OCONUS Driving

Has anyone here done any driving overseas for companies like Halliburton? I'm curious about what it is like for an American driver to operate outside our country.

I would imagine it's your normal daily frustration x 100 or 1000 as you would have to quickly learn any regs that are different from our own... and GOOD LUCK if it's a country where you cant speak their native tongue fluently.

I've never driven overseas but I do have some experience with contract work in the Middle East. I think the most important thing would be to know that no matter what country you're in, your driving will be under the jurisdiction of that government. While that sounds fairly obvious, you would have to know that although you might be employed under an expatriate status, you would not have the diplomatic immunity that soldiers and diplomats are protected under. This would mean that in countries where they throw you in jail for harming someone in an accident that was completely not your fault, your US contract company would not be able to protect you. With that in mind, in some places, especially the Middle East, you will always be at fault in an accident, simply because you were there, living in that country. Combine this with a good possibility that countries like these don't characteristically have good drivers or rules of the road, to begin with. I've seen small children standing in front of the front passenger seat of a car, looking through the windshield while their father drives like a maniac. They don't value life the way we do but they sure want their "blood money" if one of them gets hurt (or killed) in an accident with one of us, on their turf. An accident in that part of the world is not a question of "if" but rather "when," as it's only a matter of time.

I'm not trying to discourage you by any means. The money is probably exquisite. Be fully aware of your risks in whatever country and of how much liability your company will be able to carry, if any, on your behalf.

-mountain girl

I meant to say, "I've never driven commercially overseas." I have had a lot of experience driving in Europe but not as a commercial driver.

-mountain girl

I think the movie "Zero Dark Thirty" sums it up... And what MG just said. Probably great money though, if you live to spend it.

Going to the sandbox doesn't worry me.

Sorry it just reminds me of that part towards the end of the movie... something about a concrete data point and a Pakistani prison. That part slays me.

I'm interested to see what others might have to say about your question.

Getting tossed in jail for a very minor traffic accident is a real possibility here in Latin America. I have not had any problems but I know several expats that spent up to a week trying to get things sorted for an accident when it wasn't even their fault. Not speaking the local language and the fact that if you are American it draws an immediate target on your wallet. Can you say BRIBES anyone?