My First tanker job

Well not a trailer yet but could lead to it come summer.

Little back ground- I am stuck in state only (medical waiver) and finding a class A job in this small state is hard and needing a job I took a home heating oil delivery job with a local company, about 45 min away from house. I hope to get experience driving this tank truck and come summer the Co. does pool water with a tank trailer for more experience.

First day on the job I was with the owner and it started out slow as it was the coldest day we have had since last year at 5*. So after a 2 hour delay because of equipment issues being so cold we got going and rest of the day went well.

I did not drive as do not know the area so I was learning the in/outs of the meter, how to read and fill out tickets, finding the fills and the not so fun part pulling hose. After pumping out some oil I could feel the oil move the truck side to side when on the Hi Way and I was in the passenger seat should be fun when driving.

When on the road yesterday boss told me if weather turns to snow/ice we bring truck back to the yard as not worth it putting the truck in a ditch or worst! Well I get up today and 5 min out from the house it starts snowing so called the boss, he said it’s not snowing…yet… where the lot is, about 45 min. away so told to stay home today L

May go out tomorrow Saturday if the roads are clear to make up for not going out today.
Let the fun begin!
Dave ----

 

If it is bad to drop fuel oil at 30* we were ok .................as it never got that high I don't think it has been above 32* since that day. Besides when it hits 20-25 it feels like a heat wave!

We did go out on Saturday was to be just a short day to make up a few stops that were low or out of oil. It turned out to be all day and out of 10 stops 2 we could not do as the drives had ice/snow and could not get the truck even close to the drop. As it was we want back a second time and the truck started to slide side ways half way up. Oh and this was going backwards up hill around 1 turn.

I have still not driven a truck yet but when we got back to the yard we got the 95 Ford L8000 running. I think this is what I will be driving as the boss told me the Pete is his truck (darn). It is a diesel but don't know what and auto trany. Not happy on the auto trany and never driven one but it's a job.
On a quick walk around there are a few things I want to fix when I have the time. 1 is rear DOT tape that is falling off so quick paint and new tape should fix that.
Boss said the drivers door glass if it goes down all the way falls off track so I would like to look into that and the arm rest needs a little work. Also said it runs cold so heat is not great so need to block off radiator some.
Rest of the truck looked to be in good shape and based on the Pete and the IH trucks I am sure this truck is good but till I do a good PTI and get it out on the road I will not sleep right if you know what I mean.

They are talking rain/sleet/ice/snow for Monday so boss will call me if we go out as most of our drops are back country areas and not plowed/sanded till later in the day and the boss wants the trucks back in the lot at dark so will see if I work.
That's it for now.
Dave ----

 

Little update: Well been out on my own in the L8000 for a week now. I like more fuel oil on the truck than less as the truck moves all over the place with less. That makes for fun driving on the cow paths they call streets where I make my drops. You have over hanging trees to take out mirrors and the tank, pot holes & ice patches and the off camber turns going downhill! Throw in a speeding car or speeding school bus makes for more fun. I will not get into the goat path for driveways I have to back down with trees, low wires, drop offs or soft grass! I also do some High Way driving on I-95 / RT25 & RT8 so not all cow paths.

I do have some fears of having a spill by over pumping into the drop tank, over pumping the amount I am to drop at that stop (say 125 gal and it was 100 gal comes out of my pocket) or messing up at the “rack” where we fill the tank. I feel as long as I have this fear I will check and re-check everything I do and as for driving I take my time and don’t let anyone behind me make me go faster than is safe.

I use a GPS most of the times as I don’t know the roads well were I drop but we do have a parkway that trucks cannot be on. The other day the GPS tried 3 times to put me on it so I had to pull out the old map book to get me to the drop & back out to a road I knew to get me back to the yard as it was my last stop. The GPS is also my speedo as the one in the truck started to bounce around and is useless. The good thing on using the GPS as a speedo it flashes RED when you go over the limit so you know to back it down.

We just had snow Saturday and don’t know if going out on Monday as some of the places may not be cleared to get into and they are talking light snow for Monday changing to blizzard for Tuesday. So as for now waiting for a call but thinking I will be going in Monday morning to do what we can before it gets too bad but I will not push it on the cow path roads.
Everyone be safe out there.
Dave ----