If you’ve worked on a crew or walked a job site, you’ve probably seen one. Somebody pulls a worn notebook out of their back pocket, flips it open, and jots something down and then moves on. No fanfare. No apps. Just pen to page. It's what's widely known as a tally book.
It doesn’t look like much, but for a lot of folks out there, it’s one of the most important tools they carry. It keeps track of the stuff that matters: what got done, what still needs doing, what you don’t want to forget five minutes or five hours from now.
So if you’re new to using one, or just want to get more out of it, here’s a real-world guide on how to use a tally book that actually works. Nothing fancy. Just the basics that make your day go smoother.
Good question. A tally book is a tough, pocket-sized notebook made for the kind of work where conditions aren’t always friendly. Think hot, dirty, wet, or unpredictable. It’s small enough to carry around, tough enough to hold up, and just plain reliable.
You’ll hear other names for it too: drill pipe tally book, pipe tally pad, rig book, or even a drilling operations notebook, even though tally books aren't really used for tallying pipe anymore. The name might change depending on what part of the industry you’re in, but the job is the same: capture what matters, right when it happens.
There’s no one-size-fits-all method, but here’s a practical way most folks in the field use their tally books.
Grab a clean page. If you’ve got inserts or dividers, you can split things up, maybe one section for equipment checks, another for shift planning, another for your daily notes.
At the top of the page, write the date, site name, crew lead, job number, whatever helps tie the notes back to a specific day or task. Makes it way easier to reference later.
This is the main reason tally books exist. Use it to jot down:
Don’t overthink it. Write it how you speak. It’s for you, not for an audience.
Some guys use arrows, boxes, underlines, or color coding. Others stick with plain bullets. Either way, find a rhythm that makes sense and lets you scan your notes quickly later.
Need to tell the lead something later? Waiting on a part? Flag it, circle it, fold the page corner, whatever works for you. That way it doesn’t get buried and forgotten.
Sure, tally books started as a way to count pipe, but today’s field notebooks are doing a lot more than that.
They’re used for:
Basically, it’s your personal field playbook. A drilling operations notebook that evolves as the day unfolds.
The right tally book isn’t just a notebook; it’s a tool you’ll lean on every day. Whether you’re looking for basic and tough, or something fully loaded with inserts and branding, there’s an option for you.
Find your ideal tally book and get one that’s built for your pocket, your job, and your day.