Is tanker driving physically demanding?

Hey Arky, an opportunity has come up for me to drive and the O/O says its LACT-to-LACT. Does that mean its basically a drop-and-hook type deal or are you dragging hoses around? I'm not worried about either way, but I'm just curious as to what the general L-to-L protocol is.

Hell, I could use a little stair climbing. Being out of work has cause me to gain ten unwanted pounds. It will be nice to work it off.

 

You gotta move hoses no matter what with a crude tanker. It's not like you have to carry them around or anything.

They stay attached at one end and you connect the other end to whatever... The longest hose I handle is about 10-12' long.
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Oh I'm not worried in the last about the physical part. I'm just wondering what the general procedures are. Only oilfield experience I have was being on a frac site, and this is obviously different.

 

Lact to Lact is by far the easiest work you'll find in crude hauling. When you pull up to load, there will be a hose with a shut off valve there. You will connect that hose to your trailer and open all of the proper valves on your trailer and at the lact, then flip the switch...thats about it. You might still work the oil, but you will do it from the ground and while the truck is being loaded.

My advice? Always be very careful of working for an O/O. Most are better and easier to work for than any large company...but some are just outright crooks. Do your research, ask for names of a few current and former drivers. The main thing you need know is if you can trust the O/O. Most everything else can be worked out in time. As for lact to lact, absolutely take that unless there is something with other parts of the job. If you want excercise...join a gym...lol.

 

Great! Thanks for the info and the advice.

This o/o seems friendly and personable and he is leasing to a player in crude hauling, so I have a good feeling about it. The most important part it's he is willing and able to train, so I don't mind paying some dues while I get my feet under me.

He did offer what I though was a decent flat rate per load with two loads pet day being the norm and sometimes a third. As I said, good training is my priority, and making top dollar is secondary. That will come in time.

Heck, I'm not even worried if it's a1099. I've worked as an independent contractor in my old field so I'm well aware of the business end if it. I can do the IC thing for a few months until I get my chops down, then work my way into a more normal situation.

Of course all if this is contingent in getting the job, so we shall see. Have a couple other things going but oilfield crude it's where I want to be.

 

I would jump all over it myself if everything else looks good. There are downfalls to smaller outfits...like where I am now. You might drive 90+ miles to get to a load, only to find there is no load available. If they cant find you something else to pick up in the area, your paycheck will feel the hit. That has not happened to me, but it has happened to coworkers...my turn is coming. It can happen with lact to lact also. So, there can be bad days...hopefully that is not the norm though. Especially as a new driver, take the bad with the good and get what you need...keep movin. Good luck!

 

Alabama Arkansas, Arizona and Ohio if you are not registered with the state lol