Is chemical tanker right for me?

Yes, you can make that kind of money. Easily. About living in the truck...I don't know. Now, calm down and accept all this nice advice you're getting.

 

Just to warn you the busiest area for chemicals is a triangle from the gulf coast of TX to Upper Midwest to NJ.

I ran that for a year and came back home to haul Asphalt and fuel……

 

not a company driver so I got no idea on pay rates on that side…..

I’ll tell you this I hope you like tank wash’s …..

 

I'll second all of the above....super advice.

Yes--you can do well in excess of $100k per year, doing tanker.

Suggestion: don't just look at the world of "chemical tanker".

Instead--broaden your prospects furtther out....to the world of "hazmat tanker".

Depending on which sector of hazmat tank you choose--tank washes will (or won't) be part of the picture.

Another suggestion: hold off on applying anywhere, until after you get those endorsements--and the TWIC card.

Then...when you apply for those jobs--you'll stand out more/better, from the other applicants.

If you go so far as to divulge what major city/state is nearest your location--you might (if you ask very nicely) even get some employment recommendations here....

--Lual

 

Dedicated product work doesn't require a wash out for the most part.
Cryogenic never visits a wash.
Fuel never hits a wash.
Bulk for the most doesn't.
I see Linde had a Maryland job in Curtis Bay?

 

Asphalt, LPG, crude oil, and fuel tankers rarely ever visit the wash, although they may occasionally get steamed out for the annual inspections or for repair work.

Refined petroleum solvents also don't normally get washed out between products.

I'm not sure about agricultural commodities like fertilizer or pesticides.

Food grade tankers visit the wash very frequently.

 

@Moneyhungrytrucker --

First of all, let me say that....with your driving record and experience--you would easily qualify now for a lot of what's out there in hazmat tanker--even with no previous tanker experience (yes, it's true).

People like you can actually thrive rather well in the hazmat tanker world. Why? Since you have no local ties or commitments--you can stay gone for extended periods of time, & go where the work demand is actually the greatest. And this means the bigger paychecks.

Easy examples:

1) Pilot/Flying J hires drivers that are "floaters". As the name suggests, these drivers go to where a vacancy/shortage has opened up--and stay there, until another driver comes back off of sick/vacation leave, or is hired on. You could be gone for weeks.

2) In the cryogenic world--the "floater" driver is often referred to as, "call and demand". Again--when a vacancy/void pops up, you're called in, until the void is filled back. This could take weeks, in some cases, as a driver may have quit, or been fired. Messer America refers to these drivers as "SORT" (Special Ops Response, or similar) drivers. Linde also has call-on-demand drivers, too. Not sure about the other cryo carriers/suppliers.

3) You could easily spend the rest of your driving career pulling trailers loaded with nothing else but LNG. This is now the fuel of choice for generating electricity at power plants (it burns very clean--and is of course safer than nuclear). The US has vast reserves of what becomes LNG, and will for decades to come. Obviously, this is very recession-resistant work. But--hazmat and tanker endorsements are required!!! Many employers here will probably also want a TWIC card, too.

Many of the above jobs pay well in excess of $100k per year.

So that you make a truly informed decision, as an educated/informed job shopper, I'll give you "the bad".....and then "the good":

First, the hazmat tanker BAD :

In the hazmat tanker world, get used to driver-facing cameras. Also, get used to (in many cases) super-strict, over-the-top safety policies/procedures (remember, this IS hazmat tanker we're talking about). This means (in many cases) absolutely NO cellphone use/holding while driving; no headsets/bluetooth while driving; and if the tractor is moving--you have to have your seatbelt fastened, and on. Ridiculous? But it's just reality. Blame the insurance companies here....

If you later take a local, home-daily tanker job--in many cases they're seniority-based. That means you'll start out working nights, weekends and holidays (like I did--and still do). You'll be asleep--while everyone else is awake (and vice-versa). As you can well imagine--this is very bad for your potential social life (if you in fact aspire to one). Your "weekends" (like mine) will not be on the weekends; instead, they'll be something like every tues and wed (or similar).

Because of the above factors--turnover at the main cryogenic suppliers/carriers is pretty stiff. Thus--they are always looking for qualified drivers (with--or without--previous tanker experience). But....for drivers who can tolerate/work with these rules and procedures--it's steady, easy, clean, recession-resistant work.

Now--for the hazmat tanker GOOD :

Honestly, we don't have that much time..... Really.

I will say that....if you do make the switch over to tanker, odds are pretty high that you will not want to pull anything else in your driving career. Most drivers that do make the switch--encounter generally higher levels of respect, and better working conditions, and thus don't go back. Tanker really is a more professional gig. I see a HUGE difference between my current gig (hauling fuel), vs my last job (reefer--running up and down the east coast states).

You would be very well served to spend some ample time snooping through some of other threads in the "Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum" section--and read up on what life is like in a lot of the above.

There's lots and lots (and lots) of really good info there.

Good luck, Driver.

--Lual

 

Depending how much money you wanna give away, I can provide my information and disperse the tips to the other members. Just let me know.