Flatbed or Tanker?

Flatbed is cool...the only thing I dislike very very very very x100 is TARPING...other then that I would never quit flatbedding...but since tarping is apart of it...Ive decided to yank a tank...plus u are paid for everything..even to sleep in the truck

 

My first job out of school was pulling milk tankers, smooth bore, so no baffles. You learn how to use the throttle very smoothly and to shift smooth, as starting out in the low gears with a half load will generate as much surge as slamming on the brakes. It was easier to avoid a surge when using the brakes than it was accelerating through the low range of gears, especially since they were all 18 speed tractors. Even doing a split shift took some practice to figure out it was better to use the clutch to shift than to just let off the throttle and let the tranny upshift, as that would induce a surge.

Having a full tank means no surge, but that never happened as we were always hauling under 35,000 lbs of milk.

On curves I always slowed down to 10 mph under the posted speed limit, just to be safe.

I also hauled some liquid fertilizer a few times and I saw another driver have his trailer tandems come off the ground about 2 feet when he took off from a stop sign and made a left turn.....I could hardly believe what I saw......he was running through the gears a little too fast!!!!

Overall, pulling a tanker is pretty easy, just have to take it easy speeding up and slowing down!

 

I see your from Texas, hoping to retire around the Houston area or Clearwater, Fla., should be some excellent tanking gigs around Houston I would think! How is the flatbedding around Houston as well!!

 

Thanks, I'm glad I found this site, great advice from folks who really show an interest in the new guys!! Thats amazing; in Nursing, we eat our young!! lol

 

TMC....but you have to be good about following their rules....and there are a lot of em!

 

Yes houston is the chemical world...flatbedding is okay here...mostly pipes abd metals around houston...but I dont think u can go wrong with a tank though

 

Hey guys I. New on here but seen that Maverick was mentioned in the post for flatbed companies just wanted to say if you have any questions about them I have been here for 6 years and still loving it nice atmosphere and great people to work with.

 

Mavericks have only trucks with automatic tranny. That's laziness.

 

Ole girl wants to be on the gulf, one side or the other. Again thanks

 

I read Blind Dog and Jim the Hut, both have great things to say bout Maverick, it is definitely on my radar. Thanks for us response!