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

Haha polar opposites

 

Since quotes aren't working right now for me. I'll quote a couple statements from cmrdev:
Sounds like your buddy is the one with issues and cant hack the job. Plenty of people with zero experience that can handle it much better.
As in any profession, you can have a guy doing something for 40 years that is no where better than a guy that has been doing it for 2 years. its either in his blood or isn't.

There were two History Teachers who applied for a promotion. One had taught History for 5 years. The other taught History for 18 years. They promoted the teacher with 5 years experience. When this happened, the teacher with 18 years experience protested. They had a meeting. Told the teacher with 18 years experience; The teacher with 5 years experience has taught 5 different years of History. Her teaching has grown each and every year. You have taught the same year of History for 18 years.

When I talk about experience. When my buddy talks about experience. We're talking about the teacher with 5 years experience.
Which teacher are you talking about?

 

That's true, I've seen drivers that had bad habits for 25 years.

 

Has nothing to do with age, its about attitude. I hauled explosives exclusively for 10 years. This pic is from '87. I was alway careful about where I parked. Fuel is much more sensitive.

 

back in my day, one had to have 10 years in before even being allowed to fill out an application. nowadays anyone with a heartbeat and pulse can be hired and allowed to destroy the world.

 

There is a huge difference between being able to handle it. .... and .... Knowing how to handle new introduced problems by for instance, '4 wheelers', in an instant, the best you possibly can. And still barely avoid a collision.
My buddy (and my old boss) both know I can easily handle it. They know me. What they advise me is there are bad problems becoming worse and worse out there. Think long, hard, and very seriously about it.

EDIT: I'm just hoping the OP will make an intelligent decision. Not go flying off, making a decision based on ego, or basic ability to handle a truck. I'm hoping this discussion informs, and incites wisdom, to anyone considering gasoline hauling. And sure and H!.. 'fearlessness' has no business whatsoever driving Hazmat.

 

You saw that too? Lol I sort of felt bad for the guy. They hit him pretty hard...

 

I agree with them to an extent. I don't think someone should start off hauling double gasoline tankers with absolutely no experience in an 18 wheeler. I don't think he needs to have 10 years in, but at least a couple months or so to where they are more familiar with how a rig handles and how to interact with other vehicles on the road. Requiring some experience helps weed out the drivers who might roll their truck first week on the job. But it's also true that newer drivers are more moldable. Still, I think at least one year experience should be required before doing a job like that.