Just starting out with career - Tanker or Van?

I would go with the tanker.Get yourself the experience and in a year or 2 get a local gig hauling fuel (or whatever liquid) that will pay a minumum of 20+/hr with OT after 40,etc. Think of it this way.You have to learn a ton about trucking right out of the gate. Might as well learn that plus the ins and outs of being a tanker yanker. If for some reason you don't like it, you now can already drive the truck, so a van position would be your's for the taking. Can't say that if you go van right out of the chute and decide to try tanker. (Basically I'm trying to say that any kind of specialized is the route to go if you possibly can)

 

Just a quick note: Tanker all the way...it was the best decission I ever made..I have more offers then I know what to do with but this is the way I look at it ( but I work iin the oil field) a Tanker driver with experience ) hazmat has a ton of options

 

yah i'm in a similar spot and chose tanker for several reasons. One is I'll be getting experience with OTR, tanker and haz all in at the same time. Secondly, I have a technical background and tankers seem at least somewhat more interesting than boxes, lol. Thirdly, I was able to talk to people that have pulled everything, and they're happy and settled in with tankers. Fourthly, looking at the ads for drivers, there seems to be far less BS. Basically the ads say "Here's the pay, here's what you do. Need two years experience." No sign on bonuses needed for recruiting. No promises of the moon and stars.

 

Check the pay and milage on both options . Schneider tanker pay is on the low side and from what I hear they don't get many miles .
If van with Roehl pays better go that route for a year then apply to a large tank carrier. The care more about OTR experience than tanker experience .

 

just graduated from school and got my first job from Schneider hauling tankers. Training/orientation for Tankers starts Tuesday. I hope I made the right move. Kind of nervous about starting my career. Fear of the unknown and all.

 

You will make more $$ pulling a tanker than you will pulling a van...tanker driver get paid for everything...sitting time is almost no existent because the plants and other customers get charged big time after two hours...

One other thing...pulling a tanker...you get a lot of respect due to the nature of what you're pulling..