Indian River

JohnBoy · Apr 23, 2025

motocross25 said: ↑

@nextgentrucker someone else can probably clarify, because again, I do not pull a tank nor have I ever, but a buddy of mine does and he sent me over a picture a few weeks back of a tank at his work yard crinkled into itself. Apparently the driver did not vent it while unloading. I don’t know if this is a rare occurrence, or how to do it, but it may be something worth noting, because evidently it can and does happen.
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Just go back to those billionaires that built that deep dive sardine can. Same concept. Didn’t work out to good.

nextgentrucker · Apr 23, 2025

Tanker_82 said: ↑

This is true. @nextgentrucker you can search YouTube videos on “tanker truck” implosion and see what happens when someone forgets to vent the top of one when unloading. The customers are responsible for doing everything where I deliver, but we do have a handful who have a “no climb” policy and ask us to open the dome lid. If I show up somewhere and the receiver seems to be new to their job or unfamiliar with things, I usually watch my mirror from the driver’s seat to see if they climb up top and open it.
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Tanker_82 said: ↑

You will get used to it within your first week or two. A lot of loads will beat you up as you’re going from a dead stop and building up speed. As the transmission shifts gears, the delay followed by repower will cause the liquid to slosh front to back. (similar to stabbing the brakes) Things will smooth out once you start getting up to speed, though. Once you get familiar with it, you’ll develop a rhythm with the pedal to decrease the impact.

Like others have said, the product you’re hauling plays a role in how hard it surges. The size of the tank does as well. Shake an unopened bottle of water in your hand. Now pour half of it out, put the lid back on, and shake the bottle again. Notice the difference? A tank that has a higher gallon capacity provides more room for the liquid to wave in, just like you created more room in the water bottle by pouring half of it out. That’s the best way I can articulate it.

Front to back surge is mainly just an annoyance. The highway curves and your speed is what you need to pay attention to the most, especially at night on your 500th mile when you’re getting complacent. Tight curves can sneak up on you, and if you run into one too fast, it will be too late to slow down. Back it down 10mph below the limit before you even get to the curve.
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So the tanks have to be vent before getting unloading? Like they have to open the dome?

Tanker_82 said: ↑

You will get used to it within your first week or two. A lot of loads will beat you up as you’re going from a dead stop and building up speed. As the transmission shifts gears, the delay followed by repower will cause the liquid to slosh front to back. (similar to stabbing the brakes) Things will smooth out once you start getting up to speed, though. Once you get familiar with it, you’ll develop a rhythm with the pedal to decrease the impact.

Like others have said, the product you’re hauling plays a role in how hard it surges. The size of the tank does as well. Shake an unopened bottle of water in your hand. Now pour half of it out, put the lid back on, and shake the bottle again. Notice the difference? A tank that has a higher gallon capacity provides more room for the liquid to wave in, just like you created more room in the water bottle by pouring half of it out. That’s the best way I can articulate it.

Front to back surge is mainly just an annoyance. The highway curves and your speed is what you need to pay attention to the most, especially at night on your 500th mile when you’re getting complacent. Tight curves can sneak up on you, and if you run into one too fast, it will be too late to slow down. Back it down 10mph below the limit before you even get to the curve.
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That's crazy, Tankers should make minimum 0.60cpm, driving that truck, especially food grade, it's unbaffle so more dangerous.

Tanker_82 · Apr 23, 2025

nextgentrucker said: ↑

So the tanks have to be vent before getting unloading?
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Yes. The dome lid is opened.

88 Alpha · Apr 23, 2025

Tanker_82 said: ↑

Yes. The dome lid is opened.
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I've never pulled a tank, but I used to know a couple of drivers personally who pulled them. As best I remember, they said the domes don't have to be "layed-back" opened. Something about opening the dome then turning the ears inward and letting the dome lid lay on the ears. In essence, they were just cracking the dome open.

Am I correct on this, or is my memory failing me for this being a valid way of venting the tank?

kemosabi49 · Apr 23, 2025

88 Alpha said: ↑

I've never pulled a tank, but I used to know a couple of drivers personally who pulled them. As best I remember, they said the domes don't have to be "layed-back" opened. Something about opening the dome then turning the ears inward and letting the dome lid lay on the ears. In essence, they were just cracking the dome open.

Am I correct on this, or is my memory failing me for this being a valid way of venting the tank?
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That does work. Anything to vent to trailer. Sometimes, I would just pull off a washout cap on the dome lid. Some products that unload slow, I just open the air valve. And there is vacuum relief valve up there to keep the tank from imploding if the driver forgets. But I would never trust them to work. I have never seen any maintenance done on them.

kemosabi49 · Apr 23, 2025

nextgentrucker said: ↑

So the tanks have to be vent before getting unloading? Like they have to open the dome?

That's crazy, Tankers should make minimum 0.60cpm, driving that truck, especially food grade, it's unbaffle so more dangerous.
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Chemical is un baffled too. Could never keep them clean otherwise.

074344 · Apr 23, 2025

kemosabi49 said: ↑

Chemical is un baffled too. Could never keep them clean otherwise.
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You are correct. However, if you only haul one product, putting baffles in certainly makes sense. I spent the last 17 years of my 30 year career strictly hauling caustic soda (UN 1824) for the same company. There were only four of us that did that. We parked in a satellite terminal away from the main facility. After a month of being there, we were having a meeting with our supervisor who asked if there was anything we needed. I suggested putting baffles in the trailers. Caustic almost weighs 14lbs per gallon and the surge can be tremendous. He immediately call the company that did our yearly tank inspections in front of us and was quoted $5000.00 per tanker to install. He looked at us and said consider it done. What a difference. Never felt the surge again. Now, all of the new caustic tankers are being ordered with baffles. I received a new one two years before I retired. Those guys still have it made over there.

nextgentrucker · Apr 23, 2025

Tanker_82 said: ↑

Yes. The dome lid is opened.
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Cool.

nextgentrucker · Apr 23, 2025

074344 said: ↑

You are correct. However, if you only haul one product, putting baffles in certainly makes sense. I spent the last 17 years of my 30 year career strictly hauling caustic soda (UN 1824) for the same company. There were only four of us that did that. We parked in a satellite terminal away from the main facility. After a month of being there, we were having a meeting with our supervisor who asked if there was anything we needed. I suggested putting baffles in the trailers. Caustic almost weighs 14lbs per gallon and the surge can be tremendous. He immediately call the company that did our yearly tank inspections in front of us and was quoted $5000.00 per tanker to install. He looked at us and said consider it done. What a difference. Never felt the surge again. Now, all of the new caustic tankers are being ordered with baffles. I received a new one two years before I retired. Those guys still have it made over there.
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Nice.

Rugerfan · Apr 23, 2025

Some tanks have a vent switch or a master switch you can open from the ground. Some have quarter turn valves at a Chicago fitting that can open or venting. Others you have to open the dome

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