Whats tanker like?

Slow is consistent and consistent is fast. Fast is a high chance of F- up which is much much slower.

 

Especially with pneumatic tankers unloading into vertical silos.

 

Why does everyone always say things like that? In my experience it has more to do with whether it's a grocery load or not. A lot of dry van freight is the same customers as flatbed.

 

May be same account but not same group. Flat bed has to deal with a whole different unload situation than dry van. Neither are often great except with Flat Bed it's guaranteed live unload. The worst phrase I wanted to hear running dry van.

 

There is a different tanker company that hauls haz mat waste. Haz Mat Environmental Group in Buffalo NY and Cincinatti OH. About half of their trucks are based across the country where the driver lives. They operate strictly by the rules but drivers make a good living.

 

Tankers are shorter, no tail-swing, and they are lower..A lot easy to maneuver, easier to get into tight parking spots...More roads and highway to drive on...Easier to get into Walmarts, etc....I feel more apt and brave when I get off a trucking route.

 

In the tanker world...you are through with sliding tandems.

Also....tankers are much more pleasant/easier to drive in windy conditions.

Beware/reconsider any tanker job offer with a really short training period.

If you are new to tanker--look for training periods of AT LEAST 2 WEEKS.

Longer than that--if the job is with hazmat.

--Lual

 

Tankers... Where do I start...
No wait to load or unload
Good money
Shorter overall length
Lower roof height... I can go where a van can't because I'm a foot and a half lower.
No lumpers, no bumping docks, no straps, just load, grab your bols, and roll.
I haul gas, dry bulk, and smooth bore chemical. All Hazmat, no food grade.
No way I would ever do anything else
I never want for work.
My equipment is excellent.
I'm respected by dispatch, ops, and my tm.
I'm respected by all of the customers.
Many offer a cup of coffee because I'm pleasant to deal with. That also know I'm a coffee fiend...
Worst things I deal with are ignorant people thinking they're royalty and can do whatever they want.
I've had people try to run me over, drive over my safety cones, try and block me in (towing company gives us head of the line privelege) Park on my drops(again, I reference the towing company support) and the occasional tard that thinks it's smart to smoke while pumping gas.
I sleep in my own bed every night.
Is a good life if you can get it.

 

Add in that we have access to some roads, if fuel hauling, that dry van does not due to gas station location. Eases the constant scanning in town and cities for "no truck" signs.