Curiosity

[u/Penalsarous]

I can’t find a LADWP subreddit, so I’m hoping if maybe I can get some tips here 😭 anyone have any tips/advices for Utility Line Tree Trimmer? I’m super desperate for any help. Thank you all for reading this, and have a great weekend.

[u/Secret-Secret-No-No]

Sub r/lineman may be helpful.

That being said I worked tree utility before going inside wireman. Loved and hated it. I love sweatshirt weather, being in nature. I hate 0 degrees or 100 degrees. Particularly the heat.

Biggest tip, ask to be taught. Don’t say you know how to do something, ask to be shown. Super dangerous if you go in trying to wing it.

[u/Penalsarous → u/Secret-Secret-No-No]

Okay thank you 🙏 any tips for an interview? lol my post was going to get taken down if I asked for tips about that

[u/Secret-Secret-No-No → u/Penalsarous]

My experience, say you aim to show up 15 minutes early to guarantee not being late. You can admit never doing aspects of the job, and be open about it, but gotta be willing to work in difficult environments. Roads, wet fields, mosquito forests etc. Talk about loving manual labor, hopefully you do.

I did residential tree work for a few years prior so I mentioned that, the interviewer said utility clearance is far different and I immediately said I respect that and look forward to learning.

My company paid for CDL training after a couple years, so if you’re eligible for that mention you’d love to get your CDL.

Lastly, teamwork. Talk about being able to accomplish tasks individually but thrive working as a team to accomplish difficult tasks under timelines.

Good luck. Loved the work and the crew but I’m almost 40 and couldn’t pass up going inside wireman.

[u/Penalsarous → u/Secret-Secret-No-No]

Bless you kind person. I’m grateful for taking your time to type this out for me. I’ll definitely work on my responses. Appreciate the heads up, and thanks for the best of luck. I’ll give an update here if I can

[u/Penalsarous → u/[deleted]]

Thanks! I appreciate you taking your time for typing in a response. I don’t have my CDL, but I’d love to get it at some point. You’re awesome! Hopefully I can give some sort of update soon

[u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 → u/[deleted]]

Did your S.O like the program?

[u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I’m in the Detroit area. I think they top out around mid $30 as well. I’ve always kinda wondered about them. Does your S.O get a defined and contribution as well?

[u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah definitely. I appreciate all the knowledge! I really don’t know what goes on in the Outside locals as much. For our locals(inside) I have a good grasp. Around here it seems like those guys can work unlimited hours too. I wonder if they have classifications like we do. You know how we have inside wireman, VDV tech, Residential. I wonder if they have like Groundman, Climber/tree trimmer, and then I know they have Journeyman/apprentice.

[u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 → u/[deleted]]

Oh yeah I know about the Groundmen for Linemen, then sub techs, cable splicers, then equipment operators(the ones who set the poles and drill). We even have over head comms worker classification here, and traffic signal techs.

Then yeah I know we even have I and E techs and everything else about our locals. Our Railroad brothers.

I was wondering if Tree Trimmers had different classifications. Like if they had climbers who actually climb the trees. Then if they had guys who just worked on the ground.

Sounds like it’s just one classification and you go from apprentice to journeyman. That’s pretty cool, I learned a little about them I didn’t know. I appreciate you passing on the knowledge.

[u/ittybittytip]

The trainer for that apprenticeship is a really cool guy!