Tanker pay

:smt103 That's why im trying to do as much research as possible. don't know why the trainer quit, but i bet the newbie was just overwhelmed

 

I make percentage hauling liquid sugar, very small regional company out of PA, our drivers make 55-65k a year with week end home time, we put the miles on during the week.

I worked for another rather small outfit out of PA before I came over here, I did haul caustic and mag slurry in tanks and some chemicals in a dry van over there as well as flatbed and the pay I made was around 58k, but I was home throu

 

I came off the road when my son was born. I got extremely lucky getting hired by a major oil company hauling gasoline. I had to wait 6 months for that opening so I got a LTL job pulling triples. This was in 1991 and I started at 27½¢ a mile and that was peanuts. When I left for the gasoline job I got paid $16 an hour for 6 months, $18 an hour for a year then the top at that time was $20. We got paid as soon as we started until we left. Our schedules were 10 hour days 4 days a week. You had 3 days off together. You could pick any of those days to work overtime if you wanted to. Of the 9 years I worked at that terminal there was never a time where overtime wasn't available for 1 driver sometimes 2. Anytime over 10 hours went to time and a half. So you were guaranteed $800 a week no matter what. So what we all did is pick up another load per day for a 12 hour day and work a 12 hour day of overtime. That grossed us $1400 a week with 2 days off and home everynight. Towards the ends I was making $23.50 base. However, good things sometimes come to an end. The company closed the terminal and hired common carriers to do the work. They offered the drivers either a retirement package or a transfer. I feel into none of these and stay on paperwise.

The drivers that stayed just changed companies and went to work. They dropped in pay but not that much. Any time you get skilled in a job and you're good at it you'll always be in demand. These guys didn't even skip a day of work and they didn't need to go looking. They still make good money and for the time they put in on the job I'd match it to any OTR driver for pay. If they wait anywhere, they get paid, if their truck breaks down they get paid, if there's no loads they get paid. It's the best job I ever had.

 

What company are you at making around 70K?

 

No, you dont have to take that job but most of us feel an obligation to do something. I have been very lucky to be able to earn enough money to support my family through this great depression (so far). What are 25 year old newly married fathers supposed to do, demand more money?


Agreed and been there. Simply pointing out the comment. We do it all the time at the car dealer, get the best price possible. Carriers are simply using people.

The pendulum will swing back the other way, it's already started too. In a couple of years they will have 30% of their iron against the fence again......

JMO

 

Will sand hauling/pneumatic experience qualify me as tanker experience? i tried chem/fuel companies but they said they need experienced people- and apparently, 4 years drvan exp didnt qualify, but i've a chance of gettying on with a sand hauling outfit...I actually wanted Groendyke or Kenan/Cryo....

 

Keep trying . There are tank carriers that don't require previous tank experience

 

Yes, keep trying. You already have big rig experience so when a tanker really need a driver, they will hire you. Be prepared with the tanker/hazmat endorsement, TWIC, and if you go OTR get a passport for Canada/Alaska runs.

 

you're still at it? I thought i had seen somewhere you came back to decks..

 

Is 17/hr a competitive wage to haul milk for a local company? I was looking into flatbed companies but I could learn to pull tankers if it means sleeping in my own bed every night. They haul milk, water, grain and manure. Even the manure wouldn't be much worse than the dollar store freight I've been hauling for the past 7 years.