new to pneumatics

Do you know what type of product you will be unloading. Each product has a different style that seems to be faster as well as over time each driver develops their own style.

The best thing to do when you are learning or even before you offload your first trailer is take time to understand the workings behind the trailer, it makes it much easier to understand why you open or close this valve vs another and things like that.
Make sure they teach you how to unplug a line as you may do that a few times as you get the handle of things.
I would suggest keeping a spare pair of clothes in your car/truck incase you get dirty, some of the things you haul you may not want to track around with you.

What you will want to have with you is a claw hammer to use on the hose fittings. Don't hammer directly on the ears of the fitting as it will ruin them very quickly but instead hit on the opposite side of the hose while using your free hand to close the ear.
Also make sure you have a good set of hearing protection. The blowers are loud and your ears will start ringing in the first few minutes.

The money in pneumatics is better because it is a specialized field. It allows the rates to be pushed up higher during the good times as not everyone can get into it. The equipment is the most expensive part, my Super B trailers cost more than my trucks but I also make twice what most O/O hauling van freight are struggling to make. The downside is that when things do turn down you will definitely feel it so have money set aside for that, or be prepared to head back out with a van or reefer where there may be more work. Also some pneumatic work like cement is seasonal so you will not see the same pay cheque throughout the year and you need to budget for that as well. I run about 60% of my summer revenue during the winter. It will be a less this year as I have a third truck but will be looking to add on a new customer to help me get through the winter.

I don't know hwy you couldn't switch the blower to the new truck, you may need to buy a new drive shaft as it might be attached at a different place compared to your current truck. Also make sure it has the correct PTO, I had to switch them on my first two trucks as they werent the correct ones and all in cost about $2500 each. For me the installation and purchase of the blower has been just under $10,000 on my trucks.

Buying a different truck in a year can be a smart thing if you decide this is what you like as you will likely spec it different if you are doing local work and therefore only need a daycab.

 

Something else to consider is that a lot of places you load, you will need to be able to clear 12 foot. If your current tractor is taller than that, you may run into a lot of problems.

 

Calspring pretty much covered it all, I would also add carrying extra gaskets and fittings.

 

Vacuuming is louder than blowing off.

Those noise levels can damage hearing.
Keep you hearing protection clean too, pushing dirt into the ear canal can cause inner ear infections.

Get a 'dead blow' hammer instead of a claw hammer or rubber mallet. More than one guy has had a rubber mallet bounce back into their nose. Gets embarasing.

A dead blow will not rebound and hits harder when you really need it.

 

I've been doing pneumatic bulk for about two years now and I would recommend you observe the process from beginning to end before you decide to go through with your own equipment. I haul plastic mostly and I do all of my own loading and unloading. Some days it's just a bear of a job. It can be more work than flatbedding depending on the particular product you're handling. I advise you to drive around with a pneu bulk driver a few days if you're not real familiar with the process.

And just to add here, this is a tank job so you'll be doing your fair share of deadheading... a lot of milk runs. I know our guys are doing $2/mi average all miles... the company is taking a big share of the revenue, I wouldn't be surprised if it was 40% they're taking off the top. It's definitely a segment of trucking that has a higher barrier of entry... keeps the rates up and the rif raff out... sorta. If you can get you a good scheme going and can stand the work, there's definitely money to be made in pneu bulk.

And yes, you will probably lose hearing doing this job.

 

invest in a decent set of noise reducing headset. works great and you will keep your hearing.

 

The problem I've found with hearing protection is I can't hear the product in the lines. I have to be able to hear the sound of the product and while hearing protection eliminates most of the static noise from the blower, it also eliminates the noise I need to hear in the lines. I haul a bunch of different products at different locations and it all unloads at different rates and blower speeds.

 

A lot of products have their own "feel" as they go through the line. Try that . Hearing protection is a must. You will regret it later it you don't use some type.