Monday, September 30, 2013

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gate Guarding


And probably some you could care less about.
 

Well, we came to Texas for a gate guard job and we finally have one.  We are in a different area than we were last year.  So the area is all new to us, which means we have to find everything all over again.  Like the post office, a place to get my hair cut, groceries and etc.  I love having a gps, and in this case it really is a necessity.  We are close to a small town, which amazingly has a Walmart and a HEB (grocery store).  The Walmart is only 10 miles from us, last year I had to drive 50 miles, and that was one way. 

More and more people are finding out about the gate guarding so it is getting harder and harder to find a job.  Gate Guards that are from the north go home in the summer because they can't take the heat or they just want to go home, but they come back in the fall.  So when they return, the waiting list for gates gets longer.   Originally, the forums were saying to be here by October, than September and now they are saying August.  It’s not that you won’t get a gate but you might have to wait longer to get one. 

The way it works is, there are  quite a few gate guard companies, and you call them to see if they have any gates available.   But you are not an employee, well that’s not entirely true because a couple of them have decided to hire you as an employee.  But most of them hire you as a sub-contractor.  When we got here I started calling companies, about ten of them.  I told them we were in Texas and looking for a gate.  There is a license to get so having the license from last year is a plus and some of them like it if you have experience.  The main reason they like for you to have experience, is so you will know what you are getting into.  Last year we replaced someone that had worked for 2 days.  They said the job wasn’t what they were expecting.  So anyways I call about 10 companies.  The companies pay anywhere from $125 to $175 a day.  Some of them say they will put you on a list, but you really don’t know if they do.  So I was calling them every 3 to 4 days to  remind them we were still available.  So you are sitting around wondering if anyone really will call you and did they really put your name on a list or do they  just tell you that.

 We had a plan.  We wanted to get here the first of September, trying to beat the rush, get the job and work until the first of January.  Our first job only lasted 5 days, the second one (we thought we had) was cancelled 2 days before we were to start.  Did you ever have a time when your plan just isn’t coming together?  So I am trying to stay “in faith” trusting God for a gate, but still thinking my plan is not coming together.  The one gate that fell through, had some things about it I didn’t like. The gate was 3 miles down a dirt road and another 2 miles of dirt (or mud when it rains)  off of that road.  So it wasn’t a good location. Another thing was the gate had to be key locked every time unless the next truck was right at the gate.  The rancher would try and catch you at something so he could file a penalty against the company and get paid.  Anyways, I prayed that morning if it wasn’t the right gate God would close that door.  Around 9 o'clock I received the text that the gate was no longer available.   I prayed at 8 and at 9 the gate was closed.    So was it God or just a coincidence.  I have to say it was a relief, but then again, we were without  a gate.  So that was on Saturday, we were to start the gate on Monday,  but Wednesday we received a call  and had a gate by Thursday.  So here we are doing what we came to Texas for.
The company we got the job with I had just called the night before.  It’s a fairly new company, only been in business a little over 2 years.  Another thing to consider when looking at companies is their equipment.  They provide us with water, generator, alarm system and lights.  Some gate guards complain that their generator is a piece of crap or they run out of water and can’t get any delivered and some companies want you to provide your lights and traffic sensors.  So far we haven’t had any of those problems.  Another thing is if the company is new, they probably don’t have as many gates as the ones that have been in the business longer.  That means that when your gate closes you might not have another one to go to.  Last year we worked for Loma and when the first gate closed they were able to put us on another gate right away.  I had called Loma, and they said they were in the process of closing 8 gates, so they didn’t have anything available.

There are 2 gate guard forums where I get most of my information.  http://myoldrv.com/forums/index.php and http://www.gateguards.org/viewforum.php?f=5 just in case you are interested.

So here are some pictures of our new site where hopefully we will be for awhile.
 
Here is our gate, just a short distance
from the road.  We also get to keep
the gate open all the time.

There is the gate to the left, so you can see how
close we are to it.  We do have one little tree.

There is the well behind us.  It's the closest we have
ever been to one.  See how empty the lot is.
This is in front of us.  That is our security light to the left.
 The gate is to the right.
The ranch in background is the ranch's owner.

This is the entry to the well. This is the
backside of our rv.  As you can see we do have
a little bit of greenery.
 Not very long to back up the trucks.
This is the activity after we had been here a week

This is today.  Had a lot of trucks come in today and will
start fracking on Tuesday.
 
It was busy today but we know it's going to get busier.  They will start fracking on Tuesday morning at 12 am. 

Happy Trails.   Ed and Lyn

 

 

1 comment:

  1. Hi Ed and Lyn: We are on a gate at Chicasha Ok. It's a drilling rig. We were eith a frac crew last year, this is not as busy and we are enjoying it. Plan is to stway till 1st of Jan. then go to AZ for the renuion and warm weather till Mid April then to Colo for our campground host job. Hope all is well with ya'll.
    Freddy and Delcie
    Delcie still drinks tomato juice and vinegar once and a while.

    ReplyDelete