Thinking about where to work in your RV this winter? Well you might want to consider TEXAS and working as a Gate Guard.
So what does being an oilfield gate guard consist of?
The job of gate guard consists of parking your RV at the entrance to an oil well drill site and checking in and out all visitors, deliveries, and employees.
In most cases, it’s a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week job with each couple taking turns working twelve hour shifts. The Gate Guard company furnishes the site and all utilities. In most cases that’s done with a trailer containing a diesel generator, diesel fuel tank, and a water tank. Sometimes a sewage storage tank is also included. If not, they have someone come by once or twice a week and pump your waste tanks out. You may be parked right outside a town, or miles out in the boondocks. You never known until you get your site location.
The good part is the job pays $125 to $150 dollars a day.
Some Gate Guard Companies have lots where you can park before receiving your assignment and hook up to 50 amp power with water nearby if needed. Please check with the company before pulling into one of the spots. It can be a little like a campground, waiting your turn until someone leaves for their gate assignment and you move in. There is no charge for parking there while you’re waiting for a gate or coming off a gate.
Once you are situated you will need to contact the office for your information packets and fingerprint cards. You may need to drive over to the local Sheriff’s Office to get your fingerprints done.
You will also need to take your security guard tests while waiting for the application approval process. In about five days, once everything is approved you will be on your way to your first gate.
Just showing up to the Company before actually contacting them, may work in the Spring and Summer, but probably not as well in the Fall and Winter when the all the snowbirds are down in south Texas wanting to gate guard for the winter.
Some companies like Gate Guard Services, L.P. pay $125 a day or more depending on how busy your gate is. And just to be clear, the $125 is per couple, not per person. But it is $3750.00 for the month.
The company provides you a 11KW diesel generator, diesel to run it, a 500 gallon water tank that they keep filled, and a portable septic system. So even though you are usually out in the middle of nowhere, you have full hookups.
The one real downside to gate guarding is that most gates are 24/7. So one of you has to be on the gate at all times. Some couples split time into six hour shifts, making it more manageable.
But one thing to keep in mind is that although you’re working 12 hour shifts, you don’t actually WORK that much. Some sites will average about 80 vehicles a day, but never more than 130. Based on about 30 seconds per vehicle, you only actually work about 30-45 minutes a day. The rest of the time you’re sitting in the shade reading or playing on the computer.
Here are some additional Gate Guarding Companies.
Spartan Protection Services is a local and veteran owned company in West Texas. They are seeking independent contractors to work as gate attendants.
Gate Guard Services, L.P. The Nation’s Largest Location Security & Surveillance Company
Tier One Group is hiring people for oilfield gate guard jobs. If you are interested in applying, please direct your inquiry to Michael Schally by email at recruiting@tieronegroup.com.
SiteWatch Gate Guards SiteWatch is a fully-licensed and insured gate guard provider with over 25 years of experience in providing access control, security and protection services for the
oil and gas industry.
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