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It hurts to say this.

excav8r

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Messages
135
Location
Ont, Canada
Occupation
Equipment Operator
i happened to come across this and as a young operator (3) am curious was this guy lying or what ened up happening to him
 

hammerdwn20

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2008
Messages
230
Location
pa
Occupation
pipeline
Youngone, I think you and i have a lot in common. I too am young
(23) and have bumped around a little between jobs. I was a mechanic for 2 1/2 yrs and quit once my boss let the health insurance lapse and i got 8 bad checks. A month before i quit i bought a new 07 dodge diesel. I was out of work for a month after that then i started with a landscaper doing paver patios and planting. I had used equipment any chance i could before then but i was getting paid for it now. Got laid off in the winter for 4 months. Even thought i was collecting unemployment i thought i was going to lose my mind. i was incredibly bored and never wanted to go through that again. Only lasted a year with that company and im glad i left when i did since they had no work this year.
Now im working for a small contractor that has a contract with the postal service for the last year and a half. work is plentify. I do a little bit of everything from running equipment, moving it to the jobs(class A) repairing it on the rainy days and winter, welding and whatever else i can get into.
My truck will be paid off in 2-3 months(thank god ive seen houses go for what i paid for this thing) and like you the next goal will be a house.
Im sure you will find something soon and thank you for your service
 

diggerman57

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2009
Messages
57
Location
Massachusetts
Occupation
heavy equipment operator
I hate to be a skeptic, but how many mines are going to put a 19 year old operator with no cable shovel experience in the seat of a 4100? He also said he met the production quota for the work shift during his first time in the machine. How likely is that to happen? I don't want to be a hater, but it seems like fiction to me, along with the rest of his story. I admit that I don't know much about working in mines, though I wouldn't think that would be standard training procedure. I really want to believe his story. It would've been a dream come true for me at that age. Hell, even now it sounds cool. How likely is that to be true? Can any mine operators tell me if I'm out of line by questioning this? I don't want to be rude, but I'm a little dumbfounded.
 

alco

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
1,286
Location
here
No, I wouldn't say you're out of line by questioning it. His story did sound a bit far fetched, but maybe plausible right up to the meeting production quotas and not a single boom jack the first time in the seat. It was at that point that I wrote the whole works off as someone trying to BS their way through, and just getting deeper and deeper into the web he was spinning. Who knows, maybe some mines do train like that, but certainly not any I have been around.
 

diggerman57

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2009
Messages
57
Location
Massachusetts
Occupation
heavy equipment operator
I was hoping you would respond alco. I figured if anyone could see through it you could. I have seen some people eat some serious crow on here so when it comes to calling out someone's socalled bs. So if I'm not completely sure I at least like to give the benefit of the doubt to the guy. Even if I thought it was bs from the start. One thing, among others, that sent a red flag up for me was that they had two 4100's and such small hall trucks. That didn't sound right to me.
 

Eric

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
449
Location
The great Southwest
Let's put it this way. Today I trained a young man on a 4100 for the first time. He, like most of us, is hardwired to swing with his left hand. Shovels swing with the right. It took several hours of him practicing IN BETWEEN trucks before I let him load his first one. It took him about 6 minuets to load. It normally takes 90 seconds to load a 793B truck. And this guy is a good operator. Sooo. Unless this guy is spectacularly gifted, and he maybe, I wouldn't put to much stock into his claims.
 

alco

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
1,286
Location
here
I hear ya on the swinging with the wrong hand. My first time in the seat, I would go to swing and either trip the bucket or honk every time I went to swing depending on which way I was going. I haven't been on a cable machine in a while now, so I can only imagine it'll be the same deal next time I climb on. Took me a bit to get used to the clam pedal on the hydraulics too.
 

YoungOne

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
196
Location
Virginia
Hello everyone again.

Since I noticed this post has obviously attracted more attention than I had originally anticipated I thought I owed everyone a reply.

First off I want everyone to know that everyone in my Company returned home safe from Iraq. With no more than minor injuries. We built fob's moved and replaced over 5000 T-walls. Countless Hesco Barriers. Completed the work on the first groundbreaking engineering event to give the Iraqi people their country back. And traveled over 17,000 miles hauling equipment while in country. This I am most proud of. I have some but not alot of pictures of the projects we completed. If you are interested.

For those questioning my experience. My posts. Me. I want you to know that I respect everyone of your opinions. I have said it since my first post. I am here to LEARN from you. I am a 21 year old, young KID.

I fully believe that even war never made a man out of me, due to the fact. Im not putting food on one's table but my own. I am paying half if that the monthly bills that some require. To put a roof over their family's head, and food in their children's mouths.

I have/ never had any reason to come on here and boast of my oppurtunities. Or lie about anything. The only thing worse than a liar in this world is a thief. I just thought I would share, so with the experience you have. I knew I could learn something. And I have. And i will continue to use this site to learn.

I will take more pictures, when allowed. I am a rule follower, When not allowed to take pictures. I find it not worth the risk. For this I apologize.

As for my looking for work thread. I returned home from serving in Iraq to the mine. By law they have to provide me a job after returning. And they did. Two weeks later I was laid off.

I am now doing HVAC. Dryer vent cleaning, vent cleaning. Paying the bills that I do have. While looking for jobs within the USA in the construction industry. Im prepared to pick up and go anywhere in the USA to work. At any moment after christmas.

This isnt the road I chose, It is the road I was given to follow to brighter days. Wider roads.

I hope each of you will accept me here. As I still would like to post and learn from you.

Michael

You Dont Win Silver You Lose Gold
 
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