What kind of trailer/freight to haul? (Career planning) OTR

You don’t wash out pneumatic tanks.

 

Big Maude would like that!

 

@Sapphire_Glitter, I would agree with Vic, above....because of your location (Tampa, FL area), and the areas/lanes you've said you like, you might be a good fit for either Indian River Transport, or Oakley Transport (both are central Florida-based).

A short while ago--I drove for Oakley Transport (Lake Wales, FL). Oakley wants 18 months experience; Indian River (Winter Haven, FL) wants 24 months experience (no previous tank experience required, with either one). With Oakley or Inidian River, you'll need both tanker and hazmat endorsements, and a current, valid US passport is good too (Oakley runs into Canada; not sure about the Indian). A TWIC card helps with both of them, also.

But based on my own experience, I would not recommend someone break into the tanker world with either one, first.

Personally, I found fuel hauling to be a much better way to start out in tanker. The training is much longer, with fuel--and the cargo isn't nearly as finicky to unload (sanitation issues); also, no tank washouts. No pumping off is required, either (gravity does the unloading for you, with fuel).

With both aforementioned companies--the tank trailers are UN-BAFFLED....so you will definitely feel/learn to deal with the front/back product surge (not so, with fuel tanks).

With fuel, you're home daily.

Oakley also has a dry van/reefer division--avoid that--at all costs!!!

If the fuel idea interests you, look into the private fleets, first--Pilot/Flying J, Loves.

Anyway, just some food for thought.

--Lual

 

Gemini Transport in Tampa is hiring.
2 years of verifiable over-the-road driving experience
OR
certification from accredited truck driving academy.
Need drivers for sleeper trucks hauling fuel.

 

Shampoo is unloaded the same way as potatoes?

Asking for a friend.

 

It could!

 

Tank washes, the places where tanker trailers are washed, make a crowded small truck stop look like an empty football field by comparison. The way to avoid the issue of waiting for your trailer to be washed is to work for tanker companies where you drop your "dirty trailer" at the tank wash and pickup a clean trailer and leave.

Also, out in the far West and Pacific Northwest PNW there is a variety of tanker trailers. There are a LOT of 53 foot tanker trailers which can carry over 100,000 lbs. There is a lot of double tankers one truck pulling 2 20-ish or 30-ish feet tanker trailers, sometimes 3 of them. And there is the standard for the midwest and East 48 foot trailers. Big companies like Oakley and Indian River, and others that go everywhere mostly have the 48 foot trailers. That's to say the way you pick which trailer you pull is to pick which company you work for. You can ask thetrucking company and then verify with current working drivers at that company.

 

What does reefer and otr mean?

 

Refrigerated and Over The Road