Fuel your truck while running

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by scatruck, May 16, 2011.

  1. Svoray

    Svoray Medium Load Member

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    Good points,

    I too like to argue or play devil's avocate. It helps me learn. These guys may think I'm being a total jack ###, yes, I've been having a little fun but I it's been very enlighting to me as well! These guys repying has been hauling fuel probably long before I was born. So it's good to hear from them even though I don't agree with a 100% of what's being said or fully understand. It gives me something to think about just the Same.
     
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  3. trucker_101

    trucker_101 Heavy Load Member

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    If I'm fueling my car & your fueling yours at the same time as me. You leave yours running or your using a hand held cell phone. Then I will push the intercom button & report what your doing.

    If the attendant does not ask you to stop or he does ask you & you don't stop, then if the attendant does not stop "your" pump from pumping, then YES, I WILL hit the E stop & let them explain to their boss why, and I'll be there to make sure they do. I think that cleared that up. No I don't gamble with my life the way "I SEE IT" you may disagree with that though, & I plan on living a long time & I WON"T Let you change that easily. I don't take unnecessary risks with my life or yours. And when my loaded unit weighs in at close to 140000 pounds you should be glad I don't.

    I live in an Area of Canada where I travel to many mountainous areas (Rockies)and worse, pulling the trailers you see in my sig. In the summer with tourists & winter with lots of snow & ice.
    And going up goat trails, not 4 lane groomed interstates, chaining up 4 or more times a day is not an option.
    I don't get to wait for the chain-up sign to go off, if there was one.

    So I don't lay in bed saying oh me oh my, I do risky things every day. But, I try to keep the odds on my side as much as I can.
    _________________________________________

    Now for the tanks. Those 100fters would be at a bulk plant for me. Again no climbing allowed. the above ground tanks I'm talking about are the ones you see laying on their side at gas stations. Walk up the steps open a little hole just big enough for the dipstick.
    On my Trailers: I Don't split compartments, if I'm unloading Comp 1 for example, I know for sure 100% sure that 100% of whats in there will go in the tank that I'm filling. I'm sorry, but if your doing anything not like I just said your an spill waiting to happen.

    When I go to Shell to load my compartments, when I'm at the rack ready to load AND GROUNDED, before I hook up any bottom fill lines, I do whats called "a pail check" It's a 5 gal steel pail with a ground clamp & cable on it. Open internal valves, ground pail, place pail against the tank outlet & open external valve a little.

    If nothings there move to the next compartment & repeat. If there's something there then keep filling the pail & dumping in slosh pit till compartments empty.
    Never Need to go on my trailers. If one of the top fill sensors is not working, I won't be able to get a ground at the rack.
    The pumps won't come on then and I have to go back to the shop & either they fix it or I get a different trailer.

    And for all those Naysayers out there, yes I do get paid for all this time, right from when I card in at the gate till after I'm loaded & I card out at the gate & I'm paid well for my time.

    The only people that are allowed ON TOP of our trailers are the shop people & Safety, & they have very strict rules to follow, including wearing a fall protection harness. If it had gas in it last then it gets even more involved in whats needed to open the lids. Vented & more.

    If you want to ask questions to try & learn I have no problem trying to answer them. But this back & forth on static and cell phones is getting tiring and old. For now I've said all I will on that in regards to arguing. Besides I think I proved my points, if anyone still is intent on taking stupid chances like what has been discussed here so far, go for it. The old saying holds true...
    YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID
     
  4. trucker_101

    trucker_101 Heavy Load Member

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    2 words for you: Risk management
    Link...
    Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives, whether positive or negative) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events...

    Nuff Said.
     
  5. trucker_101

    trucker_101 Heavy Load Member

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    For me, If I thought you were a "Total" A:S:S I would just ignore you:biggrin_2559: So, so far you've just been half A:S:S:ED so try harder...:biggrin_2559: :biggrin_25525:
     
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  6. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    First off I'll explain about gasoline. The vapors are heavier than air. If you have a spill, any heat source or ignition point can cause a fire. When you fill your tank you will notice either a big rubber boot around the nozzle or there's a couple of holes at the end. Those are for vapor recovery. That's to reduce the hazards. If you have a spill and the wind is not blowing then there's a good chance you have may a vapor build up under your car. If it's me I ask the station to wash the area down before I started any vehicle around the spill. They have never refused such a request from me but I know the laws. So if you have problems just tell them you're going to call the fire department because there's a gasoline spill. They'll then do want you ask then.

    The old story I've be doing this for years or I saw it on myth busters is just plain idiotic. I used to drag race a motorcycle and go 150mph and never got hurt. I don't know why people get killed at it. If you can't see the lunacy in that then nothing we say or do is going to change your thoughts. But just remember this. There's signage all around the pumps about turning your vehicle and electrical devices off and how it's the law. So if there is a fire I can guarantee one thing. There will be an investigation and if they find you were in violation of the requirements then you pay.

    Diesel fuel is another story. A spill is not going to be as bad as gasoline. However, I have been around when top loading was done and when you load diesel you have a light show in the tank that is static discharge all over the place. Again it's a matter of liability. What can happen is you have a spill and the nozzle is shooting fuel all over and some land on the engine block. There's enough heat there to start a fire, especially if it gets on the turbo. Then again there would be another investigation and if you had your engine running you going to pay.

    When there's a gasoline tanker at the station then you need to be a little more cautious. I've seen fittings fly off and hoses break. There's a lot of gasoline there until the driver and maybe others make it safe you need to be safe. Walk away and don't start your car or truck if there's gasoline all over the ground. I've hauled millions of gallons doing 6 loads a day with 12,450 gallons on and just like Trucker_101 I've had extra training to handle fuels. The tanks on the truck are vapor tight so they are safe just like your vehicle until the hoses come out and the flow starts. Anything can happen and I would just recommend that you go to another station for fuel. One other small point, when that driver has his or her warning cones out don't try to cross over without the driver knowing because you might find yourself waking up in the hospital. We had a driver that just nailed a person in the face with a fitting and absolutely nothing was done to the driver. That's a safety zone and please respect it.
     
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  7. Svoray

    Svoray Medium Load Member

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    Texas
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    Lol, my assism is about maxed out.



    Honestly, I try to avoid refueling my personal vehicles when a transport is unloading. There is just no shortage of idiots in this world...I'm talking about your average 4wheeler. My instructor used to haul fuel. He was telling me one time about him and a friend was unloading at a store...two separate transport tankers. Anyhow, they was standing around talking when some guy walked up and asked if that was gasoline...while he smoking!! They ran his butt off quick!
     
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  8. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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  9. Svoray

    Svoray Medium Load Member

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    ####!

    Some people would take their brains out and play with them if they could!
     
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  10. trucker_101

    trucker_101 Heavy Load Member

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    Yes please respect it, I have had a FEW surprises too. One time I had my cones out & I'm hooked up to an underground tank and from the other side of my trailers(I couldn't see them) 2 teens come under my trailer & pop up on my side, beside me with lite smokes in both of their hands!!!!

    They & I learned some new words in a hurry & they got a little bit of an education that day!

    Another time; I try and not block in cars when I'm parking & setting up & will look & wait a bit for people to move, & you might have to leave in the opposite way you came in.
    Well this time I'm dropping gas in the underground tanks, got orange cones all around me.
    This older lady, that should have known better, gets in her car before I saw her. drives up behind me & honks her horn! I turn around & look at her & shes waving her hand to motion me out of her way. So I walk up to her window & ask her what she wants. She says, better move your cones because I going out that way. I explain why they are there & that there is gas in those hoses. :biggrin_25521:

    She says she doesn't care, either I move the cones & hoses or she will run over them & she's going that way! So I ask her nicely & calmly if she would mind waiting just a minute while I evacuate the store & use the phone across the street to call 911, because the payphone beside us wouldn't be here after she drives over the hoses! She decided to go the other way.... but not happily. :biggrin_2559:
     
  11. I am medicineman

    I am medicineman Medium Load Member

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    Jan 15, 2011
    Kemper County, Mississippi
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    NONE !!!

    And there is ZERO proof otherwise.

    If I am wrong, then prove me wrong.
    But you cannot "prove" something that has no statistics or instances of occurrence, so I decline to provide the data.
     
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