Gas Haulers Advise

Fireworks are not your friend?

Sorry RT, I had to do it...

 

Gas Hauler (the member here) should chime in sometime...He could probably write a book for you. He always has some note-worthy advice on trucking in general, I'm sure he's got many pointers from his trade.

 

You might already knows this but first you should get yourself a bag or tool box with the tool and parts you will need. Find the list on these boards and they can reaaly help. Make sure your truck has all the documents you need. You should carry with you in the cab the two pocketbooks from J.J.KELLER. 1. The safety Regulations from FMCSA, and 2. Hazardous Materials. Go through the truck and make sure all the work lights are working. If you run a truck like we run we take our working light's that's mounted when the drop spouts are and we will point them at the ground so when we come into a station that light will light the area so we can use our short hoses.

You'll need your personal safety equipment like gloves, long sheeved shirt, steel toe boots, and get a gallon of water just incase you need to wash your eyes. But above all get a very good flashlite. Don't forget the safety devices the company provides for the truck. Check those over real good. Make sure the fire bottles have not expired. Make sure you have a good set of triangles. You can use your cones if the cones are very clean, but if they are not only use them if you have too.

I never really found no difference in day and night driving. You just have to check the tags twice every time. Keep it consistent, your whole routine should be the same from when you get out until you get back in the truck to go.

Later in the night you find less people on the road but keep your eyes open for the drunk drivers. You need to keep your eye moving when you're unloading and watch for drunks or people that what to cuase trouble. There are only minor items that change at night so if you've been doing it during the day you can do it at night. Just get plenty of sleep the day before if you can. That's what I found the hardest.

Good luck to you and you can PM me any time you like on any subject. If I'm wrong I'll tell you I'm wrong then search where you can find it.

 

Gashauler, I'd like to say thank you. You are a wealth of good solid information about trucking and especially hauling fuel. I read your posts on here all the time and you give nothing but solid, true, and down to earth information and I and I'm sure everyone else appreciates that.

 

I have been hauling gas for 20 + years and I can't really can't add much to gas haulers post he's spot on but what I always tell new people when they are starting in this biz is that you may have a tendency to become complacent stay sharp and be aware of what's going on,and you do have to watch people like a hawk stay safe and good luck to you I wish you the best!

 

I haul industrial gases i was layed off from my present employer back in 01 I hauled gas for a co in cinci oh till i got called back so Im no pro on hauling gas like the others that have posted but I can tell you just as the business Im in you have to get a routine and stick to it although your routine may differ from your co workers you have to get a routine started and stick to it...as far as the shift your working thats not a bad shift after about 10pm thats when things settle down and you can relax somewhat...get a good flashlight and a reflective vest ...always be on the lookout esp around 1-2 am for the drunks, they will be out there esp if you work fri and sat night...I could have any start time we have but I choose to start at midnight I do a lot of innercity deliveries in indy,louisville, winston-salem ,raleigh...doing the nite thing i have no traffic so its way less headaches just keep an eye out for ( thugs)...nothing like being somewhere thinking nobodys around and some says hey pal could you spare a couple dollars?....common sence,always be aware of your surroundings and get a routine....welcome to the tanker niteshift...

 

GasHauler, You my friend, ARE a QUALITY Truck Driver. I have read many of your post, and the info. and words you speak are Superior. I enjoy reading GREAT info. from someone like yourself. Your knowledge as a Tanker Hauler are great. Thank You.

 

Ive been hauling gas for 2yrs working both days and nights. At night you have less lines at the racks,no traffic, and stores are easier to get in and out. If you do alot of new stores often finding the drops can be a pain many times id have to circle back around cause I pulled in the store the wrong way. Sometimes its easier if theres a safe spot outside the store to stop walk up in there with a flashlight and find the drops. Be safe you should be able to make more money at night

 

The company I drive for has site maps for every single place we go, and that's allot of places. I grab the ones I need at the start of my shift or week.
Site maps tell you everything you need to know about that site. How to enter site, where the tanks are & the order they are in so you can double check the load plan to make sure the products are loaded in the right compartments. The tank charts for your dips are also in the site map packs. This way there is no mistake on what way to get to the site & no driving around the block.