Herb Barrett studied petroleum engineering at the University of Oklahoma, leaving to work for Halliburton in the machine shop and as a cement truck driver. In 1951, he went to work on the pump trucks in Harvey and transferred back to Houma in 1952. After serving some time in the Army, he went back to work for Halliburton as a diesel mechanic until 1971. After going to school to study mechanics, he spent the last 13-14 years of his career working for Duplantis Trucking.