Hello all,

 Im looking for advice or input. I've been in the business since 2008 and made it through pretty lean times. The last couple years have been pretty good and this last year I had to turn away quite a bit of work so I'm thinking of expanding. I've been a 1 pump owner operator show and for those of you that built from a 1 pump operation do you have anything for me to consider or be aware of. Thanks, Roger

My advice is to hire a perspective op, spend plenty of time with him. Teach him all the saftey aspects and drill him on them constantly. As he begins to get the hang of it begin to let him take control. Let him work through problems without your help unless it becomes absolutely necessary or if he becoms a saftey hazard. Be sure he can run a pump SAFELY on his own before you go spending mass amounts of money on new equipment. I spent over a year working with my line pump operator before he was going on jobs alone. Teach mix designs, set up procedures, pre-trip checks, saftey, saftey, safety. Just when you start to think he's ready, teach him more.  Just remember it is much much better to turn work away than it is to send out an operator that isn't safe or doesn't know how to work through a situation correctly. I turn work away a lot and I hate it but it's far better than having a green horn hurt or kill somebody and spoil the good name that we work so hard to establish.