No CDL or Experience but want to get into hauling Cryogenics-What path should I take?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Bringling, Apr 27, 2015.

  1. Bringling

    Bringling Bobtail Member

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    I've heard great things about hauling cryogenics, and have decided to pursue it.

    With no experience trucking and no CDL, I was going to take the path of going to SWIFT trucking school and driving for them for a year, then switching over to a cryogenics hauling company.

    Is this a good way of going about things? Or is there a better path?
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    You need to get right in to tankers from day one if you want cryogenics.
    Schneider Bulk hires new CDL grads for hazmat/tanker and will pay for CDL school or reimburse you for CDL school tuition.
    There's several other hazmat/tanker companies that hire new CDL grads also.
    Don't waste time with reefers, flatbeds or dry van if you really want tankers.

    CTL Transportation has their own CDL school in Florida and sponsors new drivers in C-1 Truck Driver Training in other states. Maybe worth a phone call.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2015
  4. FozzyNOK

    FozzyNOK Road Train Member

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    Cryogenics was kind of boring to me.. Other than just cooling the pump down.. its not much different that hauling other liquids
     
  5. Bringling

    Bringling Bobtail Member

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    From what I understand, cryogenics provides the most organization and highest pay. Well... cryogenics and oversize hauling.

    Am I wrong? Total newbie here.

    (Though, I also understand both of these are a teams situation, and I really wouldn't mind--and might actually prefer--the alternate option of sleeping in a Holiday Inn each night :)
     
  6. FozzyNOK

    FozzyNOK Road Train Member

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    That was not my personal experience, I ran a day cab and was doing shift work starting around 1500 each day. I would run normally two loads per day. Some were very easy and some (like most very other trucking gig) was pretty nightmarish. One of the worst was delivering LOX up on a man made lake right near the dam. Entering required opening and re-locking 13 different gates to get to the top and then out the other side. You HAD to offload at the tank because the way out was over the dam and back out to the highway. Pretty spooky at night.
     
  7. Pmracing

    Pmracing Road Train Member

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    Or did you think it was like hauling Walt Disney's (supposedly) frozen head?

    Mikeeee
     
  8. Bringling

    Bringling Bobtail Member

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    I don't need much stimulation to the work; my goals are highest pay and organization. I would have listed the USPS as well, but that's so unattainable I don't want to consider it now. I'm also considering LTL with a company like ABF.

    Cryogenics just seemed like the easiest path, and I want to move forward ASAP. I really don't have enough information to know. But y'all do!
     
  9. plant

    plant Heavy Load Member

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    How did you come to the conclusion that cryo was the be all end all? The reason I ask is because I considered working for air liquide, but all things considered (schedule, commute, pay, etc) I went with fuel hauling instead. Now I'm not saying cryo isn't a good option, just pointing out that there are high paying top tier companies in every discipline whether it's tank, van, flat, reefer, etc. And for what it's worth I worked for Swift for 2 years and got my CDL through them before switching to gasoline tankers, so I support that path. I had a good experience at Swift flatbed division.
     
  10. Bringling

    Bringling Bobtail Member

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    Goodness I have poor website searching skills...

    And just like that, my goal changes to fuel hauling. That's exactly the type of correction I was hoping to receive. As I look it up now, I'm dumbfounded that this kind of work escaped my research. It comes across as more ideal for me than anything. And I'm amazed that overtime exists for some companies in this field. I wanted that, and thought I wouldn't find it anywhere.

    Cryogenics just had structure, no rush, ease of work, high pay, and a strong constant need for worthwhile drivers, so gaining a position would be more effortlessly accomplished with the right experience. Plus, there was quite a bit of findable information about it and more positive than negative. A lot of umbrella generalizations mentioned too in this field that applied to most companies in it, as opposed to a few limited ones.

    Truth is, I'm so so new, I don't know and haven't experienced enough to truly know what I want; I just need a strong goal that satisfies my purposes for getting into trucking at all--something that keeps the certainty and motivation way up.
     
  11. DrtyDiesel

    DrtyDiesel Road Train Member

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    Where are you located?

    I live in Jacksonville, FL. I ran OTR two years before going to work hauling fuel. I made $57k my 1st year with fuel, I recently switched companies though, still hauling fuel, just higher pay.

    Also, a lot of companies require 2-3 years experience before they'll hire you
     
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