Why would anyone want to pull tanker trailers (as opposed to dry van)?

Other than the surge, there really isnt much to tanker, unless you are the one pumping it. The tanker endorsement is the easiest endorsement there is. Hazmat is a different story. The answer to your question is probably higher pay.

 

1) to be unique. Some people, like me, don't want to be doing the same thing as everybody else. 2) the challenge of doing something else.

Driving a tanker will bite you if you aren't paying attention, but to be honest, so will pulling a dry van. I haul coils, and their center of gravity is high. So going into curves, I know that my speed must be under the caution speed limit. End of story. I wouldn't drive a van just to avoid that "risk".

 

I typed a whole response out and deleted it, you wouldn’t have bothered to read it.

lmao, tanks aren’t for lazy people

 

Nothing like something "live" wanting to get out and bite you. It keeps you focused and the "bam bam" let's you know I'm still here waiting for you.

 

Some folks like a challenge. I don't think you'd ever catch me pulling a van if I decided to go drive full time. It'd be off-highway pulling dirt, logs or rigs. No interest in vans whatsoever.

 

Some tanker companies don't even require tanker endorsements.
Quantix Supply Chain Solutions
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Tankers is pretty much stress-free compared to reefers and dry van.

 

Upon arrival at your consignee:

When you check in as a Dry Van/reefer: "WTF do you want? We don't want your product. Get out of my face! Can't you see I am playing on my phone! Go sit down until I call you."

Tanker check in: OH Hi! Pull around and we will be right out to get you started! So glad you're here!

JMHO YMMV

 

Tanker driver probably doesn't sit in a dock for hours, doesn't have to wait for lumpers to count product or reset pallets. All those things refer and vans do. I'm sure the tanker guy has other problems but.. by your logic why would anyone do any sort of physical or mentally challenging job?

 

Other than the type of trailers and having the necessary accessorial hoses/fittings/PPE you really have to have your head in the game.
Is the trailer clean, dry and odor free? Pump clean, hoses and fittings too? The upside of that is there are only a few type of trailers used by most tankers and it is not rocket science.

I spent 2.5 years mostly training owner operators in my mack while their pump was being mounted. Usually a week and they were on their own.

Working with our rail yard manager we introduced people to dry flowables/vacuum loading and used the yard for school grads; great place to practice backing.

We took school grads through another 4 weeks of school and driving tanks half full of water on an old runway before spending 30 days with me and a few company trainers.

Anybody that really wanted to learn, did.