The Fuel Hauler Thread

You'd have to get clarification on the rotating schedule from them specifically. To my knowledge they are only rotating schedules but I could be wrong. Shift start times were rough, 11pm-2am from what I was told. But 4 days and 41/hr is hard to argue with.

Yes the loading rack cards. The process is different at every loading rack, but so long as you pay attention and take notes as needed it's not bad. Expect about 3-4 weeks to get carded everywhere in general but could be longer or shorter.

 

This is the interview I was referring to. Lots of good info on sheetz.
https://www.youtube.com/live/cU_kRcu7R5A?si=BBJrPGl5knJPJy_A

 

Thanks @Whiteout out West. I'm watching the video as I have time. Good stuff.

 

You'll almost certainly start on night shift. The benefits of doing so are shift differential, less traffic, and cooler weather in the summer.

The only downfall specific to night shift is the fact that the loading racks shut down for end-of-day inventory (typically at 11PM). It's best if you can get a load right before the shutdown starts that way you're busy delivering while it happens and you can get back right after those who have been waiting through the shutdown have gotten their loads.

AFAIK every fuel hauling outfit has cameras. Eventually every hazmat carrier will have them, if they don't already.


As far as what else are you missing:

If you think four wheelers are bad drivers on the road they are 10 times worse in the parking lot of a gas station. I've had them run over my hoses before, fortunately I had just connected everything and had not pulled the handle on the API head yet.

Speaking of API heads, be careful when disconnecting the loading arms at the rack. Sometimes a piece of debris can get stuck around the edge of the plunger and cause a big leak. Trust me, you don't want to take a diesel shower.

When you start your shift, verify that each compartment is completely empty so that you don't scully out during your first load.

Speaking of the scully, if the plug doesn't make good contact with the connection on your trailer, you might have to use some creative methods to hang the cord from the top of a compartment door or the bungee straps on the hose tray. I've also used an extra gasket around the socket to keep the plug on-axis and keep the upper contacts touching each other. If the contacts on the plug or socket are dirty you can clean them with a diaper dipped in gasoline or a pencil eraser.

The most important thing is to remain alert and be very deliberate in every action that you take. Double-check everything before you pull the handle on the API head. Develop a routine and stick to it. Don't try to hurry, quickness will come through efficiency. And always drop diesel first.

 

Yeah I have no issues with doing night shift, I do it now. But, I generally don't interact with too many people. I can only imagine the joys of delivering to a convenience store at 2:30 on a Saturday morning when the bars close....but, I think I'd rather deal with that than the morning work crowd. Especially in the area I live.

@RockinChair, forgive my ignorance here, but what the heck is a Scully?

 

.... good luck , stop an double -check , after a few months you 'll be goood

 

Do any of y'all load at racks that have an only-one-arm-at-a-time policy?

I just noticed a sign at the Valero rack in Corpus Christi that says drivers are only allowed to load one arm at a time, otherwise the combuster will shut down "due to high vapors." Loading multiple arms at once was never an issue back when I was hauling fuel in the mid-2000s, so I don't know why this change happened. Seems to me like they need to fix the combuster.

 

None that have a stated policy...its a personal policy when I'm at the Sinclair WY Refinery and im in the east bay loading diesel, and another drivers loading diesel in the west bay. 2nd diesel arm drops down to about 100gpm, its literally faster just to use one arm for every compartment...