Life Post FedEx Freight... as a Local Cryo Driver

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by McUzi, Dec 16, 2019.

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  1. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    Not a stupid question , as JPENN pointed out some liquids are heavy, if I remember correctly the sulfuric acid we hauled at to the mines which is used for their leeching process was 14 to 16lbs per gallon, so we didn't use all 3500 gallons of trailer volume, but the goal was to get as close to 80,000 lbs as possible, each trailer had a measuring rod that you hang off the riser into the tank, there were different notches on the rod, but one notch was always marked in red or orange, that was your target notch, it indicated 80,000lbs and not to go over it, the idea was to get as close to that notch as possible but at the same time shut the valves off on the stinger before going over weight, the best I ever did was weigh out at 79980 at the mine scale on one occasion, any way we never did fill up the whole trailer.
     
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  3. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    This was the rig I drove to give you a idea, three axle 579 model Pete and 3500 gal Polar smooth bore. 20170305_084309.jpg
     
  4. The Shadow

    The Shadow Light Load Member

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    Seems like a good time to ask a possibly stupid question of my own. I’ve always wondered, why do tanker companies spec their tractors so long? It would seem to me to make it that much harder to deliver fuel to gas stations, etc with such a long wheelbase.
     
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  5. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    Not a dumb question either, but that's actually a mystery to me also, here in Arizona most the fuel companies use semi/trailer set ups, as opposed to California where truck/trailer is more common, but with the fuel companies here it can go either way, I have seen companies like Coastal Transport or DRPT that seem to run a normal wheel base on their tractors, but also have seen companies like DT or Jenesco run longer wheelbase Petes, CTI the company I worked for ran a shorter wheelbase sort of like grocery spec like Raleys or Albertsons trucks, on their older fleet of KW T800s and 386s, but when they started buying the new 579s and T680s they went longer on them, I never thought of asking the reason behind it.
     
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  6. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    Did my driver evaluation today with a safety director. After we went to the second stop he told me to take him back to the yard. I thought I did something to torch my assessment.

    We got back to the yard and he gave me the talking to and notes about why he didn't want to stay out all day and finish my route with me.
    • He was impressed with my pre-trip because 1) I use the "Light Test" function in the truck 2) I told him the certification dates on all the fire extinguishers 3) I sprayed all of the external valves with leak detection liquid and 4) the biggest reason, before I hopped in the cab to do the air brake tests, I used the hand held emergency shut off system to shut down the truck before I got in the cab, instead of turning off the ignition
    • Said he has never gone to a stop with a driver that demanded he remove his cell phone from his pocket AND leave his Apple watch in the cab while we completed the unloading process.
    Feeling pretty good about myself today, big weight lifted off my shoulders and I have completed the training phases with the company.
     
  7. snowbird_89

    snowbird_89 Road Train Member

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    Does that mean you'll be on your own next week?
     
  8. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    On my own today!
     
  9. usc7902

    usc7902 Bobtail Member

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    Congrats! I’m sure it feels great to get out and do your own thing again.
     
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  10. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    It feels amazing to be on my own again, no question there.
     
  11. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    Travelled out of state today for a formalized Smith System training class today. I've done Smith System stuff in the past, so not a new concept to me. It was pretty fun though, a couple hours in the classroom and having discussion, followed by being in a van with a handful of other drivers swapping out every few miles and then critiquing the driver as a group.

    One thing that was quite different, I was told at the end to take the certificate to my insurance company and ask for an insurance discount. Sure enough, my 12 month premium dropped $121 once they processed the uploaded document.
     
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