Looking For Job Up North

[luvpsi]

Hey guys I'm looking for a job up north preferably as a dump truck driver however I'm open to anything

[turboedsloth]

What sort of qualifications do you have?

[luvpsi]

That's the problem none that's why I need a job such as operations like dump truck etc

[Dre678]

I believe you only need a HR license to drive a dump truck... which you can get at a number of training places, just google it.

But be warned this is an EXTREMELY repetitive job (not that there's anything wrong with that) but driving the same route like 50 times a day would do my head in

If you don't mind getting your hands dirty you can work as a trade assistant (abbreviated to TA) for any of the construction companies.

TA's get paid more than dump truck drivers, but that's cos they work a lot harder - in the 50deg sun - for longer stints (usually 4 weeks, whereas drivers usually work 2 weeks away with one of those weeks on night shift)

Good luck!

[luvpsi]

I believe you only need a HR license to drive a dump truck... which you can get at a number of training places, just google it.

But be warned this is an EXTREMELY repetitive job (not that there's anything wrong with that) but driving the same route like 50 times a day would do my head in

If you don't mind getting your hands dirty you can work as a trade assistant (abbreviated to TA) for any of the construction companies.

TA's get paid more than dump truck drivers, but that's cos they work a lot harder - in the 50deg sun - for longer stints (usually 4 weeks, whereas drivers usually work 2 weeks away with one of those weeks on night shift)

Good luck!

being repetitive does not bother me its the money im worried about

[turboedsloth]

Some mining companies require experience on dump trucks, and i believe you also need to do a training course for a qualification for dump trucks. And of course your HR licence. Possibly start off by looking at a civil construction company for experience and whatnot

[luvpsi]

I've applied for a few that are willing to train me and do all the coarses

[Alkatraz]

Dont listen to anyone that says you need to do a training course or have your HR licence to get a job driving a truck in the mines. Both of them may help you get the job as they will be extra stuff to add to your resume but they are not prerequisites. Every single mine will make you do weeks of training and you will be assessed and must pass a test before you can drive on your own. Dont stress though, if you can drive a car well then you can drive a 200tonne truck, you just have one or two extra blind spots ;-)

Unfortunately, with zero experience, you will be joining the back of a very long queue. Most sites only hire a few trainee's per year so you may be waiting a while. Get yourself signed up with Mining People, Xtraman (Extraman?), Workpac, Hays, Skilled etc. They will find you something eventually, there may be others now so do some searching. Whatever you do dont pay anyone any money, there are plenty of scammers out there who will sell you freely available info.

As someone mentioned, TA work can be a good option to get you some minesite experience. It will also get you a site induction or two, which can also go on your resume. Ten years ago most places wanted you to do a Marcsta course, which was basically EXACTLY the same as EVERY site induction that you will ever do, check if this is still the case, cost $100 or so back then.

Basically, with no experience, it will just take a while to get anything.

[Alkatraz]

One thing that I should have added. If you are not scared of hard work, then look for a job as a drillers offsider. Harder work than driving a truck but if you do well and can end up drilling within a couple of years, say hello to the BIG $$$.

[farris]

Im working as a offsider at the moment, if you want to go down that road don't go RC drilling its f**ked try and get on a diamond rig, heavy lifting but cruisie as. Money isn't great but like Alkatraz said wont take to long to become a driller and then your on anywhere between 110 - 150K + depending on meter bonus and ground conditions. Without a HR licence you would probably have to look at going underground which is where i started and loved.

If your interested I can give you some numbers of drilling companies I know are hiring

[R DIRTY 3]

Dont listen to anyone that says you need to do a training course or have your HR licence to get a job driving a truck in the mines. Both of them may help you get the job as they will be extra stuff to add to your resume but they are not prerequisites. Every single mine will make you do weeks of training and you will be assessed and must pass a test before you can drive on your own. Dont stress though, if you can drive a car well then you can drive a 200tonne truck, you just have one or two extra blind spots ;-)

Basically, with no experience, it will just take a while to get anything.

So, what site are you on? I ask so I can make sure that when I do a hotshot run in a Road Train (which requires MC license) I can stay well away from your site.

How can they allow drivers in dump trucks with only a car license....and if they teach that "its the same as a car just with more blind spots" then Damn!! Your site must have a huge kill rate lol

5 speed Nissan vs Roadranger.....hmmmm yeah kinda the same... Just bigger?

By all means proove me wrong and show with me beyond doubt I can work on a minesite, driving 200 tonne truck with nothing more then my car license.....is like to know the company to.

[farris]

I think he means haul packs which are auto, but even so you have no chance getting on site without a minimum HR. While I was underground I heard a few of the truckies didn't have HRs but its different game underground.

[Alkatraz]

If I am wrong and they have changed the laws over the past 5 years then I appologise, i looked at some ads and a couple did say that HR licence was needed to apply, most didn't but some did, so its possible. The reason that you (previously?) didn't require an HR licence was that you were driving on private roads that are not governed by state road rules. This is the same reason that a mining company could sack you for doing 51kph on a 50kph haul road if they wanted, their road, their rules.

As for a list of sites that I have driven haul trucks at without an HR licence (admittably 5+ years ago now)....

Kanowna Belle, Cawse nickel, Granny Smith, Leinster Nickel (when still owned by WMC), Ralaigh.

If you start at a site as a nipper, and after a while they ask you to jump in a truck, will they make you go a sit your HR licence first? Driving a haul truck on a minesite, especially u-g, has very little in common with driving a truck on the roads, I dont remember seeing a road train that was 5m wide before, so knowing how to drive one doesnt help so much. Road trains are MUCH harder to drive than haul trucks anyway and if you can find me a site where they still use manual haul trucks, I'd like to see that as well.

Once again, i appologise if it is now a legal requirement to hold an HR licence before driving a haul truck, but from my experience, it was never needed? Quick question, does every diesel fitter and auto sparky now require an HR licence before test driving the equipment after a repair or maintenance?

[Steve]

You are 100% correct, there is no dump truck license, most places need you to be 'competent' which is doubled up for a while an familiar with the site etc, then assessed before you head out on your own

How do I know? I'm in HSE, and have worked on different sites and worked with a lot of different people

Drivers license is only for public roads

Having said that, a lot of companies are expecting employees to have tickets to operate - same sort of deal as loaders etc - you only need a license to drive them on public roads, but then they need to be registered , which some of the larger plant cannot be licensed or registered for road use

Really, a drivers license is just a 'ticket of competency' and arguably that considering some drivers.

Bottom line - if you have a ticket, it may help

[luvpsi]

like i mentioned im in the iddle of getting my HR license which will help. however if i can get a job driving trucks id be happy but id also be happy starting off as a nipper or even a drillers offsider get my foot in the door then move around to what ever kind of job i wish well hopefully. id even be able to get tickets for different machinery while on my offshifts

[Zerrun]

For any half decent company you will require a HR license, many smaller operators who are not safety conscious might take you on but when your talking about the big boys with RIO and BHP etc then you must have a HR license which is where i assume you want to be working later on. Things like loaders when using forks require IT tickets and some other equipment but not specifically dump trucks unless its a client requirement on that site as such things do exist.

Above Alkatraz your asking about whats called "move and test" verification of competency (VOC) and yes fitters/sparkies do require HR licenses to move machinery depending on the sites individual rules. So far ive worked across projects for Goldfields/Woodside/BHP/Rio Tinto and the safety requirements vary on every single project in relation to whatever the client wants

The best advice i can give you if you want to get into mining or civil construction projects without having a trade qualification or a degree is to get a HR license and apply for a driller's offsider, Ausdrill is one of the better drilling companies in my experience. From there if you can do that for at least a year or two you will also have time to pick up Fork lift Tickets, Crane Tickets, IT tickets etc if you want to be a workshop TA. I am not saying these are mandatory to becoming a TA but will help you immensely when trying to find employment on a site. You might also want to try applying for serviceman position's aswell as you may have some luck with them without the crane/it/fork tickets if you don't want to go down that road.