tanker wages discussion

I'm kinda of a jack of all trades and master of none type tanker driver. Work for groendyke here in ks. Hauling gas,jet,road oil,propane,chemicals. The gas and chem works pays a bit differant. Gas is paid by the load on a sliding scale in 0-10 mile increments up to 115 then all other work is 25% of the load. Have both a daycab and sleeper truck depending on what work they need me on. Typically work 6 on 1 off to max my hours and pay. Company has been hiring alot of really bad drivers of late making all of us look bad

 

Running upper Midwest from the Houston area hauling everything from kosher glycol to jet fuel I average $.50-$.52 per mile from preferred mileage guide, after 2 hours free time I get $16.50 per for delays, with uniforms and all health insurance on myself being company paid. I have to pay $22 per week for my wife's healthcare insurance. I never run illegal unless I want to.

Oh yeah we have one safety meeting per month which pays $37.50 for about 2 hours plus a buffet breakfast at Holiday Inn. Last year was just over $84k

 

I'd say a average day here hauling gas would be 200-300$ working 10-14hr day most liking pulling 3-4 loads.

On the chemical side depends on the chemical rate since were paid on % but anywhere from 180-350 a day.

Alot of "good drivers" would rather drive a large car 70+mph truck and not have the elogs. I believe it to be also just hiring steering wheel holder's to keep up with loads.

 

Yes, being the type of work it is, sometimes your on the schedule and the work gets cancelled. Usually if the trucks are sitting the boss will let you come in and steam jenny the trucks, clean them up a bit, grease them and adjust brakes, do simple maintenance kind of stuff. I have yet to have a week less than 40 hours here. I average 60ish hours a week in total, one week i may work 40 hours and the next i may work 90 hours, it all just depends on the demand from our customers.