backing in tanker

Yea, I can do that, but its too much trouble. I can usually hit it on the first or second try.

 

All that and then some. We do get lucky sometimes and have a pull through station with no problems. Not only do gas haulers have all those problems but we're pulling into stations built many years ago with a truck that requires permits because of the size, out west anyway. Then you are expected to be back at the rack for your next load. Get behind and you have all the other drivers complaining because they get behind too. So no matter what goes on you are required to get out of any situations and that includes some really tight backing. One thing we do different is we only wait 10 minutes for any vehicle to get out of our way after we tell the manager of the problem. It's fun sometimes to watch the manager tell the soda delivery driver he's got to move. And of course they always say "We were here first so let them wait". He moves when the manager knows it's us or no gasoline.

 

That's bull. Somebody needs to talk with the pipeline. We had Kinder Morgan in Vegas too and granted they are a bunch to wonder about but what if you have retain on the truck or someone on the other side is loading regular and you can load the trailer with the other two products? I can't remember but didn't you have CalNev before KM? At least they were a little more understanding. All the years I loaded there I've only seen a handful of guys get locked out. I'd say go to ARCO but they been sold again.

 

For months I did that twice a day to switch to a smaller trailer for a AZ load. I hit more than I missed but maybe that's because I pulled triples before tanks. One trick I was shown is do not line up on the trailer, line up on the set of duals because the guy before you may have dropped the trailer a little off of being straight. That job I had before we had to drop and hook all night long so you do get the experience you need when hooking doubles and trips. I make 4 to 5 sets a night.

 

Nearly all racks in DFW FORBID any backing. Couple like Flint Hills ,Nustar allow only with ground spotter. Exxon,Motiva, Magellan, Kinder-Morgan, rest tell you in training. DO NOT BACK UP ONE INCH. Automatic 3-7 day lockout. Stop short all you want. Can pull up 10 times. Just no going back. Go around. Insurance requirements I'm sure. Now it does happen occasionally especially during the wee hours when the operators are not on duty.

 

I've never seen an accident on the racks ferom backing. I have seen a driver pull the truck off the rack still hooked up. I'll bet somewhere KM had an incident and someone got hurt and they got sued. The way the Las Vegas rack area was set up we didn't see any problem backing on our own lanes. We did see a problem that CalNav or KM never hooked up all the piping so we could load the truck the same time we loaded the trailer. What's next for KM, you can only load one compartment at a time?

 

Is it weird to be driving a straight truck with one of those trailers? Seems like it would be nice to not have to make big ### wide turns but would be a ####### to back up with. I'll definitely Have to snap a pic of our racks. The Motiva rack is more than 100 years old so it was built for 6000 gal trailers. Lot of old stuff up this way.
Oh and as far as getting other venders or customers cars to move you usually might as well be talking to a wall. I have never had an issue with Pepsi or Coke guys but grocery ( our own guys just other side of company) you end up waiting for and the milk guys are for the most part D bags

 

You'd be surprised to see how close the trailer tracks to the truck. Where that truck can go the trailer will follow with only allowing about 1 to 2 feet offset to the truck. There's no fifth wheel and the truck pivots in three places. Since those places are located at the end of the truck and at the front of the trailer it makes backing an ease too. I can go more places with our 85 foot truck that I could with a Semi.

 

One day I'll be able to back like you GasHauler

 

I'm by no means perfect in backing. But I've done it enough to learn the little secrets that make it easier. You'll get them too and backing will not be the nerve rattler it is now.