Pulling Tankers/fuel!!!!

My gasoline tanker rollover

• December 12, 2003
• 4 compartments (~1900, 1300, ~2100, ~2700)
• The third compartment only had 300 gals.
• 11 mph left turn in outside lane that I had successfully turned over 470 times at this same intersection.
• Coming out of the turn the left trailer tandems started to rise and then going straight (coming out of the turn) the whole rig went up ont he right wheels (I did the Joey Chitwood thing for over a 100 feet trying to get it back down).
• Rollover and lost ~75 gals of gas.

I had carried fuel around that turn for years at much faster speeds and never even felt it lean, but on that day the whole rig went over. When I talked (debriefed) the boss he was sympathetic because another driver rolled over in a corner convenience store parking lot at less than 5 mph!

For me, it was determined that the timing of the lights and my stop-go-stop-go in semi-rapid succession set the 1/3 filled (1300 gal) compartment to sloshing roughly North-South and the timing of my squared-off turn to head the truck West-East occurred just as the slosh went from South-to North (right side of my truck). That Northbound slosh in conjunction with the centrifugal force to the same direction is what lifted the trailer and the tractor soon followed.

I really enjoyed my seven years of fuel hauling days. Everyone on the "rack" knew that any day may be the last time you see each other and it really made for some tight bonds even with your "enemies." We all depended on each other to act professionally when loading and it created an esprit de coeur and mutual respect.

Moral of this story is even when doing the best job you can hauling fuel, you will always be learning.

My advice...

• Listen for a while to the chatter and find out who the real pros are on the "rack" and get to know them.
• Tell them you're a rookie (even if they are younger than you). They will already know that, but tell them anyway.
• Ask them to watch you and comment if they see something. Again, they will do this anyway, if they see you are willing to listen, but tell them directly.
• Make things clear so no one has to guess. One thing you don't want at a loading rack is uncertainty and confusion.
• If you make some blunder especially if you mistakenly cut in line, be prepared to "pass-thru" the loading bay and let the one you cut-in on go into the loading bay. Go back to the end of the line and if safe (and not against the rules) go up an apologize for your error. You will only need to apologize to the one you cut-in on. He/she will make known your courtesy to everyone else. This may casot you some time, especially if the line is two-hours long, but you will never regret it.

If that sounds like someone who knows, you are right. I blundered as a rookie and did what I just described. Not only did I gain instant respect, I was offered a number of other tanker jobs one of which I took sometime later and all because I drove on through the bay and let Mr. Mullins have it. Years later when I was out of work and seeking a tanker job (I had left to fly a desk for a while) I went into the Andrews Tanker office and gues who was the hiring driver supervisor? You guessed it... Mr. Mullins! He immediately recognized me and the job was mine. The paperwork was just a formality.

I have driven in a number of different types of trucking firms, but the "rack" days are some of my fondest memories. Take your time, pay attention and LISTEN and you will make friends with a lot of great guys and gals! Good luck!

(Man! I hope all my long-winded "essays" do somebody some good!)

 

They MAY want you to start on a short truck because you only have 1 year experience driving if your stats are correct ... most tanker operations have a minimum requirement of 2 years before they will consider you ... then again, they may want you to be cross trained on different aspects of their job just in case they get short handed during a peak season and they need you to pull a short truck for a couple of days to cover for someone that may be out for an emergency or something like that.

Being a tanker yanker is all about attention to detail. Probably the hardest thing about it for me has been the constant changes occuring at the racks of different terminals. You probably don't realize it right now, but you will be required to attain a loading card at every major oil company in your area so you can pull product from their terminal by yourself ... there may not be anyone at the terminal except you so you have to become familiar with everything about their loading proceedure and what to do in the case of a "mishap". If you load the product wrong or the wrong supplier, you may be faced with a fine of up to $300 just to correct the paperwork ... so don't make a mistake ... which is easier said than done when you consider all the exchanges being pulled from all the different terminals ... believe me, I've been doing this a long time and still have to double check just about everything.

Should you take them up on the offer ... yes. Gas haulin' has been good to me over the years. It does require a little more effort at making sure everything is correct on every load but you will get used to that or you wont be here long. When you start training listen up, pay attention, if you need to make some notes ... do it, it can be complicated at times and there's alot to remember. If you're not sure about something, take no action until you get things straightened out ... remember, once you start loading you've bought it ... right or wrong ... so do it right first time\ every time. This is one job you will be glad you took the time to make sure you took the extra time to get it right.

I guess I could spend some time telling you about the "heart stopping moments" along the way (and there have been some) but if you're out here long enough you will have your own stories to tell in a little while so I wont bore you with those ... just be careful, pay attention to detail and best of luck!!!

 

Likewise with single-bore chemical trailers. Start taking "shortcuts" in procedures or driving and you'll land yourself in deep doodoo. Tanker is no place for "macho" or Billy-Big-Riggers. We're the "Old Ladies" and "Wimps" for a reason.

Couple of years back I had a "trainee" who told me all the rules and stuff were so much BS and nobody told HIM how to drive. I purposely did a hard stop at a traffic light. When that big WHOMP hit Mr Macho nearly crapped his drawers. He bailed right out of the truck. Told him to get his ask back in or stay right there. Took him right back to the terminal and they sent his butt home permanent.

 

make sure you and the unloader hook up to the correct holding tank,check every thing on your paperwork and it matches the holding tank.always make sure your tank is empty before you leave. you don't want to drive off with the customers product.

 

Nothing to it i've been pulling tank 17 years smooth baffle . Most Important thing treat the curves with respect and don't park on an angled road the product will tip it over on it's side . The slash will push you if you step on the brakes hard . I won't pull anything square any more love my diamods . I've pulled all makes of tanks tubes trailers cryo tanks it's a breeze ......