The Cryo Hauler Thread

I wonder why they go through so many drivers? I’d think that’s a solid job up there. It looks like a big yard.

 

Theyre pretty strict on rules as they have several corporate types in the south Office there. Plus the hours suck. They schedule trucks just about every hour, so you may be on nights for several years. Then add very stressful customers(They have a HUGE market up there and also do layovers). I dont think their pay is all that competitive either. For a few bucks less, you can work a day shift somewhere else, and have a life and not have to carry an outdated company bible around with you to , hopefully, keep you from being fired for stuff the majority of other carriers wouldn't even look at.

 

In our yard the bottom half of our total drivers have been here less than 2 years.

Everyone gets fired for the same two things. Cell phone usage while driving and accidents on the yard or at the customer.

Ive only seen 2 drivers quit and they were still in training.

 

In Houston LGT and Genox has company driver positions. But im not sure of US Cryo or some of the others. However I've been told by several drivers that LGT and US cryo are good places. But I couldn't tell you whos the best in the Houston area.

 

US Cryo is only hiring in PA at the moment. I thought about LGT but I read that they’re slowing down as well.

 

Thanks for the encouragement. It's actually helpful.

 

Take that back immediately! I won't stand here and be accused of being helpfull!

But joking aside, We are all here to help you the best we can and we dont sugarcoat the truth. It is very slow right now. If it wasn't for our 8 hour guarantee, I wouldn't even have 35 hours this week. Its the slowest I have seen yet.

 

I wouldn't be discouraged at all, know your craft, knowing how to back up in Truckstops at night would be the hardest thing you'll ever do in Cryogenics and very infrequently. Backing up to cyro tanks isn't all that often side by side mostly probably 50/50. At Air Products mandatory use of 3 foot orange cones for ANY backing nite or day. Some of the mochos really had an negative opinion of cone use, but I embraced mine as my depth perseption was touchy. And bumping a cone was ackually more accurate and quicker. I will whisper this next info to the group, I would grab my cone run back to tank place cone open pump up ran back and back in and when I wrote down all my pertinent info and set chock blocks by the time I got back to rear cabinet I could start pumping. This little addendum was added due to APCI changing pay from hourly mileage to 16 different units of pay plus the mileage. For working EFFICIENTLY was key to more money. Working accurately was key, no accidents..
Policy says drive to tank area, stop truck, chock, get PPE on walk back open gates record information ascertain your at the correct tank place cone in position. Walk back up pick up chocks do maneuver back to cone set brakes chocks paperwork on seat. All PPE gear on. Open cabinet hose to fill connection lightly tap. Now you can open pump suction and onto the delivery when cold enough after 10 to 15 minutes waiting.
Sounds like alot but it isn't. Once you learn the flow it's second nature. APCI treated me awesome for 30 years. On the scale of driving jobs I would put cryogenics in the top 5 to 10 percent. Don't come here for the hours 70 hours a week. Cryogenics run 365/7 days a week so yes you do get holiday pay but depending upon work load you'll most likely be working, first 17 years I had Tues Wed off then Thurs Friday off and then running team we had Friday Saturday off for a straight 13 years. Team by far was the most fun I, had a fantastic co-driver Scott. Who I met already but never worked with until team. We did hydrogen, mega class oxy and argon regular argon, with some nitrogen and oxygen thrown in on the side when logistics was in chaos which was infrequently. In addition Messer Gases another good company to check out.

 

Hey! Fellow AP driver here. Did you retire already? Is mega class oxy the one used for semiconductor companies?

 

Nice post.
As far as compensation goes, as a recently retired Linde driver, I agree that the key to success for any cryo driver is the ability of that driver to adapt and comply to the strick policies of the industry and to each company's rules in particular.
Don't believe that putting on a vest before walking back to open a facility's gate is any less safe without the hi viz vest but whatever..it's your customer and rig.
Sometimes a PIA but as soon as you wrap your mind around the fact that you now have a highly compensated career to look to, and the procedures in place for nearly every rule are there in response to earlier failures....
And we were reminded of this daily!

As far as the methods of pay go I am sure that hourly is the best as far as the driver goes.
Never have to worry if I've missed an entry or shorted myself. Expending the energy to figure out and put in daily payroll was a pain and time spent on it is better used elsewhere.
We went hourly at our plant 3 yrs ago and am thankful for it.

Retired 2 months ago after 50 plus years as a driver and I find myself pointing and telling the wife as we're driving down any road.....
"There's another tank I fill"...lol