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Teen opens mobile shower for grimy North Dakota oil workers

The Seattle Times -- It took little more than a day for 18-year-old Evan Jensen to smell opportunity in North Dakota's booming oil patch.

The recent high-school graduate got a whiff of himself and his 21-year-old brother, Justin. The two had been sleeping in a pickup while looking for work in the oil fields of western North Dakota.

"We smelled," he said. "Bad."

Thousands of workers have descended on the region to seek their fortune in the oil fields, and housing construction and growth of brick-and-mortar businesses haven't kept up.

The closest shower to Jensen was at a truck stop some 60 miles away. It was expensive and filthy and the wait was several hours long.

That's when the idea for a mobile shower hit him harder than the reek of his own B.O.

"There are a lot of necessities that aren't available...

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Submitted Sep 04, 2012 By: 1studman

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 9, 2012 8:18:04 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse need more small entrepreneurs.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2012 12:05:59 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse good for the kid. Need more out of the box thinking.
RegularGasUser All-Star Author Albany Posts:994 Points:825,100 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 2:25:50 PM Ignore RegularGasUser Report Abuse That is an awesome idea.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,144 Points:625,660 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 2:12:12 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
slowpoke Veteran Author Virginia Posts:277 Points:101,880 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 10:33:38 AM Ignore slowpoke Report Abuse What a simple and great idea!
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:7,083 Points:2,144,190 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 8:37:03 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse He wasn't around in the 80's, when the boom was going on then, and similar things went on like this - renting rooms for 30 minutes so people could use showers, etc...
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,606 Points:2,374,185 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 7:10:41 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse While looking for work, what affects you the most? Realize what you have a lack of and can provide for others at a cost. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, has a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,369 Points:344,185 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 3:25:16 AM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse That's the entrepreneurial spirit!
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:7,015 Points:1,385,425 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 1:55:11 AM Ignore comprof Report Abuse Good for his ingenuity.
rollercoaster All-Star Author Hartford Posts:502 Points:567,960 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:13:12 AM Ignore rollercoaster Report Abuse he didn't build that!!!
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,700 Points:690,875 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:08:51 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Only in America. Good job guys.
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,639 Points:1,538,005 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:04:43 AM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse Drill, baby, drill.
kzrooster Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,525 Points:544,450 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:03:41 AM Ignore kzrooster Report Abuse Thats the American way - He Built it!
Math6149 All-Star Author Jacksonville Posts:878 Points:1,820,475 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:02:42 AM Ignore Math6149 Report Abuse Please send obama to get some of the stink off.
bra0712 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,795 Points:795,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:01:52 AM Ignore bra0712 Report Abuse Sucks to clean the shower I bet lol
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,450 Points:1,666,620 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 12:01:42 AM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse COOL IDEA!
kishoreCA Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,303 Points:420,595 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:58:02 PM Ignore kishoreCA Report Abuse excellent - smart guys. wish them good luck.
radiorumor Champion Author Texas Posts:2,951 Points:782,290 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:56:29 PM Ignore radiorumor Report Abuse Built it and they will come. That’s what I love about this country.
76chevy Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,023 Points:779,395 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:55:59 PM Ignore 76chevy Report Abuse Good!
julesTN Veteran Author Nashville Posts:383 Points:164,870 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:55:56 PM Ignore julesTN Report Abuse wow - we could take that wonderful youthful innovation and clean up our governmental messes, huh?
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:6,000 Points:1,545,570 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:54:53 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Good thinking.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,307 Points:1,651,065 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:54:43 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse A shame all the drilling companies are so cheap that they will not provide some really basic necessities of life for their workers! But, of course, that is how these cheap and thoughtless firms roll. Good luck to all the small communities they have descended on!
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,174 Points:1,755,920 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:54:22 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse great idea
Tucker16 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,191 Points:564,950 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:54:07 PM Ignore Tucker16 Report Abuse Big deal.
armey Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,296 Points:310,555 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:51:33 PM Ignore armey Report Abuse Cool!
sappie Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,551 Points:609,520 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:50:57 PM Ignore sappie Report Abuse ok
nozzle46 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:6,761 Points:1,486,845 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:49:37 PM Ignore nozzle46 Report Abuse Smart kid.
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:8,533 Points:2,332,370 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:48:14 PM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse Smart idea.
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,490 Points:701,790 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:42:12 PM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse entrepreneurship at its finest...
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:8,057 Points:1,601,705 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:42:10 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse He didn't create this, someone else helped him!!! a la Obama
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,321 Points:1,138,410 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:38:01 PM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse If you can't find a job, make your own. Good head for spotting an opportunity.
Kamakani Champion Author Denver Posts:2,685 Points:1,294,660 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:37:38 PM Ignore Kamakani Report Abuse Are they coed?
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,337 Points:817,685 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:36:39 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Lol mpg611! Funniest thing I've heard all day!
mpg611 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,484 Points:597,770 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:35:10 PM Ignore mpg611 Report Abuse Just keep Jerry Sandusky away from those showers.
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,755 Points:1,168,970 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:32:15 PM Ignore NedW Report Abuse I dipped in a creek when I first started working in an oil patch.
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,817 Points:664,910 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:31:14 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Nothing bad could possibly happen in that scenario.
ggwbike Sophomore Author Montana Posts:111 Points:2,114,540 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:28:21 PM Ignore ggwbike Report Abuse Good to someone filling a need. I hope he can adapt it for below zero weather.
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,836 Points:785,590 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:27:44 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse Where there is a need someone will fill it and hopefully make a few bucks doing it.
MountedShooter Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,175 Points:767,145 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:23:55 PM Ignore MountedShooter Report Abuse Ok.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,615 Points:758,920 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:23:42 PM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Good thinking. Sees an opportunity, finds a solution.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,224 Points:897,080 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:23:28 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse Some smart guys came up with a good idea. Let's hope the government doesn't squelch their entrepreneurship.
itsjustme719 All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:612 Points:618,220 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:21:26 PM Ignore itsjustme719 Report Abuse Glad to see somebody can make some money without lining the pockets of some big corporation. Way to go!
GOBUTLER Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:1,425 Points:407,785 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:13:48 PM Ignore GOBUTLER Report Abuse good!!!
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,802 Points:2,388,645 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:13:12 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse Good first step and there must also be a way to create more temporary housing, what about all those old FEMA trailers and other mobile homes. Start a mobile home city for now.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,446 Points:1,558,085 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:12:50 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Opportunities are born out of necessity.
larharris2 Veteran Author Tennessee Posts:343 Points:524,175 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:12:33 PM Ignore larharris2 Report Abuse Good idea. Good initiative.
bojiway1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,190 Points:506,635 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:09:59 PM Ignore bojiway1 Report Abuse Imagine how it was for the California gold rush.
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,282 Points:641,755 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:05:57 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse Agree Chas -- some folks have to put politics into everything. Isn't it time to lighten up? This is a great post. Thanks. [Edited by: KAR120CSII at 9/4/2012 11:06:50 PM EST]
SandeeC Champion Author Ontario Posts:3,129 Points:477,510 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:05:40 PM Ignore SandeeC Report Abuse Great idea - good for him. I sure hope that someone can take over his business and keep it going for the sake of those workers who need it.
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,347 Points:845,470 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 11:02:12 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse fill a need and you can make some $, good thinking and execution