So You Think You Want To Drive The Big Trucks?
Well it’s not as easy as you may think. Yes, eventually you will probably know how to drive a truck, get a load and dump it off. What many people don’t think about, or know is the rest of the stuff that comes with the job.
I suggest you take a little time to read through this article, and then ask yourself:
“Am I Cut Out To Be a DUMP TRUCK OPERATOR?”
Answer these 4 Questions
Working away from home, putting in long hours, you may get bored eventually, moving up the ranks can take forever, and there are more rules than prison or school!
No….I haven’t been to prison. My halo may be slipped, but not that much! Prison is not on my bucket list, and I am sure it is not on your either?
If after reading my article your answer is yes, please continue your journey to get into the mines. I hope it works out and your dream Dump Truck Operator job comes along soon. If you think all of this is either too bloody hard, or a crock of s..t then perhaps you should look for something else? A driller maybe? At least in a truck we get to cruise around and see a bit of the country side!
Of course most of these issues are relevant to many jobs in the mining industry, even being a driller. It is an important first step, and passion of mine to help you understand just what you are getting yourself into, and how to handle it once you are in.
No 1. How Will you Stay Focused, Not Get Bored and Stop Fatigue?
Beat Boredom and Plan Your Kick-ass Mining Life.
It goes without saying that you need to have your mind on the ball. You will be working long hours, doing similar work most shifts, and it can become common place for complacency to kick in. You are working in a dangerous environment, must stay alert, awake and attentive to get through your shifts safely, and keep your job.
Plenty of rest, being healthy and fit will help you handle many aspects of driving a Dump Truck and shift work in general. Some miners struggle with sleeping during the day, fitting in a workout, not eating pavlova and “all you can eat breakfast” at the camp, and it can affect your focus big time.
How about boredom? Up and down the same ramp, same circuit hour after hour, day after day, week after week. Can you hack that?
Many can’t, but those I have seen struggle do not have strategies in place to make the most of their time in a truck. No matter if you are FIFO, DIDO or BIBO, you will probably be spending a lot of time getting to and from work, also adding to the boredom factor week after week.
I suggest you plan ahead, mix it up, and learn while you earn.
My Top 5 Tips to Beat Boredom
1. Read
Pretty self-explanatory? Books, magazines etc. But what do you read? You could be studying a course, researching your new boat, planning a holiday, or doing crosswords and Sudoku. Bring a variety with you to suit your changing moods and situations.
2. Write
Writing lists, planning holidays, an old fashioned letter. My favourite list for sure is the “to do’s next break.” What could you write when you are out there? Perhaps a thesis for your next degree!
3. Listen
Music on an iPod with aux plug, USB stick or Cd’s. Beware of CD’s in a truck. These usually get stuck in the stereo with all the bashing around and dust. Think outside of the music square. There are audible books and podcasts (Beers With A Miner) that cover a multitude of subjects.
Remember your number one job is to stay focused and on the ball so everyone gets home safe. I usually turn the noise down on approach to the loading unit and dump area, or if there is something happening on the two way. The chatter on the two way can be entertaining in its own right at times, especially on night shift.
4. Play
Lighten up a bit sometimes and have some fun. Not just with others, but with yourself. You might be the only one in a good mood. Don’t let the others drag you down. You can sing at the top of your lungs, just make sure your leg isn’t on the two way hand piece!! Laugh out loud hysterically, bop along to a good song.
5. Breathe
I also like to watch the skies. You will see some of the best sunsets, sunrises, starry nights and storms you are ever likely to experience. Each time you do a lap the view has changed. Smile at the beauty among the madness, be thankful you have your dream job, take some deep breathes and smile both on the inside and the outside! It can be contagious, and some cranky dozer drivers need cheering up! Call them up and comment on the lovely sunset up here on their dump.
Although I have only just scratched the surface, I am sure you can see that you don’t have to get bored driving around in circles in a dump truck.
In fact, it rarely is a circle, so that comment is just over rated!!
No 2. How Long Are You Prepared to “Just” Drive a Truck?
Drive a Truck Mate, Be Patient, Your “Time” will come!
Some people are happy to be a truckie, and that’s all they want. However if you decide, “yep I’ve had enough of that” and want to start moving up the ranks, you need to be warned of a few things.
The first thing you will probably hear is that you have to do your time in a truck. How long that “time” is can be the proverbial piece of string! I agree in being a truckie first, get your mining bearings. Keep your head down, bum up, don’t blow shifts, stay out of trouble and eventually your “Time” should come along.
This varies site to site, employer to employer, and even boss to boss.
What if your turn doesn’t eventuate? Are you going to get cranky sitting there in your truck when no one is getting trained? Perhaps worse for most, someone has jumped the so called “queue” and are on a new machine? That should have been you first right? Think about how you will deal with this situation, because it could be months or even years before you get out of that truck!
No 3. Can I Live Over Half the Year Away From Family & My Social Life?
This is a huge point, perhaps the most important, because it affects your whole being.
If you are worried about issues at home it will come out in your work life, eventually. Maybe all is well at home but at 3 am your mind starts drifting. You think of all the times you are missing out on watching your kids grow up. A phone call, even Skype just aren’t the same.
When you do finally get home you want to relax and perhaps even party a little. You have been working hard and deserve a bit of R&R, but the family have routines. You’re tired and grumpy from working and then that dreaded feeling starts…
…. you have to go back soon!
You start complaining to anyone who will listen, including your kids and partner. This only brings them down too.
Can you instead be more aware of being “there” when you are at home? Join in on those routines because that shows your home, not at work. Take the kids to school, go along and help do the food shopping, watch Home and Away!! Tuck the kids in and have a nice evening with your partner, because you are there.
You Have No Kids? No Partner? No worries, right?
How about missing your best mate’s special birthdays and weddings etc. What about your Mum and Dad’s golden wedding anniversary? The footy team’s first Grand final, your niece or nephew’s first birthday, graduations?
What are you going to do with your best mate, ya dog? How is he going to feel?
What if there is a tragedy and you can’t get to hospital or a funeral? Christmas, Australia Day and other traditions that we build as get older.
You will probably find some ways to unwind when you are at work. It is not the same as the social life you have at home. Usually it is either at the wet mess, playing sport or going to the gym.
Is that enough for you? Will you just run amok when you go on break, because you have been so restrained whilst away? Blow your money, and stay in mining years longer than your original 3-5 year plan?
Clearly I could go on forever.
Your Mental Health
For the government to have an inquiry into Mental Health for FIFO Workers
shows just how important this issue is.
It is real, and you HAVE to ask yourself:
• Can I cope?
• Can my family?
• Do I really want to do this?
• How can I make this work?
• What support is out there?
No 4. Are You Prepared to Go To Prison?
There are more rules than a prison.
If you break them, you could realistically end up in one.
There are many levels of rules in the mining industry. Depending on your job, what type of mining and who you work for these can vary.
A whole industry is in place, and growing, to tell you:
A. What the rules are.
B Why they are there.
C Make sure you understand the consequences of breaking them.
D Sign many documents to acknowledge you have been shown, and understand them.
On the job the rules are constantly being rammed into you in as many different, new ways that the ‘rules” industry can think up to get you to actively follow them.
Break a rule, and again you will run into another paper trail to evaluate:
• What happened
• Why it happened
• What can be done to prevent it happening again, and then……..
• What will happen to you? The Rule Breaker!
You can’t say you didn’t know, because you signed off on so much that says you did.
Hence the prison factor, last straw.
Actually that probably isn’t the last straw that would be death.
Rules are there to keep people, equipment, environment etc. safe. If you break one, it just may kill you, or worse your crew member. How do you live with that?
I say all this is not to scare you, but to inform and educate you on the reality that is mining.
Look after yourself and your work mates, and follow the rules, procedures, and strategies that the industry has in place. If things go pear shaped and you are found to have broken a rule, you will usually be in trouble, one way or another.
In closing it’s not all doom and gloom! It can be a very rewarding, fun and financially successful career, with a great lifestyle that goes with it.
However, it is not for everyone, is it for you?
Mad Mumzie
