The Pneumatic Tanker Thread

It's pretty much identical to what I drive currently. Biggest difference is in the drivetrain. I'll be going from a 550 Cat to a 475 Cat, from a 13 speed to a 10, and 3.36 rear ratio to 3.70. We spec'd it this way for a couple reasons. The 3.36 was way too tall of a gear for the running I currently do. It worked well when I got the truck and ran the big roads alot. But I'm on two lane roads most of the time now, and it's all hills around here.

The 10 speed was to save some weight, and make it more driver friendly for whoever would get this truck in 3-4 years when I get another new one.

The engine is a 6nz Cat, set at 475 hp, but I've run the truck it came out of, and it is a very strong runner.

So it should do well I think

 

How much weight do you think the 10 saves over the 13?

 

I think a 13 is more driver-friendly than a 10, especially in hilly areas.

But I understand saving weight.

 

I agree on the 13 speed. But the man signing the checks thinks otherwise. He's worried about whoever would get the truck next scrambling the transmission. My thought on that is don't hire idiots. But I won't argue

 

I finally, after two months of screwing around with Penndot, started running my new truck last week. They (Penndot) somehow lost my paperwork, and when they found it, the first clown that did anything with it screwed it all up. So it all had to be resubmitted from the dealer. Needless to say, the boss isn't too impressed, and niether am I. He's made 3 payments on this truck so far and it has 1100 miles on it. Not to mention the insurance and other fixed costs associated with owning it.

On another note, we spec'd this one with a ten speed and some other lighter items thinking we'd save some weight. It's about 300 pounds heavier. So we're not sure what went wrong there.... But it seems to run really well, and over two tanks of fuel, I'm getting right at 6 mpg. Which is pretty good considering what we are doing. Overall, I'm pleased

 

Just stumbled onto this thread. I run bulk cement in the oilfield with a heil and gd compressor. Dragging around hoses fittings and the sledge keeps me in shape. And the freakin dust sock. If i get a good trailer and short hose ill kick off 40k in 25-30min. We weigh 35 empty

 

I switched to a more normal schedule recently, I'm now starting at midnight, which gets me home around 1pm, gives me some time to wind down before the kids get home, and actually spend some time with them. But I may be making the move to hauling road oil next year. My boss is considering ordering a new asphalt tank this winter, and I've started the process of getting my Hazmat endorsement. I'm told over the winter when the oil work runs dry, I'll be back in my pneumatic. One of our customers has been begging us to get into it, and after this year's disasters, it looks pretty appealing.

 

Hey, does any one here have any good tips on removing the cement that sticks to the dry bulk trailers? The 3 stephens and hiel we bought last year were in mint condition, ofcorse the drivers dont take care of the equipment and dont use the rince racks when they leave the loading plants. So over time the tanks build a thik layer of cement on them and it looks like crap. Our wash company uses muratic acid to remove cement but it turns the tanks black then the use aluminium brightner to make the silver again. Only prob is the muratic acid only removes so much.