First tanker job
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Mr. EastCoast, Feb 8, 2022.
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What kind of tanker? Just take your time from driving to everything else. Learn to do your hookups/ unhooks the same way every time. If something doesn't seem right, stop.
I would tell the people where I went that I was new at tank and they were always helpful. They don't want any spills either.expedite_it, Just passing by, slim shady and 2 others Thank this. -
REO6205 and kemosabi49 Thank this.
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I wouldn't do anything else.91B20H8, Crude Truckin', Just passing by and 3 others Thank this. -
Almost everyone you work with---shipper, receivers, techs, fellow employees will answer any questions you have. Be sure to ask questions.
Nobody will expect you to do things fast but they will expect you to do things right.homeskillet, Just passing by, slim shady and 2 others Thank this. -
Just passing by and Mr. EastCoast Thank this.
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beastr123, RockinChair, Mr. EastCoast and 5 others Thank this.
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bentstrider83 Thanks this.
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The main thing is you never want to make hard stops and radical steering inputs at the same time. You can make a straight ahead panic stop and "survive" the surge. but you cannot assume you can make a panic brake and turn at the same time unless you want to roll the truck. For off-ramps, even the slowest ones I would just get slowed to the ramp speed before the ramp started to curve. Lots of tanker drivers say always be under the speed posted at the curve or under it. When you start slow to 5 under the posted yellow sign advising the safe speed and you can always go faster in curves after you get experience. The 48 foot liquid tanker is easier to back and it is easier to see behind you while backing than a 48 or 53 foot trailer.
Follow your product delivery connection and disconnection procedures every time. Almost all of my experience with HazMat liquid was with phosphoric acid using an "air-off" procedure. That means I used air pressure from my truck or the customer's air system to blow air into the trailer and that air pressure forces the liquid product out of the trailer. Almost every load was loaded by the same customer at their facility and on their scale so I seldom did anything but wait for loading to be completed before walking around to check if I was ready to roll. Always check everything at least twice and always listen to the little voice if something doesn't seem right.
The customers in hauling tankers are a real step-up compared to the worthless and brutal customers in dry van and reefer. Tanker customers don't usually get 300 tanker per day and schedule all 300 to show up at 6 am, like other customers. Many customers have overnight parking for you and almost all of them treat you like a human being instead of a stray dog with an infectious disease.
My biggest fear was I would not do well handling the slosh or surge of the liquid. If you drive like a DOT officer is riding with you you cannot screw up in tankers. Respect all speed signs, especially on curves (slow before you turn), and enjoy not getting cussed out by a customer simply because you brought the stuff they ordered. Some of them even do all of the work unloading. Tanker isn't as rushed and frantic as van and reefer, and it pays more. Oh tank washes make a crowded Pilot look like an empty pasture. When backing under a 48 ft liquid trailer the king pin is right at the nose of the trailer. On 53 ft trailer the trailer knocks your 5th wheel plate to level and you keep backing until you connect. On a tanker you first touch it with your 5th wheel plate and connect about an inch later. It took me a bit to get used to that. Check your seals and your dome lid everyday.truckerman75103, Just passing by and slim shady Thank this. -
Don't plan on sleeping on the shoulders if on/off-ramps if you are hauling HazMat
homeskillet, Just passing by and slim shady Thank this.
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Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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