I think I want a tank

The exam on tankers is absolutely the easiest of all the tests for endorsements ... just know about surge and outage and smoothbores and baffles and bulkheads ... it's really all common sense and simple. Now the way one actually handles in real life can be another cup of tea ... being smooth is the keyword for real life.

 

I gotten the tanker endorsement and trying to pass the test of Doubles and triples. THough I may never pull either. Just nice to say I got it. I am just one who bad at taking test.

 

I'll agree that the Tank test at the dmv is really easy! Have you thought about adding your Hazmat endorsement? Having that would definitely increase your marketability hauling tanks. Check out the practice tests above. I took the full 30 question test many times over till I wasn't missing questions. Scored high at the dmv.

I'm in a similar boat as you. Single, no kids and was willing to relocate. A month and a half ago I was living 20 miles southeast of Temecula (90 miles southeast of LA) and loving it! Had hauled reefers 5 years ago and wanted to haul tanks but needed training. Who trains new guys? Schneider! Went to a job fair near Fontana and talked to a Schneider Recruiter and found, "uh-ohh, they don't train/run tankers out of CA! Bummer! I really like living out here but am willing to relocate to go where the opportunity is." Relocated to my brother's home near Houston (though from what I understand, all someone would need is to get a Personal Mail Box at a UPS store, to establish residency). Went through the process of relocating including registering my car and providing proof of vehicle insurance in Texas. Took the Tanker and Hazmat tests at the dmv and got fingerprinted. Applied for a passport. Still waiting on getting the Hazmat endorsement but you should get it in a few weeks, with a clean background. Schneider appears to be short of tank drivers and from what I've gleaned by scouring threads here and listening to people like "ethos" who hauls tanks for Schneider and posts frequently here, you can earn approx $50k/year within a year if you're willing to work consistently.

Schneider will require you to take a 40 hour Refresher but will reimburse you for the cost of the course if you come on and drive for them.

 

I understand your reasoning about why NOT to haul Hazmat...! Here's a good Schneider thread on tanks, though again, these are Haz tanks. Not sure about a thread on food grade though I'm sure there is one...: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...g-forum/163024-tankers-the-schneider-way.html

 

Prime tanker hauls food grade & so does Foodliner. As for smoking, I don't smoke, but did haul hazmat, mostly acid loads and you couldn't burn that stuff with a blow torch.

 

I was paid milage; don't know anything about percentage. Made avg. $65K per year. running solo, 48 states & Canada. In tanker there are other pays included on top of milage, such as, stop pay, fueling pay, layover pay, detention pay, loading pay, unloading pay, scaling pay, I got 1/4 hour pay for pre-trip and post-trip as long as it was logged. I worked 11 months a year & took one month a year off for vacation in the Orient & still made $65K.

You will just have to check the websites of companies you're interested in for a full breakdown of pays.

 

A&R Transport drivers in CA average $65K per year for non-hazmat. One neighbor I had avg. $72K per year with A&R Transport.