When Regulations are in Question

Anytime you find yourself being hung out to dry and maybe question that great company of yours there's a place you can call to get clarification to any FMCSR from the people themselves. They have a department setup for just this and I've never talked to secretaries or been given the run around.

It will have a phone number for each state.

LINK REMOVED

So with that information at hand it would be kind of stupid to get by just because it's been done that way or you're not clear. IMO anyway.

 

I'm very sorry lets see if this one works http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguide.htm


I hope so and thanks for pointing that out to me.

 

All you need is the hazmat and tanker endorsement to get the job then you get tested again when you're on the job. Just about all the tanker companies want drivers with tanker experience. And the best one's want a perfect record with at least 2 to 5 years experience.

What is so discouraging for a new driver trying to get into the gasoline business is the low paying and hard pushing companies that will hire a new comer and just run them to death. The driver has not set goals for himself and does not realize that the first job is the stepping stone. If the driver can put up with a year or two at the bottom and come out with a clean record then he'll have a better selection and he'll start to see that he is in demand.

Just like any other trucking business you have the bad ones and the good ones. With gasoline the best are the major oil companies. Check with a driver when you see one and he'll tell you and ask him how long he's been at that company. But don't be fooled by a dedicated carrier with the big company name on the side of the tanks. To check who owns the company look on the drivers door or passenger door and you'll see the rightful owner of that truck. A dedicated carrier is a company that pulls for one company like Shell and only Shell. The truck will have Shell on the tanks and might even be painted the same color. But when you look at the door it might say Fred's trucking company.

If you do decide to drive a gasoline tanker you should do it for the long haul. Stay in the business long enough to reap the great benefits and the pay. Just about all the drivers I know that stuck it out have 20 or more safe driving years and are set for life when they retire.