TriMac or Schneider

If you can get on with a tanker company and that is really what you want to do, by all means, go for it. Just take it very, very, very, easy when you are driving that tanker. You could turn that thing over extremely easy if you don't watch your speed around turns and curves in the road. A tanker is unforgiving. If you have no fear of starting out driving a tank vehicle then I see no reason to pass up the opportunity. Both are good companies. Good luck and take it slooooooooowwwww.

 

If you do choose to go van first you will learn to master backing much better. Switch over to tankers after starting with van and backing the tank will seem like a cakewalk in comparison. If you want to run tanker though just go for it. One good thing about schneider is there is at least some flexibility to switch divisions if you choose to do so

 

What kind of pay/benefits is Trimac offering? I can almost guarantee a Schneider van job will not even be in the same ballpark in comparison, and the bulk division of Schneider is on the low end pay wise when it comes to vchemical tank companies. Plus I don't think they have paid holidays, which is especially irritating to me considering office staff almost certainly receive them.

Also nothing wrong with starting off with tanks, you just have to be more careful. The driver trainers at my terminal say some of the worst drivers are guys with van experience.

 

I would go with Tri Mac. Yes you will need to drive and shift much differently than you would driving a van but what if you end up loving it and you never leave tanks?? The pay is going to be astronomically higher than if you sign on with a big name box company out the gate.

 

I started running tanker a few months after I started driving ..I started with a tri-axle dump then went to tri-axle tanker(smooth bore) then tractor trailer tanker a few months later..I learned a lot quick ,things were a little different back then but it was the best experience I could have ever received..I have been doing tanker most of my 26 years of driving..dont get in a hurry,brake before you get in the turn,hold your foot on brake pedal when stopped, and dont make sudden changes in speed or motion..remember your center of gravity is always changing...be very careful in traffic circles and s-turns..tanker is the best job around IMHO..as far as Trimac I have a couple of good friends running out of Spartansburg and they do very well but they have been with the co. quite a while..I would think trimac would have to be better than Schneider...good luck

 

I started as a Tanker driver right out of school. They will train you well. Its a good experience and latter it will help you, if you want something local like gas and fuel delivers, not bad paying jobs. I drive a van now. If you switch to van, you will get better at backing by doing it often. Good luck...

 

Yes, go with tankers. Start out with good pay from day one and not waste a year or two at poverty wages. Tanker companies put you through their own tanker school and training before they turn you loose so don't worry.

Edit : Your friends that advised you not to go to tankers will be real jealous if they see your pay stubs or year end W-2 forms. Maybe $10K - $25K more than their first year pay.