How much more should a Foreman / Subforeman make than a worker on the crew ?

Edit : what are different job responsibilities between the two roles. Whether day to day or week to week.

Just curious if there’s any way to start working in Quebec on an English speaking crew. I’m a Red Seal Lineman in BC. I plan to learn French eventually, but I expect it to take a couple years before I’m fully fluent, and in the meantime it would be nice to live with my partner in Montreal. Thanks for your help!

Brand new into the trade, fresh out of line school. So obviously I’m up to date on all the current most important things about linework and I can basically do everything my foreman can. He never even went to lineschool! What the hell does he know about linework. We always end up getting into yelling matches because he thinks he knows more than me. He’s a dick I want to work with someone more close to my level because he isn’t even close.

Can't cross post so here's the link.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Wellthatsucks/comments/1gi13ak/electrician_was_hit_by_a_flame_in_the_face_while/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I just wanted to ask if anyone here has seen steel lines still in use, I was surprised to come across some in a rural area in Canada. I figured they would have been replaced long ago.

We start at 7 am every day M-F and sometimes we don’t get out until 4:30! Plus all the poles today are way bigger than the old stuff we’ve been wrecking out. We actually have to meet standards and judging by the work and quality of things we’re wrecking out, it seems like you old guys just put up stuff good enough for it to hold. It’s easy to do work when there’s absolutely no basic standards to meet. Plus with global warming we have to work in actual heat. One day it was probably at least 108°. You guys don’t know what that’s like.

I have an interview with PGE next week, I’m trying to come up with something that can leave a mark. I’m coming from a few states over for this interview and it’s all or nothing. Any guys that have done interviews or seen something that really stood out to y’all? This would be life changing for me and I’m hitting this from every angle.

Stay safe yall!

Business is looking good...

SPP board approves $7.7 billion plan for transmission builds, upgrades

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — At its Oct. 29 meeting, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Board of Directors approved a historic $7.7 billion plan to expand and upgrade the region’s transmission capacity. The initiative represents a major milestone in serving increasing demand for reliable electricity throughout the regional transmission organization’s (RTO) service territory.

SPP’s 2024 Integrated Transmission Plan (ITP) is the single largest portfolio, in terms of size and value, that SPP has proposed for construction in its 20-year history as a transmission planning coordinator. The approved plan includes 89 transmission upgrades needed to address increasing electricity consumption and changes in the region’s generating fleet. These projects are expected to quickly pay for themselves and provide benefits exceeding costs by a rate of at least 8-to-1 while improving grid resilience in the face of extreme weather events.

https://spp.org/news-list/spp-board-approves-77-billion-plan-for-transmission-builds-upgrades/

Just a fun little post to discuss any tools you guys lug around that you think are unique or you keep in your bag because it has one friggin use so you can't get rid of it.

Mine would be a 90 degree screwdriver that is needed when wiring up ATS switchgears. A few screws are in such a tight spot that it's super tough breaking them loose with a stubby screwdriver. Enter the 90 degree screwdriver that I believe came from an ikea bag. Break em loose and tighten them down with that stupid thing but hey it works well.

Runner-up would be Klein Slotted Flathead Screwdrivers. Great for doing small wiring in energized communication boxes to prevent dropping the small screws.

Cast Test?

I got an invite to do a CAST test after i applied for a few operations related roles. I have never heard of a CAST test so i looked it up and it appears this is supposed to be given to lineworkers. What is this test? Is it hard? Do i need to study hard? I scheduled it in 3 hours without a second guess.

Update: Got to the test & they cancelled it with no option to reschedule. I’ll study if I get the chance to test again

I’m 21 years old I just graduated from CDL school to get my Class A. My plan was to pursue my career as a lineman from the beginning when I applied for my CDL. I was hoping to do trucking for a year to get some experience under my belt, but it seems like most companies hiring new drivers are requiring to have 3 past years of consistent employment and 1-2 years of holding a drivers license. I know you’re probably wondering why is that such a problem? I’m gonna be honest I was brought here to the United States at 2 years old from Mexico by my parents. That means I’ve had to live from 2 years old up until 20 without a social security, and about 5-6 months ago I’ve just received my social security card and employment authorization to work here legally. So there’s no way of me proving I have enough experience driving and consistent work history. I had done construction from 18-20 years old because it was my only way of getting a job that didn’t require me to present legal documents to work. Obviously I have driven since 18 but on my license it states it was issued about 5-6 months ago when I received it. Now this was me wondering if I have any chance to become a lineman if I have no prior experience of consistent work history on my record, aswell as only 6 months of holding a drivers license. I feel so defeated because I know since the beginning of turning 18 I’ve always wanted to become a lineman but at the time I was a nobody because I couldn’t legal identify myself with out a social security. I’m a good kid I don’t smoke/drink of any sort and have always been someone who’s willing to put in the work to get ahead in life and provide for the future of my family when the time comes. I guess what I’m really trying to say is if you were in my position what would you do? I’ve already paid off my tuition for my CDL and it just feels like I spent money to just carry around a license I can’t even use.

I’m debating my best options. I can either

1. Sit and wait for pseg to have a job opening, apply to every single one, pray I get in, then request a lineman position from within, continue waiting

2. Join a Local Union Apprentice program for September 2025, get my qualifications, then apply to become a lineman

3. Enlist in the navy, go to tech school to become a Construction Electrician (CE), do my 5 years, get discharged and begin my lineman career

Number 3 is looking the most appealing to me, because it’ll take 5-7 years to reach top pay anyway, assuming I started tomorrow, and the military builds so much character, not to mention veteran benefits and job applications. I’m wondering how lengthy of a process it would take to go from leaving the military as a CE to becoming a top pay foreman? Ideally, if I’m lucky, I could get my CDL through MOS, or just on the side when I’m not on duty. As well as becoming OSHA certified. I’d also become first aid and cpr certified.

Would I still need to go through the full 3-5 year apprenticeship program at a union if I was a CE for 5 years? I know they’re different, but they do have a lot of overlap and I’d be learning a lot of the same stuff.

Is my best bet to just wait until PSE&G, JCP&L, or one of the likes has an opening, just go to a union, or has anyone heard of similar military transfers?

Hello, I currently work in residential HVAC as an installer. I'm going to be a lead soon but I doubt I'll ever make any real money doing this considering it comes from selling units as a tech and I'm no salesman.

I'd like to know if any of yall think I'll get denied a job for having a missing finger. I lift almost daily and move units in and out of attics and whatnot so I feel like I'm pretty much able to do anything thrown at me so far besides my deadlift being weaker now

Hey all,

I’ve been a firefighter coming on 10 years now. I’m looking to make a career change and move over to my city’s power and light department. I was curious about what types of jobs are available that might be more of a foot in the door or a good starting point if an apprenticeship isn’t currently available.

i have a friend who interested in going to lineman school but he has a felony and served some time around 10 years ago.. do you think he’ll run into issues finding work ?

Hi all. My objective is to get ideas and opinions of services that would help support crews while out on projects and/or storm work with this post. For example, food and laundry services. For those situations where it is not provided by disaster relief setups, would having prepared meals delivered/available and laundry done be a desirable resource? What about other basics - groceries, haircuts, other errands workers can't tend to because of the long hours? I would greatly appreciate any (PG 13) ideas of things you wished you had available. Thanks!

Is it bad practice to hook up an LA to an energized line by hand?

Wondering if anyone has rescheduled and interview with NEAT?

Hey y’all. I’m two weeks in the trade and have serious new guy brain. Just missing the big picture and screwing up obvious things I otherwise wouldn’t due to sensory overload. Having a great time for the most part but today was extra rough. Feeling pretty defeated. My team was over me by the end of the day, and they’re hard dudes to piss off. Anybody got any “new guy brain” stories to help me feel less alone here?

EDIT: I have enough testers for now. Thanks!

I am the Journeyman Lineman that created of Lineman's Reference - XFMR Lab and have been working on another project for almost two years now: Lineman's Reference - URD.

The IOS version of the app is ready for BETA testing and I need some additional volunteers to test it out and let me know suggestions, questions or issues you have.

Active BETA testers will receive a code for a free download upon full release.

PM me your email address for access!

Feel free to share to friends and others in the industry but please keep this off of the big Lineman Facebook pages and other social media sites for now.

Android Beta version will be available...soon... Hopefully.

https://preview.redd.it/vrzle320c5yd1.jpg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60f1befee0bf5716d779578e16a31e65c6922b39

Delete if not allowed.. title explains the question. If one or the other and why?

Do you guys drape blankets or completely wrap? I was brought up to wrap it up completely and that if you draped it then what was the point of having the blanket there at all? I still preach to completely wrap even though most guys around me just drape it over whatever they need to. What’s your practice?

Broke pole from tree falling on line. Line goes across the highway and crew had a broke down digger. It’ll be good till the morning.

Anybody on here know of any insulated FR pants? I have bibs but they’re a little too bulky to climb in and I start sweating bad. And a wool base layer with regular FR pants doesn’t keep me warm enough. I’m looking for quilt lined pants as a happy medium but I can’t find any and it say Carhart and Dickies do not make them anymore. Any help will be appreciated🙏🏻

Hi all, trainee here from the UK working for our DNO. Joined about 4 months ago, awaiting all my courses before I go up in the bucket so just working on being a good ground man for now.

Picking things up slowly for sure, came from doing telecoms so a lot to take in! However, love the work but I am struggling with the people. Only one or two guys on the gang who have my best interests at heart and are willing to show/teach me stuff, whereas all the others just have this shitty attitude to all apprentices, shouted n sworn at brutally for every minor thing. Just treated like shit all day basically lol

I work my ass off and I worked so hard to get this job, don’t think I can get a transfer as I’m on probation, all the guys I train with have none of the issues I’ve mentioned above and speaking with previous apprentices it seems to be a common theme just within our team but our manager won’t do f all about it

Any wise words on how to move forward?

Hey folks - lobbing out a question to all of you - any level of tenure and experience is welcome with big strapping open arms.

I’ve talked to loads of utilities across the U.S. - they all structure training for you guys a hundred different ways - sometimes training is thoughtfully built out, sometimes it’s haphazardly thrown together. I’m trying to understand what you all prefer so when they talk about how to make improvements, I can guide them towards adding your preferences.

Do you like your utility’s current training structure? What do they do that you like/hate? What would you want to see more or less of?

Beyond OSHA required training, do they focus on technical training? Do you want that? What topics/skills would you want to see?

Preference: OJT, online access, toolbox talks, onsite with your colleagues and a trainer, offsite, etc…a combination?

Finally, how often would you want training if it was valuable to you?

Hope ya’ll have an exceptional Wednesday! I’m in Florida and appreciate all the work you did restoring my power after Milton.