Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions you have about gate guarding or other issues you have reason to think I might know something about. 
I’ll give it my best shot or try to help you find an answer. All you other gate guards and full-timers, please feel free to jump in and add your perspective. As always, what I share is based solely on my opinions and limited experiences. ~Debbie
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I would like to know about this test that gate monitors have to take to get a certificate. If you have any info I would appreciate it. Thanks Raymond.
Raymond – Sadly there is no study guide for the test. GGS now has you come into their office in Corpus and take it there – open book. When I took it back in 2010, they sent the test in the mail and I Googled any answers that weren’t simply common sense. I’ve never heard of anyone not passing it. Hope this helps.
Debbie
Debbie, We work for GGS and my husband has been ill. Going to put up our 5th wheel and truck for sale. Do you have any ideas on getting the word out? Thank you, Cheryl
hi debbie
just wanted to tell you how much i have enjoyed your blog.
also…if you are still waiting on a gate march 19th…hope not…we are leaving ours and it has been a good one..nice bunch of guys…of course we dont know what is going on but…we follow the rig and have been since nov2…pioneer oil company and patterson rig 231…very seldom real busy…each job has been between 4-6 wks and we like the chance to move around.
good luck to you both
debbie
ggs
Luv ur photos & ur sentiment.
by the look of your site, you know what you’re doing, I have a website that has been sitting idle for about 3 months, I got it mainly for the email address. I installed wordpress after seeing how nice your site is. do you think you could help me get my domain looking as good?. I honestly don’t care whose blog it is, I just wanted a place for guards to exchange useful info+
Bigbird – I’m pretty technologically impaired, but if you want to write to me @ branson.debbie@gmail.com with specific questions, I’ll be happy to try to help.
If anyone else sees this, would you offer J.P. a hand. ?
Debbie
I’m sorry, I was going to reply to Bigbird’s post earlier, but I went to town today and that always throws off our schedule. I know you (bigbird) are working non-stop, my suggestion is to find a good sub and take some time off occasionally. If you’re looking at three years non-stop coming up you will burn out. Maybe if you call GGS or talk to your field supervisor they can suggest someone to sub at your gate so you can get away and have some much needed time off.
Vicky
Vicky – I agree! We worked 264 days straight without a break last year and that was just a little too long. GGS really is good about finding subs. There seem to be plenty of folks waiting for gates right now.
~ Debbie
Hello there, just a couple of comments. I see by your posts you are in the Westhoff area. We just started gate guarding and are just a couple miles from Westhoff. So far, so good. Maybe we will see you sometime. What mobile RV repair guys do you recommend/use? I would sure appreciate the info. One other thing. We get very poor Verizon reception. Bought a Wilsons cell phone booster and it has improved our reception immensly. I can use our phone as a hot spot, so also have internet in addition to better phone service. Enjoy your posts.
Gary – I’m SO sorry. I was gone over Thanksgiving and without internet for 2 weeks. I somehow missed your message until tonight.
When we were in Smiley, we used John’s RV Repair – 830-221-5562 from Seguin. Smiley and Westhoff (if you’re still in the area) aren’t far apart so I think he’d come here. He’s very reasonable and really honest. He’s also talked us through a couple of issues on the phone and saved us a repair bill. He’s an all around great guy and has been in the business forever.
Sadly, in Tilden, even with the Wilson booster we had zero reception with Verizon so we switched to AT&T. If we’d known we would be spending the next year in Gonzales county, we would have just waited it out. I hope you had a merry Christmas and best wishes for your new year!
Once again, I’m so sorry for the delayed response. I’m wondering if you’re still in Westhoff?
~ Debbie
Hello again,
We hope to be in the southern Texas area the first week of November. I noticed you posted information about your supervisor for Gate Guard Services. Can you make sure the phone number you gave is correct? 361-537-518 appears to be missing a number?
Also, can you give any advice about receiving mail? I retired from the Post Office about 3 years ago and am familiar with the forwarding procedures. But, I have heard that sometimes time at some locations are not very long and you have to prepare to leave quickly for the next location. In those cases it might be difficult for your mail to keep up with you. If you use a Post Office box to receive mail or general delivery, a new forwarding change of address would need to given to each Post Office you use in order to forward any lingering mail(mail that has been forwarded from a previous address and is enroute) to your next location. I was wondering whether our mail could be permanently sent to where ever the supervisor’s office is and then when diesel fuel, water, or tank pumping is needed bring our mail out at that time? I know that from experience, when a person moves frequently, it is hard for the mail to catch up with them.
Thanks
Terry & Willa
Terry and Willa –
I’m sorry for the confusion (yes I certainly did leave off a digit)! I spoke with Teresa today and she said, at this point, it would be better to just go directly through the office (Phone: 361-949-6992) so I’ve taken her name and email off the web site.
As for mail – that’s a bit awkward. We kept our mailbox in Oregon and still use it as we also bank there. A friend gets our mail, deposits paychecks (GGS doesn’t have direct deposit at this time) and forwards things on to us when necessary (once a month usually).
As you said, we move frequently. Some post offices won’t even allow you to receive mail General Delivery (Nixon wouldn’t). Here in Wharton we can get mail GD, but they won’t forward it after we leave – will return it to sender after 30 days, And they won’t accept phone calls inquiring as to whether or not we have mail.
On the other hand, the tiny PO in Smiley forwards our mail, takes our calls etc…
it’s been a different story for us in each location.
Many choose to use a mail forwarding service like Escapees – but as you can see, there can still be difficulties. Although I haven’t asked, I don’t think GGS would welcome gate guard mail at their offices. You could certainly check into that, though.
Best wishes to the two of you. I look forward to hearing what you learn and where you end up!
~ Debbie
Debbie:
My wife and I have enjoyed your Blog now for some time. You guys have real staying power. Many folks would have already heaved the towel in and got out of Dodge. The life of Oilfield Gate Guarding is challenging at best and with the problems you two have had we just can’t imagine. We are in a Motorhome and have thought often of buying a 5th wheel and truck but have decided with my disabilities the MH is our best bet. We have been gate guarding for almost a year now and enjoy the peace and quiet (most of the time). You two stay strong because it couldn’t get any worse than what youall have been through. Again enjoy your blogs and miss reading them when you don’t post.
Tom
Tom – What encouraging and gracious comments. I get the ‘most of the time’ part! D
We’re up to 9 mice trapped now – still waiting for the nightly ruckus. I’d rather have my menagerie outside…
I’d love to hear more about where you’re located and what your experiences have been? If you have a blog, I’d like to add it! Thank you (and your wife) for reading and for your kind words!
~ Debbie
We just received a packet from GGS. We also received a level II security exam. Where can we study to find the answers to this exam? We’re clueless on these answers???
Vicky – I was totally baffled by the fact that GGS sends a test with nothing to study! It’s a bit like that bad dream where you forget to go to class all semester and then walk in the day of the final.
Most of the time you can just go with your gut and you’ll be right. I Googled the questions I simply had no clue about. I have yet to hear of anyone who hasn’t passed the exam. I’m beginning to think I should request another copy of the test and write a study guide! I’m confident you’ll do well. I’m won’t be back in Texas for another week, but feel free to email me if I can be of help.
~ Debbie
Hello, we just turned in our paperwork to Gate Guard Services. In your section “questions to consider before gate guarding”, you mentioned to a poster “Jill Blythman on April 3rd that you knew of a cheap place to stay while waiting for a job. Can you let me know the name and location of this place? Thanks
Terry and Willa –
Although I haven’t made it there myself, several gate guard friends highly recommend Hidden Valley RV Park in Van Ormry, Texas: http://www.hiddenvalleyrv.net/1.php
Teri has, at least in the past, offered gate guards full hook-up for $15.50 a night while waiting for placement (this was the rate last December). Von Ormy is just south of San Antonio, so it’s pretty centrally located for the majority of GGS jobs. Best of luck and I’d love to hear about your experiences!
~ Debbie
Just wanted you to know that not all of your time is wasted answering questions. We finished our summer commitment and are now on a gate for GGS working for Jamey. You and a few others really steered us right. The equipment and people are first rate. As they say here; you might make a few more dollars elsewhere; but you’ll never get the same level of support. BTW we are oustside of Kenedy, near Karnes City and you can read my blog at;
Congrats, Mark!!!! I’m so glad you followed your dream! I’m still on the road and finally have a decent internet connection. For some reason, your comment ended with at; – no link? Would you please send it again so that we can all follow your adventures?!
Thanks Debbie. We did what you did, Googled to find as many answers as we could. What’s up with an exam and no study??? I agree about the bad dream.
We got our packet sent off Monday after getting our passport photos and fingerprint cards done.
Is it pretty easy to get time off to travel and then get back in rotation? We are hoping to do both and GGS told us it would be no problem.
We’d like to here your thoughts. You can email me PM at vicky.heron@gmail.com.
Hope the remainder of your trip goes well! And uneventful!
Vicky
Vicky – So glad to hear you got everything sent in. We just talked to Teresa yesterday and she assured us they ALWAYS need gate guards!
GGS is really wonderful about giving you time off. They ask for 2 weeks notice when possible. We gave them 2 days this time (that’s all we had since we got the call Friday that we had to sign paper work on Tuesday and had a 1250 mile drive to make in 24 hours). Jamie found us a sub within 24 hours.
I’ll write more when I get back to the gate.
Best wishes to you!
~ Debbie
Just read the story on the lawsuit about whether or not gate guarding is contract labor or not. How do you think this is going to affect the employees working as gate guards? Looks like if Gate Guard Services loses they will have very little choice but to shut down because of the lawsuit amount. I had just called their office yesterday to get information about working for them. I guess that is why no one ever returned my call…I guess we will see how all this plays out before giving up our current job.
Patty – The lawsuit has been in the works all year. We can only speculate about what the outcome will be. I certainly don’t blame you for keeping a secure position for now. Hopefully there’ll be a resolution soon.
~ Debbie
Just stumbled on your blog today….Love it !! We were gate guards at Zapata,TX (in the boonies) last winter for the first time and we had a ball. Did the Cledge Clogging..We could share stories–we had a herd of horses who shared our spot. Are in Branson, Mo landscaping for the summer and back to Tx for the winter.We worked for Timekeepers but want to find out more about your company.
Thanks again for the chuckle, Karen
Well, hi there Karen! I’d love to hear your stories! We’ve had a very positive experience with Gate Guard Services. Both companies pay $125 per day. The only drawback with GGS that I’m aware of, is that they don’t ooffer direct deposit or withhold taxes (did you have those options with TK?). The equipment and support has been excellent. Feel free to write to me with any questions (my email address is the first thing on the About page).
I look forward to hearing about your return to Texas!
~ Debbie
We had an excellent experience with TimeKeepers and they do direct deposit and witholdings as of 2011. Did no w/h in 2010. They were very good about coming once a week with water and diesel for generator. The pumper truck did the black water every 10 days. We were at one gate for 4 months, as they had some drilling problems. And yes, we made some good friends with the crews. Wish we had chronicled our stay like you did. Was so interesting. Thanks
Karen
I’d like to know a little bit more about your internet connection. I’ve had an air card for several years now but have never been far out in the boonies. I bought a Wilson truckers antenna that you attach to the outside of your vehicle some where somehow. I also have a cellular signal booster from Wilson. The package says “up to 3 Watts Power”. I think I might have paid a couple hundred dollars for both the antenna and the booster. I think I read somewhere you spent $400 for the booster. I wonder if there is anywhere on the booster and antenna that tells me how I need to know to see if the equipment I have going to be worth a ‘tinker’s dam’ when I get to the REAL boonies? The package for the booster also says “includes signal coupler that attaches to ALL cell phones and laptop data cards.” Another fabulous quote says, “Up to 10 times more power than your cell phone.” Just wonder if you could help me to know if I have anywhere near the right equipment for being in the boonies.
I’ve gone back and read your blog from the beginning, so I’m beginning to feel your pain, but also feel your joy at being in a job you like.
Wish I was there . . . I think.
Barb
Barb – wow – that’s a lot of reading! That must have been amazingly tedious. Funny, I was just talking to my daughter tonight who does read all my posts and all she can say is how glad she is to be in Iowas and not here!
I’m not an expert on the cell/ air card booster.
Hate to ask you to reread even more posts but I took pictures and wrote about what we have in the Joe series: http://theforkintheroad.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/joe-series-more-cons/
I think Andy at myoldrv.com may have a list of other options and certainly gets the technical part better than I do. This has been adequate for us everywhere we’ve been. Usually only 3 bars for the computer – good cell reception.
As previously mentioned, Verizon didn’t work at all in Tilden. It’s different from site to site, but AT&T seems to have better overall coverage. (I prefer Verizon but even with smart phones, had no reception).
Hope this helps. Best of luck to you!
Hello, We were talking about the gate guarding and was wondering how you receive your mail, especially since some of you move more than just a few miles between sites. We are really trying make sure we are ready to make a long term commitment and trying to get our ducks in a row so to speak.
Pat – great question! Since we had no idea how this would work out, we chose to keep our Oregon PO Box. We pay virtually everything on line, a good friend checks our mail and sends the first class on to us about once a month.
Unfortunately, the gate guarding companies are behind rest of the world when it comes to direct deposit. That means our paychecks go to Oregon, where our friend deposits them for us.
That said, after 8 months, we’ve decided to join Escapees and use their mail forwarding service (which will be sent to the General Delivery address of our nearest location).
After talking to my accountant, she advised becoming Texas residents since we are down here full time, possibly for the next several years. That also can be done through Escapees.
If you plan on only being in Texas part of the year or have medical benefits, house etc… in another state, this may not be your answer.
Although it appears we may be staying in Gonzales county (except for one site in El Campo), that often isn’t the case, so getting a PO Box, bank etc… is more complicated with frequent moves.
About half of the gate guards that I know, have someone ‘back home’ take care of their checks and mail. The other half have gotten a local (regional) bank and use either a mail forwarding service or take out a local PO box.
Hope this is of some help,
Debbie
For more info on Escapees you can go to http://www.escapees.com
We did not follow a rig and never had one day unpaid. Went to bull pen once but job came up two hours later. On the social security, you should check with social security office. If you are not full retirement age, there are limitations on the amount you can make. If you go over that amount, your ss will be taxed,
Jill – Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Barb – hope this helps!
~Debbie
Are you ok? no post for today!
Pat – how nice of you to ask. While I do post most days, I take a day off now and then. Sometimes, I just am wordless
and can’t think of anything I can imagine to write about that anyone would be interested in. Mostly, I’m simply not a writer (clearly), unlike most people who write blogs.
Because I used to be a public speaker, people often say – It’s the same thing, just put it in writing. It isn’t any harder. For many that may be true. Not so much for me.
It’s entirely different. A post like the one I wrote today (It Was Just Kind of One of Those Days – which was too long, by the way) takes me about 5 hours to write once you add the proof reading, where I never seem to catch all the mistakes, even though I read it out loud 10 times.
I’m so dyslexic (or something) that it looks like this when I first write: I’ev had eeg no my faec, milk no hte walls, anohter beeltle ni my shirt, scoprons no my shows,
Every time I try to type from, it’s comes out form and the is always hte. Sometimes I reread my post and even I don’t know what I’m saying! Sometimes I read it and switch the letters in my head without realizing it.
Amazing that I got through college, huh?
I’d like to say I’m getting better at it or that it’s getting easier, but ya, no; I’m just as slow as ever. All that said, I enjoy Fork and enjoy connecting with others, so I’ll muddle on.Thank you for your patience with all my mistakes. Another gate guard recently wrote on his blog that there’s no excuse for typos in blogs. Probably quite true, but you’ll find I’m pretty far from perfect here at Fork and in life in general. ~ Debbie
INPUT REQUESTED!
So folks, here are 3 unanswered questions(and you may want to add your perspective to my answer on others):
1. Does anyone know anything about KC Services or Colorado gate guarding opportunities?
2. “Do you have to pay SS on that money also, and how do you do that if you have to (quarterly)?? From I-net search, it looks like that would be 10.4% of your wage to cover both employee and employer portion. I’m already receiving SS each month.” – Barb’s comment
Since I don’t pay quarterly, am not on SS and haven’t finished my first year yet, perhaps some of you who do/are/have could help with this one?
3. For those of you who are or have been gate guards; if you didn’t follow a rig, what was your average wait time between jobs?
As a W-9 employee, independent contractor, I know you need claim the wage for your federal and state income tax on April 15.
Do you have to pay SS on that money also, and how do you do that if you have to (quarterly)?? From I-net search, it looks like that would be 10.4% of your wage to cover both employee and employer portion. I’m already receiving SS each month.
Barb
See Jill’s comment!
****Does anyone have any info on Colorado GG companies? I am kicking myself for not getting more detailed info when we met a couple that does it six months of the year there, they say they love it. You’d think there’d be a lot of ranches even further north in summer needing the same services.
Dave
Dave’s original question is on the post: Joe Series – More Pros
I don’t know anything about Colorado GG companies. If anyone does, I’m sure Dave would appreciate it.
Also note Barb’s question below regarding KC Services. Once again, I don’t have any info on them. Do any of you?
Hello, We love following your post! We start off our morning with coffee and catching up on what you posted…We are thinking of gate guarding starting later in the year but have a couple of questions..1. We require fulltiime work to meet our financial obligations and was wonder if there is down time between jobs. What are the odds that once you complete one site that you will have opportunity to go directly to the next site? It seems you move about every month. Are you paid on the day you relocate to the next site? What would happen if your r.v. had a mechanical breakdown that required to be in shop for repair during an assignment? Or if one of you had a medical emergency that required one of the team to be off for a couple of days. I just heard someone was hired and drove here from Nevada and the third day one of the two broke their ankle so they were terminated since the job required two people. Seems like there would be a relief to fill for emergencies…
Hi Pat! Wow! I’m amazed that you read Fork everyday. Thanks!.
Since beginning last December, we’ve had 2 days without pay. The first was the day after our gate closed in Tilden and the second was following day, spent traveling to our new assignment.
When we joined Lantern/Forest in January everything fell into place for us. We liked the Company Men, the crew on site and the other guys who come and go. We even liked the location.
When that works out, if they like you, too, you may opt to follow a specific rig. We haven’t had a day off since Jan. 23. I’m not complaining, because, like you, we need the income. Since we stay with the rig, we’re paid on moving days as well. We just bump around Gonzales county.
When Lantern 16 was called to Louisiana, we moved a mile and a half to another Lantern rig.temporarily. We’ll move to yet another rig in a week or so – with all but one of the same Company Men we started with. We anticipate staying with them long term.
Even if you don’t follow a rig, once you get started, it seems pretty rare to have to wait more than a week for a new assignment. ***OTHER GATE GUARDS PLEASE COMMENT IF THIS HASN’T BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOU’VE WAITED FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.
I’m slightly familiar with the situation of the gg that broke her ankle. As far as I know, they would be welcome to return (although probably not to that gate) once both can work. I believe she needed time to recuperate and he couldn’t work the gate alone. I may not have all the details quite right but do know the gate guards that generously helped them out at the time.
That said, there are gg that do a 24 hour gate by themselves and that is acceptable if you can do it.
If you need/want time off for a break or short vacation, GGS asks for 2 weeks notice, if possible, to find a sub. In the case of a medical emergency, of course, you can’t give that. When you take several months off, as many do, you just let GGS know when you’ll be ready to return.
Since you read Fork regularly, you know we had a broken converter last week. One thing we do in each new area is ask around about mobile RV repair services. We’ve needed one twice. It’s been cheaper for us to have someone come to us, than it would have been for us to drive somewhere, possibly have to get a motel, lose the daily pay etc… Plus, since we have a motorhome, it might not be drivable.;) Since the oil/natural gas industry has brought so many RVers to Texas (gate guards and rig workers) the mobile repair people seem to be in plentiful supply.
I hope this was of some help. Feel free to write anytime if you have other questions and thanks again for reading!
Debbie
Thank you for all your info. Would love to hear from others about there experiences as well.
See Jill’s comment!
Pat, we are working for GGS up here in North Texas and have been since 9/15//2010. Our experience has been a wait of no more than a week but most waits were a few days or less. Plus you can stay in the companies “yard” with no costs to you while you wait.
Debbie, did Gate Guard send you a packet or anything to submit for employment? Where did you go to get your police report, I suppose before you left Oregon.
Barb – yes, Gate Guard Services sent out a packet with everything we needed to submit. I went to the the county jail in Gold Beach, Oregon for finger printing. GGS included the white sheets, so it was a simple procedure. ~dlb
Debbie, it’s me again with a question. What do you know about KC Services. I might be more interested in GG alone and the forum states they have 12 hr gates. Do you know anyone that works for that company??
Thanks, Barb
Barb – I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone who works for KC Services. If any of you other gate guards do, would you please respond to Barb?
Just found this site and noticed your question about KC Services. Hopefully you have by now secured the information about 12 hour gates. My wife and I
have worked for Gate Guard in 2010-2011 some. At present my wife is not
up to working and I would certainly like the opportunity to work 12 hour gates
if available. Any info would be helpful as our motorhome is ready to go.
Thanks,
Benny
Benny –
I wish I would help but I still have no new info. I’ll ask around and get back to you if I find out anything.
Debbie