Pepthedog

I want to update the thread. I'm now the project manager for all of the travelers at Southern Cross. That means I'm your one stop shop for hiring and training. I'm hiring 10 travelers to report to our company headquarters in Atlanta on June 6th for a 2 week training program. We're also going to utilize the Georgia Utilities Training Academy (GUTA) in nearby Monroe, GA for field training - think tiny houses, little streets and the ability to create any type of gas leak scenario. This is new for us as we've been training our new folks in the field on current projects up until now. If your east of the Mississippi I'll reimburse mileage at .79/mile. West of the Mississippi, let's talk. Way out west we're still training in the field but I'm working on a similar arrangement with a training facility in Utah. If you've been on the fence now is your time. Contact me through the e-mail below - my personal address , or company email at kcartwright@southerncrossinc.com. Here's the link on my blog to the post I made as a technician a few years back. http://airstreamtalesandtrails.blogspot.com/2013/07/walkin-line.html

We do have a pilot project starting at the end of the month for electric meter changes. Cross country with 6 technicians. We're going to parlay that into more electric projects down the road. We'll always be involved in leak survey but this is definately going to be an additional direction for us.

Hey Carl, All of the travelers, wherever they may be. Actually our president is planning to double the size of the company in the next two years. I'm cross training our techs from gas leak survey to meter index changes, electric meter changes and everything else we can get ourselves into. This will allow us to have an even more versatile traveling workforce with even more opportunities for our team. We're currently at about 70 travelers. Sky's the limit my friend. BTW nice choice for digs.

The traveler program is growing at Southern Cross. We're actually branching out on the gas side into meter receiver/transmitter replacement (that's the thing with all the spinning numbers) and also into electric meter replacements nationwide. Still a great opportunity for full-time employment AND travel. Here's the link to my blog again. This was written about 3 years ago when I was doing leak survey in Dalton, GA. http://airstreamtalesandtrails.blogspot.com/2013/07/walkin-line.html

No it's not discouraged. Of course the more advance both the tech can give and the project manager can provide the better. The more travelers we have the better also and we're definately staffing up. It all comes down to doing a good job on your current project and completing the project that you're on as well as communicating your needs. The most important aspect is being there through the whole project. That's determined at the beginning, month or two to several months in duration. Bottom line, it's a two way street with give and take on both sides.

We're always looking for travelers and actually have 3 coming on board right now. The work picks up in spring but winter is a good time for us to hire and train.

I'll see them Wednesday and tell them you said hi. They're working with the Salt Lake crew now. Still staying in Provo but working the south valLey.

I feel that more details need to be posted about the job. Actually, I've been having people that are interested just call me and we talk for 20 minutes or so about the job then I send them to the recruiter. I do feel it's still the best way to answer questions and describe the job but a member of the Airstream Forums asked for more details and I provided them on that forum. I'll do the same here but do apologize for the length of the post. Here's what I tell people in our phone conversations. Southern Cross Corp is a company based in Georgia, just outside Atlanta. We've been in business since the late 40s. We contract to gas utility companies all over the country to do DOT mandated gas line inspections. Every gas line in the county has to be walked over and surveyed for leaks every 5 years. Some utilities do it themselves and some contract it out. We are the contractor. As a traveling technician you are a full-time employee, NOT an independent contractor. We take out taxes and Social Security and offer a 401K, health insurance and paid time off. The company provides all of the equipment you need including gas survey equipment, work shirts, and cell phone (for calling in leaks to the gas company and communication to the home office. We do have to purchase our own boots however. They don't have to be steel toe but do have to be above the ankle. I've found that hiking boots work far better than work boots as we walk 6-8 miles per day. More about the walking in a minute. Project length/hours. Each project can last from a few weeks in a small town to 6 months in a large city. Currently I'm in Provo, UT on a 6 month project. I worked a project last year in Bessimer City, NC that lasted 3 weeks. Sometimes you're the only person from the company on that project. Sometimes there may be 10 or more. In that case there will be a lead tech to manage everyone. I'm currently the lead tech in Provo. We have 19 techs here in the greater Salt Lake Valley right now. I have 4 with me in Provo. We work the hours of the gas company since they have to respond to the leaks we find. Monday through Friday 7 am to 3:30 pm is usually the norm with a half hour for lunch. We don't work part-time hours since the projects are time sensitive and have to be done by certain dates so no, no part-time work. However, a lot of our guys take the winter off since we slow down in the winter. I work all year by choice. The travelers get sent south in the winter and north in spring. When you're sent from one project to the next it's okay to take some time to visit the Grand Canyon, etc. We do earn time off like any normal job so we use that or just take a few unpaid days to see the sights. RV parks are always close to where we're working and I've never had a problem finding a place to stay. I always book a monthly rate which is usually 300-500 per month. Last winter I stayed on a farm in Watertown, Tennessee for 200 per month. The company pays you 200 per week per diem, 800 per month. If you find rent below that you still keep the full 800. It's our responsibility to find RV parks - I prefer it that way. We do hire couples and I actually have a couple working for me here in Provo. They are both employees and each get separate paychecks plus each get the 200 per week RV per diem, 400 per week collectively. Couples always work the same project and always work together. It's preferred they each have separate transportation so that during the work day they can each work separate neighborhoods but not absolutely required. The couple that work for me have 1 car so I give them maps that are next to each other. Compensation. The company web site needs to be updated. Here's the current info. You're not going to get rich doing this job but it beats any other work camping job I've seen. We get paid every week on Friday. Salary is $10.50 per hour. This is taxed just like it would be on a "normal" job. Per diem of $200.00 per week. This is an expense reimbursement and not taxed. Mileage reimbursement for the use of your vehicle during the work day is .57 cents per mile from the time you leave your RV to the time you get home. This is not taxed. Relocation allowance, when you're sent from one project to another, is 82.5 cents per mile when towing or driving your RV. This is also not taxed. This is where the job really shines. Most work camping jobs don't pay you to travel. We do. There is also a $500.00 sign on bonus. Requirements. No specific educational requirements. On the job training - usually about 2 weeks - is provided. You have to pass a drug screen and as a gas industry worker you have to submit to random drug screens, DOT requirement. We do a criminal background looking for felonies and such. We do a driving record check looking for DUI's and revocations. I don't think a few speeding tickets are going to be a deal breaker. You have to be a fill-time RVer. We don't do hotel assignments. We go where the work is. However if you want to go to somewhere specific, and we have a project there, then the project manager will send you there. At the end of the day though if he needs someone in South Carolina for example he will ask that you go there. It works best for someone who just wants to travel for travel's sake. I have not been disappointed yet with any place I've been. It's not a strenuous job but we do walk a lot. Usually in neighborhoods but also in downtown areas and rural areas. Anywhere there is a gas line. Typically we walk 6-10 miles per day. At you own pace, taking breaks when you need to. Safety is paramount. If there's a dog in a yard we don't go in that yard. If there's a dangerous neighborhood we work in teams. I've never felt threatened though. We wear reflective vests and utility company garb so blend in quite well. For our female techs we make sure to work in pairs in questionable neighborhoods. 95 % of the time though you'll just be in typical neighborhoods or farmland. Important... if you have had a knee replacement or hip replacement I would recommend you not do this. It will take it's toll on you. If you're out of shape it's the best thing you could do for yourself. Again, sorry about the long post. That's why I was just talking to people over the phone but this should about do it. We ARE hiring so if this is up your alley, or you know someone who doesn't read the forums but may be interested let them know. The best way to apply is to call me at 404-759-5759 and we can talk. I'll give you the names of the recruiter and project manager, send you a link to the application then put in a good word. I'm NOT a human resources person, just a tech getting the word out. Like I said, I want everyone to have all the information they need to make the right decision for them. Do your research. Google Southern Cross Corp and check out the company. Check out my blog and the post I made about the job. It's up higher in the thread but here too. http://airstreamtalesandtrails.blogspot.com/2013/07/walkin-line.html I hope this answers some questions but feel free to call. That's my company phone and it may go to voice mail but I'll call back as soon as I can. Kevin

Thanks to all of you who have contacted me and/or visited my blog about the job. Some of you I've talked with and I'm glad you share my enthusiasm. For those of you we've hired, congratulations. My project manager is saying that we could still use 5 or so more traveling techs though for a couple of new projects. If you know anyone who hasn't seen the post, but may be interested, please tell them about it. It really is a great job for full-timers who want to work full-time through the summer - even year round if they choose.

Also, there have been some changes to the compensation package. Good changes. Look back a few posts and you'll see the details. The 9.00 per hour salary is now $10.50 per hour. Daily mileage is now 57 cents per mile. Relocation miles when towing your rv is 82 cents per mile. The $200.00 per week per diem for rv park expenses stayed the same. I'm telling ya, if this type of work is up your alley it's a great opportunity.

Good news. Southern Cross is hiring RV travelers again. I spoke with the travelers project manager today. The spring contracts are coming in and he said we need 10 people as soon as we can get them. Please read through the last few pages of this thread and take a look at my blog post about the job for more info. http://airstreamtalesandtrails.blogspot.com/2013/07/walkin-line.html A few of you have contacted me in the past about this then the company put things on hold. If our recruiter has not contacted you yet then let me know if you're still interested and I'll make sure you get attended to first. For those of you just seeing it, feel free to message me and we'll chat on the phone about it.

I found out yesterday that Southern Cross is now holding off hiring techs until after the first of the year. As is the case every year at this time future bids and contracts are pending for next year. When those get decided I'll let everyone know when they're opening things up again. Feel free to still contact me though. I'll be happy to provide any information you need. They're still taking applications and will process those in the order they're recieved.

40 hour week, Monday through Friday. We work the hours of the client gas company so they can respond when we find underground leaks. I'm currently in Nashville so that means 7 to 3:30 (30 minute lunch). Each job goes from a few weeks to as long as 5 months. Some of us take the winter off (spring and summer are busier). Some take some time off between assignments, i.e. while enroute to an assignment out west from the southeast you can still fit in that Grand Canyon stop.

No worries. It's really a shame that so many "jobs" these days are independent contractor positions. I know it's advantageous to the employer in many ways but it's another hit to the guy trying to make a living or add a little income to his pocket. Paying all of your Social Security as an independent contractor, versus an employer paying half, has put many people in a bind come tax time; even though they know that have to keep some money aside. I believe some of the oil field gate guard jobs are independent contractor positions and many others. It's actually gotten to the point that we automatically assume it's that way. I appreciate what my company does and that was a big part in my decision to go with them.

No 1099 here. We're not independent contractors. We're employees. The travel reimbursement and weekly per diem are not taxed, only the salary is and since I'm a Florida resident I don't have to pay state income taxes. As employees we have half of our Social Security paid by the company and they offer health insurance and a 401K as well. As for the 81.5 cents per mile re-assignment allowance, your mileage may vary but it sure beats the entire travel costs coming out of your pocket.