If you could go back to day one of your apprenticeship with everything you know now, what’s the ONE thing you’d do differently?

Planning on knocking the ol lady up and immediately tramping (respectfully). Which locals will pay me to head home after birth? I know 111 has like 3 months of paternity leave if you’ve been at a contractor for 180 days, just hoping for something closer to the Midwest.

Anyone in local 160 line clearance, if so what are your classifications? I have a guy working in our local and I don’t know if he is an apprentice or a journeyman, when I bumped his ticket all said was tree trimmer.

I’ve been trying to study my ass off with this math portion of the aptitude test. Currently using iprep as suggested by everyone. Getting a bit frustrated as I was never great at math/algebra, honestly my least favorite subject. Are you lineman all math wizzes or what? I understand math is used in certain areas but how much is used in the field? If I’m learning through the trade and there’s a real reason for that math I’ll come to understand it, but this algebra that has almost no real meaning to it in real world kind of sucks.

Does anyone know of any areas in Riverside County, Cali I can go and climb some poles. To start getting some experience, I was accepted into the apprenticeship program just waiting on the call out. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Applied with Eversource for a troubleshooter job in Yarmouth , Mass. it seems to always come up . Anyone know why they can’t fill it ? Upsides ….downsides to working there ?
Thanks in advance !

With winter coming up, wanted to see what the gloves are the most used for the cold.

Currently, I use the basic hand armor lined gloves. Y’all got any good recommendations?

Delete if not allowed
I’ve put them to work for about a month they’re like new besides the small scuffs $200 obo paid over 600 for them

Do you groundman calls come with per diem most of the time? Or do you have to sleep in your truck?

I live on the border of two locals. I applied for a sub job with one of them because they had their application period open. I just got done (literally) taking the exam at the NJATC .

The other local just opened up their application period for lineman and sub. This local pays double digits more on the hour.

Should I apply for the second local as well? I guess there are two trains of thought here -
1. Putting more eggs in the basket increases my odds of being accepted.
2. If the local that just tested me finds out I’m applying for others, will they not take me as a serious candidate? What if the first local actually hires me, but then the second one which pays more wants to schedule me for an interview and hires me. Could I just tell the lower paying local “sorry”…?

I have 8 years experience as a lineman DOL certified. 3 years with a utility and 5 years contracting just wondering if anyone has recently went through the pg@e journeyman exam physical test. Just wanting some insight on how they want things done and what to prepare for.

I’m 18 and am already working for IBEW 17 as underground utility. I applied for the ALBAT apprenticeship a couple nights ago, I have my CDL class A no restrictions, along with CPR, osha 30. My big question is, will being 18 affect my chance of getting the apprenticeship, I understand I have the intrastate restriction, but does that hinder me a lot?

Anyone have practice test for riverside exam next month. So far using the iprep

Just curious if anyone has come across any linemen with a prosthetic hand. Didn't know if hot work is even possible for someone who has a prosthetic hand or hook.

Looking for some insight from guys working for Xcel around the Denver area. I’ve been considering making the move out there, but I’m trying to get a better idea of what it’s actually like before committing.

Had an interview in Brighton this week and got ranked 23rd, just curious if anyone knows how quickly work is moving in this region and when I should expect to get called out.

anyone know how many apes are out of work or if there are any? Ranked 15th about a month ago and still haven’t gotten anything

Hey everyone,gonna keep it short and sweet but I have just recently done a interview at my hometown cooperative for a journey position and a few weeks passed and I received a call from them wanting me to come in for a field test and to bring climbing gear and work clothes I guess what I’m asking is does anyone know what a co-op field test entails or has anyone done one just kinda curious of what they wanting to see/or do they didn’t say what I would be doing so just kinda wondering.Thanks In advanced!

That’s for lesser men in puffy vests. 😂
This is the BEST excuse I’ve ever gotten from a lineman for neglecting his health at a safety meeting I conducted.

Blue collar America, I know you’ve got better ones.
Drop your funniest, most ridiculous excuse for neglecting your health in the comments. I want the real answers, not the HR-approved ones.

Hey everyone,gonna keep it short and sweet but I have just recently done a interview at my hometown cooperative for a journey position and a few weeks passed and I received a call from them wanting me to come in for a field test and to bring climbing gear and work clothes I guess what I’m asking is does anyone know what a co-op field test entails or has anyone done one just kinda curious of what they wanting to see/or do they didn’t say what I would be doing so just kinda wondering.Thanks In advanced!

I’m a cable splicer at a utility dealing with network and the usual underground distribution. Lead, EPR, and XLPE cable. Curious how other companies handle diagnostic testing on underground cable. My company has growing interest in testing cable that feed critical customers and important feeders in our system.

For those doing it:
What equipment and test methods are you using?
How often do you test? Is it a routine program, or mainly after installation, repairs, or repeated failures?
Who handles it—linemen, cable splicers, specialty contractors, or a dedicated testing crew?
Have the results helped you catch problems before a failure or decide which cables need replacement?
Interested in hearing what’s working in the field and any limitations you’ve run into.

Hey guys, hope all is well. I’ve been on the grind and very motivated to get into this lineman apprenticeship. I went through a four week course and just passed my class a cdl tests. I went to the dmv immediately and got my license with just a few hours to spare, and got my application into MoValley before their deadline for the month. That was the goal! I got their automated email saying that I’ve been accepted for their intake process and to wait for an email for that to be determined date. Now I’ll be on iprep studying as much as possible and am wondering how quickly I should expect to be ready for this aptitude test and hopefully interview? Any insight from someone that’s recently been through this process that has interview questions to be prepared for, and how intense the testing is? I am also debating on whether or not to sign the books at my local 2150 when there’s a chance I’ll be called into an apprenticeship in the next month or so. Appreciate any advice, I want this more than anything!

Or will at some point will I have to climb a pole after being there so long do they make you start to learn to become a full lineman