Local Tanker Job Update

Sorry that I have been missing lately, I have been giving this tanker gig 100% of my attention.

I have just completed training and Friday was my first day by myself. I had to endure almost 7 weeks of training. I've noticed that you cannot make mistakes on this job and if you do it can cost a heck of a lot of money. I didn't think I would be in training for such a long time but they wanted me to know how to efficiently operate all the equipment and every type of truck setup they have.

Pro's-

There's always a restroom nearby, so no more holding it in for hours at a time.

I can guesstimate my paychecks so it makes doing my finances a whole lot easier, no more paychecks that spiral up and down.

Home everyday is nice too, I'm feeling a lot healthier. This job is physical (more for me than for others since these hoses weigh more than me) so I actually feel like I get a decent workout in.

My cousin got married lately and I went to his party and a bunch of my family was there. Family i hadn't seen since I left OTR in the very beginning. I'm catching up with all of them. OTR is strange in that the longer you do it the more everyone sort of "forgets" about you.

Con's-

There can be some long hours, on those days all you really do when you come home is take a shower, eat then sleep. But the days go by extremely quick and the weekend is here before you know it for your 2 or 3 days off.

A liquid being the product you're delivering is a lot more difficult than pallets of frozen pizza. You're constantly having to check for potential leak points, using buckets and towels not to mention you'll wreck engines if you drop certain products into certain tanks.

You're outdoors much of the work day no matter the weather, which is why I'm thankful to be in CA doing this. Haha! I haven't driven in snow or weather below 40 degrees in a long time.

Driving the trucks isn't too bad, it's a combination vehicle but it has hardly any off tracking. Some of these gas stations are extremely tight to maneuver though so I'm often stopping to ask people to move their car. Curves are a lot more challenging because it feels like it wants to rollover on every single one. The high center of gravity doesn't help.

What I really like about the company is that they're not pushing you to do as many loads as possible. I average about 3 a day but I think I can squeeze in 4. However my terminal manager says for the first year he doesn't care if I only do 2 loads per day, so long as I don't mess up. But if I do 4 loads in a day then he will start getting a bit nervous. Everything is about taking your time and doing it right the first time with no errors. The terminal manager is great and so far the drivers have been as well. Obviously, I'm the youngest driver they have so folks usually call me kid. But they're always up for giving advice and answering any questions I have when on the road. There's a lot I don't know yet and my technique is still in development so I'm slower than all the other drivers but between the drivers and having a terminal manager who is ready to assist me 24/7 I feel like I have all the support I need.

So far it's going better than I thought it would be and I don't see myself returning to OTR anytime soon if ever. For many of us, OTR was simply a stepping stone to something better. I loved the lifestyle, but I can't live it for too long nor could my family. I'm very much enjoying hourly pay. I definitely feel blessed.

What's really cool is that I delivered to Greyhound, 3.5 years ago when I was riding that bus for orientation, never would I have thought I'd be delivering their fuel.

My first student Ken C. from TT stopped by sacramento to catch up with me. If you guys are ever going through the area let me know and I'll try to make myself available.

You had written before that backing with 2 tanks was tough. About what week in training did it fall into place? (How long did it take to learn?)

God bless! Scott

The first time I tried backing it was a mess. But I slowly started to understand it and by week two I had it down good enough. But dang, backing up with two pivot points is still always a challenge because if you wait a second too long to adjust yourself it jackknifes and then it's too late so you need to do a pullup. It's hyper-sensitive.

Hello there,

Any advise for a newbie fresh out of cdl school? I have been hired to drive a fuel tanker as soon as my hazmat endorsement comes through, and then I have a fresh drug screen, physical, and agility test prior to orientation.

The pay isn't hourly here, but they guarantee $800/week for the first 6 months, $140/day during training. They are also focusing on being safe and only improving your speed with experience, and that is why the guarantee starting out.

I am also considering a p&d job, but I'm thinking the tanker job is a better fit.

Thanks for any insights when you have time!

Daniel how many months will this fuel tanker company train you? And how will they train you? What kind of job is it? Terminal to terminal, commercial or retail (gas station) delivery.

I really don't want to be a buzzkill for you but P&D is difficult enough for a rookie because of close quarter maneuvering and frequent backing. Hazmat fuel tanker? I would not consider that until you have survived one year of OTR or regional work. Although that's my opinion, I believe most of the experienced hands on here, including Daniel B, will agree. Get some solid experience driving and handling the mass of the truck before attempting fuel tankers.

Daniel B had several years of OTR experience before he signed up for fuel delivery.

Daniel how many months will this fuel tanker company train you? And how will they train you? What kind of job is it? Terminal to terminal, commercial or retail (gas station) delivery.

Hello,

They have 30-45 days training, after which they will continue to train if I don't think I'm ready. It will be on the road training after orientation, with the trainer driving some and me driving some. It is gas station delivery over a distance, generally 2 deliveries a day.

I appreciate the feedback, and welcome any thoughts you have. That's why I am here.

I cannot in good consciousness recommend this to a new driver with no experience. I can't for the life of me encourage it. I reflect back when I was just starting out and I did a ton of stupid things (everyone does), you don't want to do those stupid things with 8,600 gallons of gasoline behind you.

Not to mention the surge and the higher center of gravity. These are a totally different animal than an OTR rig.

And shame on that company that you're inquiring about, they hold so much potential disaster in their hands and they're willing to hand the wheels over to a rookie.

Nothing against you man, but I think you're moving way too far forward way too soon and unfortunately, bad things happen when that happens. The thing with this type is, it can go off without warning. You can't see the gas vapors but you can smell it and the smallest things can light it up. You wouldn't even know what happened.

Please, from someone who has done OTR and is doing exactly the job that you're asking about, get some experience first. For your safety and everyone around you.

Wow! I wasn't trying to take over your thread here.

One difference is you are driving doubles and are a lot younger than me, but I appreciate the advise.

I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, so that's one positive thing here. I learned in CDL school that I need to have coffee before driving to make sure I am super alert because of having to be vigilant and keep an eye on that trailer all the time. I tend to be overly cautious, especially around curves, and stopping.

I read on here that Schneider and I think another company also start rookies on tanks. Maybe it has to do with the routes they start you driving as to how safe it is? At least the 30-45 day training works out to 6-9 weeks--sounds like a lot.

Do you normally have fumes present, or is that only when loading/unloading?

Wow! I wasn't trying to take over your thread here.

One difference is you are driving doubles and are a lot younger than me, but I appreciate the advise.

I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, so that's one positive thing here. I learned in CDL school that I need to have coffee before driving to make sure I am super alert because of having to be vigilant and keep an eye on that trailer all the time. I tend to be overly cautious, especially around curves, and stopping.

I read on here that Schneider and I think another company also start rookies on tanks. Maybe it has to do with the routes they start you driving as to how safe it is? At least the 30-45 day training works out to 6-9 weeks--sounds like a lot.

Do you normally have fumes present, or is that only when loading/unloading?

He was responding to your request. Rather surprised at your response.

One difference? Age, he (other Daniel) is younger? Regardless of doubles or not, the challenges of hazmat tanker is consistent, including surge, higher center of gravity, and crazy-high volatility. Also you will be negotiating very, very tight spaces (with cars, pedestrians, etc.) at any retail gas station with perhaps 2 months of overall experience under your belt. Do you have any idea what this is like, squeezing your truck into these tiny spaces without breaking anything?

The fact that you don't smoke or drink or take drugs is relevant to any trucking job, but does not make you more qualified to operate a fuel tanker over a dry van. Just means you meet pre-qualifications for any trucking job. 6-9 weeks of road training is consistent with many of the OTR TL carriers. Nothing special and frankly it's not really "a lot" when you consider what you are underneath. 8000 gallons of gasoline is enough to light up a small town and reduce you to dust. When I came out of my 6 weeks training period, I knew enough to get by and could have used more training. Everyone here will tell you the same thing.

No sir, the "one difference" is clearly obvious, Daniel B. had two years of safe OTR driving experience (including a good bit of it as a qualified trainer) before he ever considered hauling fuel. Daniel B is a highly skilled, safe driver, he's got the chops and has proven himself as a top performer. You have no experience, unproven. That's the one difference and the only one that really matters. You asked for advice, you got it. Really good advice from an expert. Seems like you want to debate it and convince us this is the right thing to do for an entry level driver. To be blunt, it's not.

Don't care if you take over my thread sir, questiond are good.

Fumes are all over the place during a delivery which is one of the reasons we cone off our work area. Cant let car exhaust get near the fumes and so people wont run over our hoses and fittings. Anytime you open the underground tank cap you get fumes, anytime you switch the hoses you get tons of fumes. You have to learn when and where to breathe, and when to hold your breathe.

I admire your wanting to do tankers, I really do. I just dont believe this is something for a brand new driver. I did 3 years of OTR before settling on this, theres no chance I would be able to do this job straight out of CDL school. I would have failed so hard.