City bus driver wanting fuel hauling

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Transit_lifer, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. Transit_lifer

    Transit_lifer Light Load Member

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    Feb 23, 2020
    Hemet, CA
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    Hello. I have a current class A but have to get tank and hazmat endorsements. Been driving transit for almost 20 years and have 8 months OTR experience.....( 13 year ago, so I know it dont count) I live in So Cal and wanna get into fuel hauling but have heard bad reviews on KAG. Theirs other outfits out here but wondering if theirs any companies that train for fuel.
     
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  3. Bruce29775

    Bruce29775 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 2, 2016
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    If they hire you, you can expect 4-6 ,week of training. No fuel company will put you in a truck and send you out with no training. You have to be certified at the loading racks. An operator at the rack will come and watch you load to be sure you no what your doing. Your life and everyone around you has their life on the line if you make a mistake. Hook up Sully, then vapor, then product in that order. Hauling fuel is a good job. Gas guys will gladly help you if you ask. KAG isn't a good Company to work for. They bought the gas County I worked for. First order of business was to cut pay.
     
  4. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    I'd have to think, anyone that had a public transit job, in good standing, would be an excellent choice for any job. Problem is, only a fool would hire someone with no prior tanker training. Tanker yankers are almost always regional, and highly sought after by many. Personally, in all my years, I hauled 1 (one) load of gasoline, I was so nervous, my hands were black from the steering wheel, and then unloading, some yutz comes out and lights up a cigarette, clearly, fuel hauling, to gas stations anyway, was not for me. There's other tank jobs not quite as dangerous, pneumatic tanks, chemical ( just as bad, worse even than gas) or just plain water, but gasoline is really tense and I'm not sure a bus driver would adapt. Good luck.
     
  5. Transit_lifer

    Transit_lifer Light Load Member

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    Feb 23, 2020
    Hemet, CA
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    I know id have to go through training. 0 accidents. Just looking for something else thats a challenge and pays just as well.
     
  6. ibcalm19

    ibcalm19 Road Train Member

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    Haul cars:rolleyes::rolleyes:
     
  7. scott180

    scott180 Road Train Member

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    Tooele, UT
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    KAG sucks but gas hauling is great.
    I'm out of the industry due to back injuries but this was my normal day.

    •Get to the yard and toss my stuff in the truck.
    •Make sure my night driver didn't hit anything or leave retain.
    •Grab paperwork for my loads for the day.
    •Check out with dispatch.
    •Grab first load before shutdown. They shutdown for inventory at the racks.
    •Go do my loads.
    •Call dispatch to let them know I'm heading back to the yard.
    •Fuel, clean and post trip the truck.
    •Turn in paperwork and go home.

    Notice no waiting at a shipper or receiver. No constant calls from dispatchers. No lumpers. Just go do your job and call us when it's done. You are expected to be able to act like an adult. It's nice to be a professional instead of a steering wheel holder. Time management is important but pushing yourself a little makes the day go by quicker. You also spend as much time out of the truck as you do in it which is nice as well.

    I did deliveries in the SF Bay area and felt safer in a tanker then anything else I'd driven. I've known people who died on the job but you'll hear the same from any trucking job. Just don't let it get in your head.
     
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  8. Transit_lifer

    Transit_lifer Light Load Member

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    Feb 23, 2020
    Hemet, CA
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  9. meechyaboy

    meechyaboy Heavy Load Member

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    Detroit, Michigan
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    this is essentially the whole job... it’s not hard but it’s very detailed...easy to make mistakes.
    Have to have patience and a methodical process. The idiots in cars find ways to magnify their stupidness when the gas truck is in the parking lot. Got to be able to confront idiots before they do something stupid cause they will smoke and walk right towards your truck and say either a. “I didn’t see the gas truck right here” or b. (my personal favorite) “my bad I wasn’t thinking.” Had a guy swerve and cut me off to go and get his pizza only to come out yelling after finding out he was stuck for an hour. Then had the nerve to tell me they shouldn’t be sending me to a gas station at a busy time which I had to explain to him it was a gas station that ordered gas cause they were running out.. Gotta get used to everybody having more important stuff to do at the gas station than you.
    As far as kag kenan.. advantage tank lines whatever they go by. Atleast by me their equipment is kinda beat up drivers frequently complain about them not getting equipment fixed.. but they’re all getting paid so..
     
  10. Transit_lifer

    Transit_lifer Light Load Member

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    Feb 23, 2020
    Hemet, CA
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    Im familiar with dealing with stupidity and idiots on a daily basis. I see KAG out here everywhere but have heard bad things about them. As far as the equipment, their mack daycabs and dont look too bad to me. Cool Transports is also out here but dont know if they hire newbies. I have no qualms about the job or anything, just looking for something more challenging and labor intensive down the road.
     
    meechyaboy Thanks this.
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