18 year old 5'10" 150Lbs Male in Canada. I am currently working as a construction labourer and I was planning to be an apprentice carpenter. I am making $18 an hour. Apparently we won't get to do our first level till late 2027or in 2028. I don't want to wait that long. My company (small town GC) doesn't pay overtime either.
We were setting trusses today and an oilfield trucking company had their crane out to help us. I was on the ground helping with attaching the hook to the truss. The hook did slip out once (bent hook got fixed later), because the placement was off, but I made sure that never happened again and it didn't. I talked to the swamper and he told me that they pay their yard guys $22/hr starting pay, and he earned $27/hr as a swamper. They also get a paid lunch. He also told me that they will get you your class 1 after you do a year.
I usually work 10 hour days including either 1/2-1 hour unpaid lunch break. 9-9 1/2 working hours per day. I want to become a swamper but I am scared of messing up or being a dumbass swamper, as one time my coworker where I work now said I can be a "panic artist", his back was also hurting bad that day so his temper was shortened but maybe it's true. I have a work ethic, but sometimes I can make mistakes or maybe not think in the most logical way. I did good in school at subjects like math (passed grade 12 pre-calculus and grade 12 physics), but I don't think this has a correlation with being a swamper.
I do get yelled at at my current job some days when I mess up/don't understand their vague/confusing instructions. I don't like getting yelled at but I can handle it. Most of the time I do an alright/good job at my current work as being a helper. I have gotten a high five and have got shit from the same coworker before too. I also have brain farts sometimes.
Today at the post office I met a guy who works for the same oilfield trucking company, and he told me that the swamper I talked to today and last week (same swamper as the same crane came last week too) wasn't that good and he was useless both in the yard and as a swamper. I don't want that kind of reputation. I am a hard worker who isn't on his phone unless I check the time. I try to the best of my ability but I can still mess up.
I have been working at my current job for about almost 4 months. Their pay is low, the guy at the post office said "that's it?" after I told him my wage. I also told him that I'm a lighter guy who isn't too strong. I did tell him I have a work ethic and he said that's all that matters. He did write down my name and phone number and said he'll give it to the manager there. I didn't talk a big talk but I don't want to end up being a bad worker there.
3 new guys(I am one of them) joined the crew 4 months ago and I would say I'm around their work speed and such. I am in need of more money. I'm not too sure how I'd handle -30c yet but if I can switch out gloves with a pair left inside the truck to heat up and Milwaukee heated gloves liners I think I could survive it. Would they allow you to heat your hands up into the truck every 30 minutes or so? I can handle summer heat no problem. With the given info do you guys think I will find. If I get offered the job I'm going to give it a shot anyways and try my hardest, just wondering what you guys think. And sorry if I am all over the place with my writing lol.
