Tanker drivers: How did you get into pulling tankers?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by superpet39, Apr 2, 2013.

  1. superpet39

    superpet39 Road Train Member

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    Lets hear your stories, maybe there are some that "stumbled upon" tankers, others maybe changed careers, others maybe knew they wanted to from the start. Lets hears your stories.
     
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  3. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I pretty much knew I wanted to from the start. I went straight to tanker out of truck driving school 5.5 years ago. I was enrolled for a while in a Chemical Engineering program before dropping out of college and starting a 30 year swim coaching career.
     
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  4. LaBubba

    LaBubba Light Load Member

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    Feb 21, 2011
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    Chose tanker because the company I work for has a terminal about 15 miles from my house.
     
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  5. Dieselgeek

    Dieselgeek Medium Load Member

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    I liked the stability of hauling fuel, so I went down to the terminal, got the number off the fence, and called...
     
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  6. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    I was pulling hopper bottom and my employer got a contract with Griffith Industries to haul chicken fat out of Jackson , MS and Union City , TN . I saw it as a good opportunity .
     
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  7. eighthoots

    eighthoots Bobtail Member

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    I was released from Roehl transport ( accident) shortly after seeing one of my tanker companies trucks, and thought what a nice company that looks like to work for. After researching and calling around and applying at other companies, I found thier terminal was 22 miles from my house, and went for it. And here I am 4 years later. Trucking 6 years.
     
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  8. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    I started riding in gasoline tankers when I was 5 years old. My father worked for Richfield and he or a friend of the family would meet me and my mom at a place where he could pick me up. And off we go in the old twin stick bench seat smelly trucks. Through the years I would go on several trips and to some problem issues like wild cat strikes so I kind of knew what the job was all about. However, It was not for me at my yound age so I decided to join the Navy. I knew I would make that a career and really wasn't too concerned about what I would do when I retired from the service. I got out and weighed all my options. I wanted to operate heavy equipment at the Nevada Test Site and was all set up to do that when my father made a call. He was long retired then but still knew alot of people in the company so I went and talked with them. The money was better and the benefits were great to. I already had the experience so all I had to do was wait for an openning at the terminal. Now 40 years later!
     
  9. FFE Driver

    FFE Driver Light Load Member

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    After I retired from my long and fruitful career as a Chippendale's male model/stripper/gigolo/dancer/etc., I decided I wanted to pull tankers in a Billy big rig. So I up and got my CDL, then started pulling tankers. God's honest truth! Amen.
     
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  10. snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

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    I had been pulling dump trailers, flatbeds and dropdecks for the last 10 years. Im still young and got alot time ahead of me and i wanted something i could get into and stay for awhile.

    I got tired of the inconsistency of all of that type of work.I grew up around lowboys,dropdecks,dumps and hopppers and oversize.thesedays,with a the economy the way it is, factorys going overseas shutting down alot of good manufacturing jobs and facilitys here, those rates have all mostly all taking a beating by the mega carriers.

    Dont get me wrong, trucking as a whole is inconsistant at times.your never gonna get away from that.its just the nature of the beast.I choose tanker because the the gig i got a hold of gives me more work in the winter than i can handle and pays great, good work in the spring,summer and fall to keep busy but not kill myself.THe other thing is i actually get to be home to enjoy my summers more often. winter is my busy time which i'm more than fine with.

    Everything i do pays round trip, theres is no being raped by brokers that know your looking for a backhaul from the east or west coast or texas, no setting at truckstops waiting for a load and wondering how far i'm gonna have to deadhead to get one to get back home. I think most tanks pay a premium because alot of guys dont wanna bother with hazmat. my personal opinion, revenue wise and stability, tanks are they way to go from what i have seen.
     
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  11. superpet39

    superpet39 Road Train Member

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    Bay Area California
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    So your FIRST driving job was pulling tankers?
     
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