Pulling smooth bore tankers

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by moloko, Dec 19, 2014.

  1. moloko

    moloko Road Train Member

    1,569
    1,376
    Oct 26, 2012
    seattle, wa
    0
    Looks like I'm transitioning into a milk hauling position and that means smooth bore tankers. I'm wondering what you experienced guys have to say about the difference between pulling a 53' box and a milk tanker. I am wondering if they handle similar to double trailers, as far as slowing down on your turns and such.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. chp56

    chp56 Light Load Member

    150
    33
    Sep 25, 2011
    Barstow, Ca
    0
    Imagine you are hauling a 53 ft trailer, and the only thing in it is a huge steel ball as wide as the trailer,but which is free to roll toward the front and back. When you accelerate,the ball will slam against the rear of the trailer. When you brake,the ball will crash into the front bulkhead. That is how smooth-bore tankers react. However,if you are hauling a tank that is completely full,with little free space in it,the ride won't be as rough. My first trip with Indian River,as I was leaving the yard, I thought someone had run into me...I got out and when there was nobody behind me, I thought Oh Lord, is this how it's going to be?
     
  4. chp56

    chp56 Light Load Member

    150
    33
    Sep 25, 2011
    Barstow, Ca
    0
    Also, things like strawberry purée (thick) don't knock you around as much as,say,apple juice (thin)
     
  5. moloko

    moloko Road Train Member

    1,569
    1,376
    Oct 26, 2012
    seattle, wa
    0
    So the surge is pretty powerful eh. What's this I hear about skipping gears and timing your shifts ? What gears would one most likely skip when pulling a tank...
     
  6. moloko

    moloko Road Train Member

    1,569
    1,376
    Oct 26, 2012
    seattle, wa
    0
    The way I am imagining this, is that they would handle very similar to the way double trailers handle on a tomato truck. Slow down before entering the turn , etc. my gut is telling me this liquid surge is very similar in principle to the "crack the whip " effect on double trailers; make no sudden moves basically. What do you guys think?
     
  7. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    11,168
    22,654
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Hi moloko, 1st, congrats on the tanker yanker job. Of all the jobs I did in the industry, and I did it all, the best job, by far, was the tanker job I had, but was also the most intense job I had. I know this sounds gross, but I hauled liquid waste from 1 treatment plant to another. It was a gross job, but I was driving a new 359 Pete day cab, so I put up with it. We had 3 wagons, 2 waste type tankers with baffles, and 1 old milk tanker smooth bore.. And we switched, so you never knew what you'd be pulling.(not that it mattered) The wagons with the baffles were a piece of cake, you hardly knew you were pulling a tanker, but the smooth bore, THAT got your attention. Like chp56 sez, a full smooth bore is a lot easier to pull. Problem is, especially with the waste, you couldn't fill it to the top, you'd be way overweight, which we were overweight to begin with, but we were only going 15 miles one way,(7 times a night) so it was load the wagon and go. The surge of a smooth bore will indeed ( I found out) make you bang your head on the back window (of a day cab) You have to kind of time the wave, you let the clutch out, that causes the liquid to slosh to the back, and you wait a second , as the slosh comes forward, you then can mash the throttle, and the slosh is kind of neutralized. Same with shifting, time the surge. Corners too, no sudden movements of the wheel, nice slow turns, you'll be fine. Good luck.:smt023
     
  8. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

    3,640
    4,958
    Oct 10, 2006
    NC
    0
    Smooth bore is much different that doubles. Mash the fuel hard on takeoff with a partial load and you may fell like you're going through the windshield when the load hits the back of the trailer, but only until the surge come back at you and slams you into the seat. Also, slow and easy on turns and curves. Your load can and will climb the sides of the trailer and take you over if you are not driving smooth and/or going to fast.
     
  9. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

    2,183
    3,020
    Apr 3, 2011
    I dunno.
    0
    Just take it nice and easy.
     
  10. moloko

    moloko Road Train Member

    1,569
    1,376
    Oct 26, 2012
    seattle, wa
    0
    How much slower would you say I should take a turn on a freeway, considering the speed limit of 55 in california ?
     
  11. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    11,168
    22,654
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Well, you'll see right away on the 1st turn, how the truck will lean, and sometimes, it's not the 1st slosh on a sudden turn, it's like the 2nd that puts you over. If you're any kind of driver( which obviously, you are) you'll get a "feel" for it right away.. Man, the speed thing, IDK, maybe 10 under the posted limit, not sure. Depends on the curve. Just be extra cautious, that's all. Tanker driver's are some of the best in the world, they have to be, because you don't get a 2nd chance with a tanker.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.