A few quick questions...

Ready? Ok! Get a few years under your belt before even thinking about buying a truck. That's 1. Most companies buy set back axle tractors for maneuverability and fuel economy. Tankers are a different animal, they handle much differently plus you have the surge to contend with. The surge is the liquid pushing you. There's no "quick stops" if the liquid doesn't want you to. Because of the cargo, rollovers, rear ends, etc are a lot, uh, easier to accomplish in a tanker. Not that it happens all the time, but its a possibility.

 

if you lease to a tank company you usually pull their tanks, no you don't clean the tanks but you go to a tank wash to get washed out. for long haul it can be any type of liquid but chemical is mostly what o/o run. ive been to someplaces that are real tight and others that are wide open. I wouldn't recommend a 300 wb in tankers. some flatbedders do but remember the name of the game is being light. a 265 in wb with just a standard sleeper is more than enough for being out on the road. I stay out for 2-3 weeks at a time in a 63 in sleeper. as for pump most are installed between sleeper and drives on frame but some are installed on rear of tractor. as for air some run it off the pto but I have my air coming straight off the truck. some would say not enough but I can get 10-15 lb of pressure in a tank and hold it while unloading and 99 percent of the loads that I use my air don't take me any longer than 45-60 min to unload

 

I started off pulling a van trailer for about 2 years then I switched to end dumps for 7 years then to tank for about 2 years now. I will say this I will never go back to van freight. bulk work is very enjoyable and for me is the best industry to be in. it is more money than vans whether as an owner operator or company driver. more laid back and in my opinion easier work. I like liquid bulk but my favorite is end dumps. flatbed is not bad have done some flats on the side but I have never enjoyed it as much as bulk. but everybody is different

 

you are welcome. For what you are wanting to do in all honest i would check into flatbed and check out Mercer

 

my dads neighbor drives for Mercer and is very happy there and he has a peterbilt 379 with a 120" sleeper with a 3 axle rgn trailer pulling a lot of military equipment and he is very happy there. he has been with them for as far back as i can remember.

 

1/ YES

2/ NO but you will sit at a tank washing facility to get washed out(usually for free)

3/ CHEMICAL

4/ The smaller and lighter the better, XT mid-roofs seem to work best. Almost all chemical plants are very tight and hard to get around in. The longer and taller you are harder it's going to be.

5/ Yes you will need a compressor at least, but that being said, I have only missed 4 loads in the last 3 years for lack of a pump. And yes you will pay for it, some companies will buy and mount it and take weekly payments out of your settlements, but those are getting few and far between.


A 300" truck will not make any $ in the current tanker world. It will be way too heavy and it won't fit on most scales in 99% of the chemical plants I've been to.