Tanker question ???

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by dennisroc, Mar 17, 2014.

  1. dennisroc

    dennisroc Road Train Member

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    It seems I read on here somewhere that when you are loading and unloading tankers you need to stay outside for long periods of time.

    I am interested in tankers but I have dealt with the cold for most of my life and looking for a driving job where I will not be outside that much.

    Flatbed also interested me but too much time loading and securing in the weather.

    Any tanker drivers care to share about loading and un-loading. Maybe not as bad as I think.

    What you think Chinatown ???
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    The average liquid tanker load can unload in 45 minutes to an hour; lots of variables, but that's average. You won't get cold wearing a chemsuit, hat, goggles, gloves, boots because they are required with liquid hazmat loads. A chemsuit is nothing more than coveralls that will protect you if a chemical spill or leaky hose fitting, etc. Those suits don't breathe, so you get hot quickly. In real cold weather sometimes I put on a chemsuit even if not required such as food grade dry bulk for Bisquick or some bakery plant because the chemsuit keeps you warm.

    We only had one real bad place to unload and it took about 6 hours. Had to push acid from the tanker into a very small line than runs across a field then up to the top of a storage tank. Brutal in the summer; on the Gulf Coast south of Houston. That's one of the variables you will rarely, if ever, see.
     
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  4. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    i've hauled yellow grease. your not allowed out of the truck. ( where i've hauled too) and i've hauled bio fuel. you can be outside or inside.

    the tanks i've pulled, though, were top or bottom fill. bottom drop. no pto.

    if you have a pto truck. you have no choice but to be outside. no way to operate the valves from inside the truck.

    loading can sometimes be time consuming also. but the unload was simply pop the top and open the bottom valve. line china says. 45 minutes to unload.

    depends on if you have a pto operated trailer or not. and what product your hauling.
     
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  5. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    With dry bulk, that will depend on the customer, some want you to stay outside and babysit the trailer, most don't care though. Some places you will want to babysit so you don't block up. I'm usually in the truck is the weather is cold or raining reading the newapaper while unloading.
     
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  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    That was acid that took so long. Unload with air pressure. They didn't want the pressure above 32 psi but when no one was around I would jack it on up to about 50 psi at that particular place because the storage/receiving tank is vented. Once it gets flowing then back it off to about 40 -42 psi. Shouldn't admit to that, but I'm retired now. We all did it because we knew the constraints of the gaskets, tankers, etc. Can't cheat too much unloading dry bulk because if you raise the pressure too much it plugs the lines.

    Those PTO's snowwy mentioned can be hard on the ears and cause or contribute to tinintis. I bought hearing protection from a gun store, like ear muffs. The company furnished those disposable ear plugs, but I didn't like them and bought my own shooting range type protection.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2014
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  7. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    When I'm hauling food grade I don't do any loading or unloading. The facilities employees do it. I can sit in the truck or the drivers lounge. When I'm hauling liquid fertilizer I do my loading and unloading. I stay local during the season so I'm never in extreme temperatures.
     
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  8. rockee

    rockee Road Train Member

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    Like was mentioned it all depends on what/where/when you are hauling. You might find some places with their own little room where they do hook ups. Others you might just have a pipe and valve coming out of a wall. One thing for sure is, you don't want to be sitting up in the cab and not being able to see your hoses or at an angle where you can't monitor things, like when a hose or fitting pops and all your product is flowing down the hill where you can't see it.
     
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  9. mattbnr

    mattbnr Road Train Member

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    I have a pto on our trailers. Get it started, make sure nothing is leaking or loose, get in the cab. Just keep a eye on it in the mirror. Get out every couple minutes to do a walk around and check on stuff.
     
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  10. slim shady

    slim shady Road Train Member

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    I lucked into a dedicated account servicing water/sewer treatment plants, hauling polymer its a really thick product, So we have to pump it with air assist which takes no more than 45 min. So I get hooked up, start pumping, no leaks, sit in the truck watching my suspension gauge. Take empty back to plant, park for the night and they will have me loaded and ready to leave the next morning.
     
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  11. dennisroc

    dennisroc Road Train Member

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    Wow sounds like a great job. I don't mind being out in the weather for a little while but I thought some say 4-5 hours standing by the truck for some trucks. BRRRRR !!!:biggrin_2552:
     
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