Should there be a minimum experience (years) for fuel tank driver?

Hell yes.

One company that hired me had a tanker division. I was 21 at the time. Fresh from sea cans and god knows what else. Was told I will be running fuel when I bust 25 for insurance purposes. Until then it's either bulk cement or stone.

I had a uncle who was celebrated by generals for hauling twice the authroized load of gas cans on his deuce and half in Red Ball during ww2 under fire from the luftwaffe and other forces. And he survived a total runaway on big savage into Cumberland MD in the 50's (Only to quit and ride train home to baltimore... that was a gas load. before I-68 and big wall)

You will want a few years to get rid of the youth, inexperience and other challenges that early in life before you run fuel. Generally the gas station waiting on you is hours prior to running out and there will be a awful lot of people wanting that gas during morning rush. It's not the time to be messing around.

Im happy never to run fuel. In Baltimore about once a year on 695 and 83 where it burrows under the bridges a tanker will smash up and cremate everything.

 

Ok, let's not freak this person out. Are gas tankers dangerous, you bet, but we have to remember, billions and billions of gallons of gas have successfully been delivered, like motorcycle crashes, we only hear of the few crashes. A lot of fuel gets delivered at night, and you may never even go to a gas station, there's many places tankers go where there's no danger. Modern gas stations usually have the delivery holes way in the back now, it's a lot different than it used to be. Tell you what, you haul gas for a living, you get a tip of the hat from me. They are truly a cut above.

 

The person is considering driving an overgrown bomb on the streets of this country and you say: "Ok, let's not freak this person out." ???? I think it would be healthy for a little freak out in the decision to or not to do this. In this case, no fear equals stupidity.

 

Yeah, it's been tried, scare tactics, and doesn't work well. Let's just be glad everybody doesn't have your attitude, or this country would stop short. How do you think diesel fuel gets to your precious truck stop?

 

My attitude exists from working a very dangerous job as my career. When we had accidents, people died. I tested electrical apparatus. We considered if you don't have any fear. That is unsafe... period. That's what a fool does. Fools end up dead.
Last winter, I had a driver of gasoline fired. This young kid had no fear whatsoever for what he was doing. He decided to play chicken, with a loaded tanker, on ice. I did not waver. Decided if we wreck, we wreck. The truck I was driving couldn't handle the ice outside the two paths of pavement that were exposed in my lane. In a straight truck, there isn't enough weight on the front wheels. It handles badly on ice. So anyways... This kid, was probably just out of CDL school. Had no fear whatsoever in what he was doing. When his supervisor emailed me back. He had only one thing to say: "Give me a truck number."
I never intended this to be just an argument. I hope you will stop it from being just that also. I have seriously considered gasoline tanker myself. With the same company I got that punk fired from. Get it through... When dealing with dangerous. It is wise to have some fear of what you are doing. Otherwise you are nothing but fodder, looking for a place to die.

 

Winner.

 

I feel like the guy the OP is talking about also posted in another trucking forum. The attitudes between the two forums is very different lol

 

Thanks, man, perhaps I jumped the gun a bit. You probably saved someones life, including the young driver. I don't know if I'd call him a punk, just inexperienced, and young and ####y, I wasn't any different, but you're right, gasoline is not a load of gravel. Can you believe, I've talked to people that had no idea how gas got to the station. ( like my ex-wife) Through an underground pipe, of some sort. Take care, pal.

 

I don't detect any animosity between the two of you thankfully.

My sense of .. hunts for words... over the top #### the torpedos advance forward style is a opposite reflection of what I sometimes feel inside, OH &^%$ im scared.

Being scared is good. It's bad when it breaks your mind and you fail to be rational and make reasoned decisions during battle that sparked the fear verging on panic.

I'll leave it here.

Tanker work is something, Ive done it. But never with fuels and not with gas. It's just me. I could not do it even if you paid me a million. I know my limits.

 

Nah, I'm too old to fight. While fuel wasn't my cup of tea, I did haul liquid manure to the fields for a summer. It was a disgusting job,,,,but I was driving a new Pete 359 day cab, so it kind of worked itself out. THAT'S where I got my "tanker yanker" smarts.