Questions about what it's like to drive a tank

Driving a smooth bore food grade tank you will have what is called "surge". You will get used to it and learn how to control it to keep it to a minimum. If you lean in the seat going around a curve you're probably going too fast.
I've pulled self loading pneumatic, cryogenic, LPG (propylene), hazmat (caustic soda... real nasty stuff btw) All it takes is common sense.
I'd start with food grade (milk, juice and corn syrup) as it used to be good to haul and easier to get your foot in the door.
Good luck.

 

As you doing the job safely you won't have any problems and I've seen women tanker drivers pays really well

 

I usually don't even notice surge anymore unless I really get popped, pretty rare that happens though. Tankers do a lot of live load and unloads but usually we don't wait too long. It happens occasionally though. I imagine the main draw to tankers is the pay and the customers. We don't deal with a lot of sitting behind hundreds of trucks and wasting time...Usually. Basically tanking is the easiest and best money I've made.

Also, I promise, surge really isn't all its cracked up to be. Also, most chemical tanks are smoothbore. I've never even seen a baffled tank.

 

Things I hate in tanking.
1. Pump offs.
2. When the fill line is 400 ft from the discharge valve.
3. Stupid plant safety videos.
4. The "we don't have room in the tank" response.
5. The "we are mixing the batch" response.
6. Stupid plant safety videos.
7. HIT
8. Stupid useless plant safety videos.
9. Nalco....enough said.
10. Constantly being pitied about how I "drive a bomb"
11. Stupid, useless, "do you think i'm even actually watching this" safety videos.

 

Now tell us what you like Top 10 lol

 

1. Plants that don't have stupid safety videos.
2. The money!!!
3. That I get paid for just about everything.
4. That I don't have to worry about axle weight and that we almost always scale before we even leave the shipper.
5. That I can idle.....you know because of HIT
6. 12'6 tractor, low bridges and branches aren't as much of a problem.
7. Most customers are pretty decent people.
8. B.Sing with the other drivers while unloading.
9. That a tank wash can add hundreds of miles to your load.
10. Shorter trailer.

 

I do want to get into tanker work once I get my one year in

 

Best decision I ever made.

 

Where are you located? There are hazmat companies that even train graduates, much less requiring 3 years exp. My only hatred was wearing the Chem suit and respirator standing outside when it was 100+ degrees.