Circle K

Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum

 

@Kingbrown94 --

This post is also a response to your query in the thread, "Food Grade Tanker in WV".....

Before you sign up with Circle K (or any other fuel hauler):

Understand that schedules are seniority-based.

That means you will most likely begin by working nights, weekends...and (especially) holidays (think: Xmas, Thanxgiving, etc). The "weekend" that they do give you will NOT be on the weekend (most likely it will be Tues & Wed, or similar). While everyone else is awake--you will be asleep (and vice-versa). Vacation time for your first year will be very skimpy (a week probably, at best).

Also: like other areas of trucking--it is A LOT OF HOURS. As I write this--fuel haulers in many locations are mostly exempt from HOS restrictions--so dispatch can almost run you as much as is needed.

Mistakes or mishaps in the fuel business are either very expensive, very dangerous (like, perhaps fatal)--or both. It can be a very unforgiving world.

On the other hand--fuel is a great way to break into the tanker segment of the industry.

And the experience you gain in fuel is widely respected in other areas of trucking and/or the tanker world.

When I started hauling fuel, all the above was actually attractive--I'm single, with no dependents or pets. Covid was in full swing--and the scheduling I got isolated me pretty well from society in general, so I was less likely to get sick. And I actually asked for night-shift duty, going in--because I knew it has A LOT of advantages over the other shifts.

You asked about Circle K.

I "cut my teeth" on Circle K when I started fuel hauling.

As I write this--Circle K is in the process of building their own private fleet.

Yes, the money is probably there. I do know they pay overtime after 40 hours.

It is impossible to accurately describe in anything vaguely resembling a polite response how poorly Circle K does with keeping up their equipment (tank accessories, venting systems, etc). Drivers in other areas also reported that they have experienced similar issues, as well, with Circle K maintenance.

Pretty much everywhere else I have been to--I have had a better experience.

Think of Circle K and fuel like you would McDonald's and fast food.

It's pretty much the bottom of the barrel in the fuel hauling world.

Suggestion: based on what I have experienced--if you still think you want to pursue opportunities in fuel delivery--look at other private fleets, pass up on Circle K--and DON'T LOOK BACK.

Good examples: Pilot/Flying J, Love's, Energy Dispatch (aka, RaceTrac), and Sheetz.

Private fleets, just like in other sectors of trucking, generally have better equipment, better pay, better benefits, and treat their drivers better. There will always be exceptions to this--but generally speaking, that's an accurate assessment.

Avoid fuel carriers that pay "by the load"....and focus instead on those that pay by the hour. Love's, Pilot/Flying J, and RaceTrac--are good examples here.

Hope some (or even all?...) of this helps.

Good luck, Driver.

--Lual

 

Well put. Good info

 

I had an rather long conversation with a Pilot/Flying J fuel hauler awhile back and he was very happy with them. He was paid well, treated well and said he had no complaints about equipment. This guy was a roamer and they would send him to whatever part of the country needed him. So, he didn't have any specific route or area. He was really happy with his situation, so I guess he liked roaming around instead of having things fixed.