Regret move to utility line work

idnwid

idnwid

Location
Ontario
I was wondering if any of the utility line trimmers out there, who started out in residential work, regret switching over.


I ask because I have heard that some find it boring compared to some of the different situations residential work provides.
 
I started out in residential then moved to utility and am know back to residential. There is a reason why I'm back in residential. Utility doesn't care about the trees just about the money
 
I have pretty much split my career between both genres. Residential provides many unique exp. for sure. Anyone who has climbed exclusivley (no bucket) should tell you that the added dimension of live power and limited climbing routes as a result of that make it anything but boring. I personaly believe that utility climbing is far more stressfull. And should only be worked by guys or gals with a few years under thier belt. Either way I personaly know hacks who dont care in both of these fields. everything you need to know was taught in kindergarden. Take care bro!
 
Its a different game. It has its own unique rules. There are permissable exceptions to tree care that go with it. For the most part I find it monotonous in a bucket trimmin line. Residental offers a multitude of different challanges that I find way more entertaining. But I will say that the line clearence definatly gives you the opertunity to hone in your cutting skills at the expense of the company.
 
"I was wondering if any of the utility line trimmers out there, who started out in residential work, regret switching over."

I do not currently work for a utility company, but overall I found it less boring. the electricity is a unique and constant challenge, and I spent equal time in the saddle and the bucket. I was better compensated, represented, and had better benefits than I could have gotten from any residential company at the time. My chief complaint as a trimmer for Asplundh (& Trees Inc.) is that their concept of climbing techniques and tools is archaic. I'm no fan of uneccesarily complex systems, but the Schwabisch/micro pulley is hardly a radical approach...
 
i started in residential and moved to line clearence. I went from climbing everyday to hardly ever. I felt i wasn't being paid enbough in the residential area for the amount of physical labor and technical jobs I was expected to perform. So now that i am in line clearence, my body is thanking me and i am working on my own business to supplement income and still climb and do technical work. Plus the benefits are way better than the private sector. i didn't know it at the time but one of the clients we had hire us (for my private business) sits on the board of directors for the power company which my contractor is currently working for...its a small world.

I wanted to add too that in light of the current state of the economy, i am very glad i switched. Utility tree trimming is a pretty secure job right now....especially when the governemnt sees how un trimmed lines react to storms as seen by this recent ice storm of which i just got done working. they will demand line clearence to prevent a disaster of this magnitude from happening again.
 
I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH FOUR TIMES NOW AND I FEEL LINE CLEARANCE IS SO DIFFERENT FROM RESIDENTIAL IT'S HARDLY COMPARABLE. THE REWARDS ARE DIFFERENT FOR BOTH. LINE CLEARANCE IS TO DAMN DANGEROUS TO BE BORING AND RIGGING/CLIMBING STORMWORK ON THE LINE SIDE CAN BE AS TECHNICAL AS ANYTHING.
 
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There is a reason why I'm back in residential. Utility doesn't care about the trees just about the money

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This is the truth, at least around here. Lots of BAD tree work with little accountability. I'm sure there are places in the US where there is a good balance of tree care and utility line clearance, but it ain't here in RI.

-Tom
 
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I wanted to add too that in light of the current state of the economy, i am very glad i switched. Utility tree trimming is a pretty secure job right now....

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Yes, you should be glad you are working for a utility during these times. about the only work we do these days is things that just plain have to be done.
 
ive worked for both utility and residential and there is no way you can compare the two residential is far more rewarding anyone ever finish your tree step back and feel embarrased and ashamed of what you "had" to do to that tree also the thaught that you just participated in killing that tree not a great feeling i feel that utility is for people who jus dont give a and its just a job to them. keep the clowns in the circus cheers!
 
I think there is a way to compare the two. I believe i clearly explained what i thought the difference was. Interesting that you believe that anyone who does utility work is a clown. It takes far less education and training to open a "tree service" than it does to acquire a utility licence. At least here in the prairies. Who then should work these projects. Clown shoes are far to big and flat soled. Ive met and worked with some real pros over the years in both fields. Depending on how many years youve been at it i would assume the same for you. Like I said prior, hacks exist in both, definatly not one. The circus has alot more acts than just the clown show bro. Take care.
 
I do both and am good at both.The guys that hack them for the utility and that dont care about proper cuts are mostly our working buddies from south of here.They cant seem to of dont want to understand the concept of proper cuts. I make darn good money at both,the places that I do L.C. are alot of the places that I get my private work from. So dont say that all L.C. people are hacks. As for the Co. that beleives in SPIKING everything they are just laxy. If its a removal or dead I`ll spike it ,if live NO SPIKES
 
Utility work is by far the most difficult task you can take on in arboriculture. You have to make trees planted to close to overhead utilities by "ignorant" authorities or home owners "fit" into the regulations on distance from the wires, and try to do so in a way that it is still a tree afterwards. To work on a tree without lines nearby is often piece of cake since one just have to consider the best of the tree. I must say that topping and other"pruning" on trees in gardens where lines are not presents appls me far more than a tree being overpruned because being planted to near the wires.
Just being my finger poking the bee hide
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