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If your new then yes you will go out with a trianer for anywhere from1 week to 6. When I went locally my training was 1 week, just to learn how to unload the tanker I pull.. Of course I already had over a yr driving so, it was for that and learning their paper work..

 

I don't understand why you're associating tankers with local jobs. If you're talking about hauling gasoline, which is almost all day trips, then you'll have to consider that just about all of the companies want expereience drivers for that kind of work. If you find one that will hire new drivers you can bet that company is a common carrier and doesn't pay that much. But you'd still be lucky to gain the experience to move up. Hauling gasoline is a job that alot of drivers set goals for because if you're lucky to hired on with a major oil company the pay and benefits are the top and can't be beat by very many companies. Also once you learn the tanker and how to maneuver that large truck into a station that was built for very small trucks then you have a skill that is in demand and you'll be able to go from one company to the next with no problem.

 

You'd be better off driving OTR first, as you will not likely get hired by any local company without experience - usually a year minimum. If you can find a local company that will hire a fresh out of school driver, cool! I'd check out some of the local companies, and find out what their hiring requirements are. As GasHauler can tell you, driving a tanker (especially loaded) is an entirely different animal that a dry van or reefer. I've never driven a tanker, and had no desire to. The doubles/triples endorsement would not be a bad one to get either. If you have any intention of driving a fuel tanker, then you will need the Haz Mat (hazardous materials) endorsement as well if I am not mistaken. After all, you can't get much more hazardous that dragging around a thermos bottle full of fuel and gasoline!

 

The more endorsements you have the greater flexibility you will have when it comes to pulling different trailers. You will be more valuable to an employer with a hazmat endorsement than a driver that does not. The same concept for tankers and doubles and triples. Of course whatever company hires you will be sure to get you additional training once you begin. Normally this is through working with a senior driver from that company for a few weeks.

 

I pull a dry powder tanker no Hazmat required, sorry should have mentioned that..

 

Is pulling a dry powder tanker much different than one hauling liquids? I have a pretty good idea based on general knowledge of how liquids behave that hauling liquids requires some very careful attention to what one is doing. This is just a curiosity question here!

 

I don't know about y'all, but just the thought
of a fresh out of driving school, inexperienced newBee driving a Big truck loaded with gasoline scares the gas right outta me.

And to think that a fresh out of driving school, inexperienced newBee would even consider hauling gasoline scares the excrement right outta me, and I would think it SHOULD do the same to an inexperienced newBee.

 

Have never driving a liquid tanker, but I know the cement we haul moves around just like liquid and you need to be just as careful going around corners or making any sudden moves as it can slosh around and cause a roll over.. Hope this helps..