not know it, but those nephews are watching you. Heck, even their classmates are watching you. In their eyes, you are a hero. Remember the real heros are just the average everyday common person.

Hang in there buddy. Something eventually will come to light......you only have to wait for the storm to pass.

I'm sorry I took your original post off track a bit Mrgrowl.....but it was something I wanted to post. Thanking you in advance sir.-----LA

I GREW UP AROUND LINEMAN AND THE BUSINESS! DAD WAS A LINEMAN AND RETIRED AS A SUPERINTENDANT AFTER 39 YRS IN THE BUSINESS!
YOU COULD SAY I STARTED IN 68--BUT NOT REALLY--DAD AND SOME OF THE GUYS CONTRACTED BALL FIELD JOBS, IN TH SUMMER FOR EXTRA MONEY---I WORKED AS A GRUNT ON THESE JOBS!!

IN 70 RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, UNCLE SAM CALLED--SO I JOINED THE AIR FORCE--AND SOMEHOW BECAME A LINEMAN THERE--SPENT JUST OVER 7 YRS ACTIVE DUTY--3 YRS OF THAT AS A TECH INSTRUCTOR AT THE USAF LINE SCHOOL AT SHEPPARD AFB, TX!! GOT OUT OF THE MILITARY IN 77 AND WENT TO WORK FOR A CO-OP ON A 7 MAN CONSTRUCTION CREW--THEN 8 MONTHS LATER TOOK A SERVICE TRK WITH THEM IN ANOTHER TOWN---LEFT THEM IN MAY OF 80 AND CAME TO THE OLD ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT--NOW ENTERGY--BACK ON CONSTRUCTION---TRANSFERED TO MARION (NE ARK) AND THEN IN 84 CAME TO CAMDEN AND IN 88 TOOK THE SERVICE/TROUBLE TRUCK. AND AM CURRENTLY THE OLDEST LINEMAN IN OUR NETWORK AND THE SR SERVICEMAN (WHICH NEITHER AMOUNT TO ANY PRIVILEGES) IN THE NETWORK, AS FAR AS TIME IN CLASSIFICATION, AND AM ALSO HAVE THE MOST YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE TRADE AS FAR AS THE WORKING LINEMAN IN OUR NETWORK!!

Twenty years, give or take. All utility,just a few different ones. Now a full time instructor. Two back surgeries and two knee surgeries has placed me on the injured reserve list.

WP called me up in 96 or 97 and asked me to go to Atlanta to do some CATV work and offered me a price I couldn't resist. It's been downhill ever since

HA

I've been in CATV since 94.. Before that 11 yrs USAF, 8yrs. Electronic Warfare, 3 yrs. F-16 Avionics..

DITTO>>>> What he said.









B4 that .... Picking cans along the highway.

I have 13 1/2 yrs in the CATV Industry?
Allmost every aspect of the trade
WP

72' all with the same utility. Chief lineman since 1990.

Are you going to retire soon? Just curious.

man there goes a nice retirement

Started in June of 1969 for What was then Arkansas power & light. Worked as a LINEMAN for 19 years, then came in out of the cold and damp. Still enjoy my work, and still find it challenging. 'Course that easier when yer simple lik me. lite bounce

Started doing this stuff 6 months ago. Get to move into a bucket tomorrow!

Hey TLW, take my word for it, buckets ain't all you have been led to believe. Just say NO. Tell'em you would rather climb an 80 footer than tell the truth.

LMAO!! Good one Larry!

Ok, ok,..........started messing with inside wiring in '85 for a local electrical outfit (actually with Shonuff's company), starting doing a little overhead and underground
high voltage work along with pole setting and pole pulling, went to Red Simpson in '94 doing heavy construction, then to maintanence and reinsulating, went back to Shonuff's last year and did overhead and underground again, went to Irby last November in heavy construction, still help out Shonuff sometimes when I can, or if he has enough beer, and still at Irby. Would really like to get on with a Utility here,
but our utility doesn't hire anyone as linemen or apprentices. You start at the bottom, no matter what you know.

Hey Tex: Looking good in your Laker's shirt. yes way yes way
Nice avatar.

C'mon TLW.. Being a grimple isn't so bad.. You can do it bro.. devil

















Good thing I'm about 5 states away.. Hehe.. friday[1]

Started in 96 as right of way brush trimmer,then moved up to kershaw operator,then became apprentice in 98 been journeyman since 03.Was in the construction Dept.Now I am in maintenance and troubleshooting.Only 20 more years until retirement arsch[1].gif