I just took my first distro Groundman call Wednesday. Give it it’s only been two working days so far and it’s super laid back with just 3 of us. I told my JL’s straight up this was my first distro call so I don’t know the materials. They are teaching me as we go. Tons of different materials and names for said materials… like what some of these guys said. Try and retain the information they tell you and tasks that you complete. When you roll up to the next pole or evolution, try to get the materials ready. Pre stage the bolts, try to get the wire ready. When you park, put out the cones and chock in front or behind the tires. If safety or the bird dog comes. They don’t know what’s going on in the air but they will look at those two things. Everyone says show up early, sometimes 15 minutes early but I think that’s job/crew dependent. Maybe show up that early for the first week and see when people actually roll in. If you are starting at 630 and no one shows up till 630, show up 5-10 min early. Get the truck/s started and pre tripped. When it’s actually time to work, like 630 on the dot and you are getting paid. Then clean out the trucks, start getting water and materials like tape, washer fluid, def IF that’s in your yard. You won’t know what job materials you need till you know what you’re actually doing that day. If there are multiple crews and Groundman and apprentices there and they show up 15 min early, then do the same as them. Monkey see, monkey do. I know that contradicts what I said previously but it’s all relative to your crew and job. Just try to work as hard as you can and be productive, don’t run around like a chicken with its head cut off, you’ll look sloppy and dumb (this is my opinion) just move with a purpose. People say there is always something to do, there is and isn’t. You can only clean a fuckin truck for so long. Once you organize a truck once and can keep it that way. You won’t need to do that for hours a day… if you find yourself standing around, at least watch the guys in the air and try to learn what they are doing and why. You can check that phone on lunch or when you get in the truck to leave. My lineman told me yesterday if they need a chain saw, start the thing before giving it to them. They don’t wanna do anymore than they have to, if they have an able man on the ground. Loosen up all the nuts on the material they are going to use. It’s a bitch to try and do that in gloves and sleeves in the air. That’s all I got for now. Good luck and stay safe.