Local fuel hauling jobs. Give it a try!!

Is it really that low for your area? I don't live there so I don't know.

Take a look at what OTR drivers make (or lack thereof). Don't forget that they have to pay out of pocket for meals on the road. That gets to be expensive. You need to also take into consideration the time spent working for free when comparing OTR to local work. Also, look at what your hometime would be compared to OTR. I know that I would rather be home with my family every night.

Take a look at the benefits they offer compared to other companies. Most people forget to factor that into their wages. It does add up. Good luck to you.

Drive safe

 

I don't know what KAG pays, but around 8 yrs ago, Benito (who they bought out) was paying around $26/hr plus OT, etc. As that was 8 yrs ago I'd think by now they would have been around $32/hr. I have never looked into KAG so I haven't a clue about them, but I'm sure they would be comparable to Benito.

 

Being that he's talking local work, it can factor out to decent pay depending on the cost of living. I was checking out rents in Columbus, OH and saw what to me were incredible deals, in particular a beautiful 1,400 sq ft condo rent-to-own at $375/mo. So, $14/hr would be good pay. Here in San Francisco, a beat up studio rents for $1,200/mo with a move-in cost of about $3,000. A general rule of thumb for rent is it should be about equal to one weeks pay. So, in Columbus 14x40 is $560 well over the $375 rent. Here is S.F. you'd have to make about $30/hr to just meet the rent for a studio. If the driver has no tanker experience he should jump on that if only for the experience. Even OTR you do well, and actually, unlike Dry Vans, you don't have all the uncompensated wait times, you're in and out on delivery, loading can occasionally take awhile but the majority of companies pay detention pay. Yep! Just checked craigslist, a 1 bedroom apartment $375/mo and $300 deposit to move in. I tell you, I have to get out of San Francisco---no work and ridiculous rents, to rent a house here will run over $3,000/mo while in most other states it's under $1,000.

 

I enjoy reading your informative posts!!!!

 

I do believe that the pay is regional. I know because Bento got no where near that in Las Vegas. 8 years ago they were just above $15 an hour. They also dropped the number of trucks there.

Tim, I think where ever you go it will be a stepping stone for you since you already have a foot in the door with the company we discussed before. Just keep them up dated on any moves you make and you'll get there sooner or later. That is unless you find a better company. The way it was when I was there nobody paid better or had better benefits than the majors like Chevron, Arco, 76, Shell, and so on. The majors are the ones that own the oil field, pump the crude, move it on their own ships, refine it at their refinery, and move the final product on their own trucks.

And back to the OP. Gasoline tankers have the best work I've ever had. Sure there's problems on some days but I've had alot more good days than bad. The benefits were outrageous and you feel kind of guilty when you get your paycheck. Handling the hoses are real easy (if you don't have the pump hoses) and loading the truck is a breeze. The loading heads are counter weighted and you can lift them with one hand. Then you sit back and wait. There's not too many jobs where you sit back and watch the product run off the truck. You just have to always remember what you're hauling and never take any chances.

 

In the San Francisco Bay Area there are just so many refineries that Benito no doubt paid the rate I mentioned to be competitive with the companies you cited: Shell, Arco, and all the rest. And you're right, those are the companies where good drivers settle down and get nice and comfy. But, they hire from the cream of the driver pool. I do recall a lot of driver resentment towards Benito due to what they called 'nitpicking', but, with high wages, comes high expectations, and rightly so. I loved tanker work, and yes, it was very laid-back. Kicking back is fine, but, if coupled with a lack of attention to detail the results can be disastrous. Not long ago we had a tanker driver who got in an accident on an elevated freeway that so totally compromised the freeway that it collapsed and had to be torn down and rebuilt (a section of it did). That poor driver got crucified and I am not even sure that he was at fault. How would you like to have that on your DAC? The cost if I remember correctly, was somewhere around $100,000,000. That's a lot of zeroes! It is no job for daydreamers. I think I've screwed up every which way that you can, mostly resulting in product on the ground or overfilled storage tanks. But, again, it's the greatest work and I was always proud to be a tanker driver; as I have always viewed them as the elite in the transportation industry.

 

Is it a standard that tanker companies only hire drivers with 0 points? I have 1 point and was turned down by one company.. I am trying to get on with Williams here in West Sacramento. Also how long does a point stay on your record in Ca? I have been driving a log truck for 3 years and the The company I work for is closing the mill I work at. I am going to transfer to another mill but I think the lumber industy is going to be down for the next few years, so I am hoping to get on with someone hauling fuel.

 

Anyone know anything about Coastal Fuel transportation?
I'm thinking about working for them hauling fuel but i don't want to go in with knowing anything about the company.

 

I know for a fact that Williams will not hold 1 pt against (by the way, if ticket in commercial veh. it's 1.5 pts) The only way that 1 ticket could possibly harm you is if Safety finds that the nature of the tickets indicates a lack, or serious lack of regard, for safety. They are a very good company to go with, though. Pts stay on your record for three years. They come off your MVR three years from violation, but insurers often determine conviction date to be the controlling date. Good Luck with Willaims.

 

They hauled alot of our diesel out of Las Vegas and I know them as a common carrrier. Not the best but not the worse either. If you're coming in with little experience then I'd say go for it. Keep your record clean and it can lead to a great job.