Davis H. Elliot
- Born in southeastern Kentucky.
- Has a younger sister.
- Enjoys being outdoors, fishing and hunting.
- In a pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, he is going to the gym and preparing meals.
Early Years
When I was younger, a friend had mentioned his job working as a lineman. It caught my attention, so I applied for a lineman training program. Once I finished the program, I quickly fell in love with the constant learning and versatility of the job. Traveling, seeing the country and working around people from all over is the best part of my job. Every day there is something new I learn and a new obstacle I must overcome.
Day in the Life
I am currently working as an apprentice for Davis H. Elliot. Right now we are working on the construction build of a 69 kV line. In the future, I hope to attempt to learn the trade of barehand live-line work.
Challenges and Rewards
My first job working in this trade was installing 80 ft-plus steel structures through a cattle field during the rain and snow. It was definitely a challenge, but the feeling of accomplishment after the job was complete was unmatched. There’s nothing like looking back at your work and being more than pleased with how you did.
Safety Lesson
One moment I recall is the safety of something as simple as a seatbelt. One morning, my coworker accidentally ran the truck off a thick piece of blacktop and into some trees, and we hit a tree. Luckily the seatbelts saved a lot of damage to us. Needless to say, I will never complain about wearing a seat belt again.
Memorable Storm
I remember walking up a mountain in the middle of January in a snowstorm to cut a tree that had landed on transmission lines. Packing hydraulic press heads, tools and equipment and then cutting the tree as safely as possible completely drained you of all energy. The job was finished safely and efficiently even through all the snow and ice.
Tools and Technology
I can’t live without my lineman pliers and my hammer. I use them every day, and they are by far the best in my tool board. Recently I’ve been using Milwaukee battery impacts and they are better than the manual tools I’ve used before.
Future Plans
I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. There’s nothing like this line of work and nothing that will challenge you more. For my future, I hope to one day have a crew of my own and be able to pass down my knowledge of the trade to others.
Caption: Christopher Frazier, an apprentice for Davis H. Elliot, says he enjoys his job in the line trade and can’t imagine doing anything else for a career.
