Questions about Schneider tanker division

Not nearly as many as Schneider but we have enough to get the job done for our clients. I was initially going to go reefer and have done most of my training in reefer but the pay is a lot better in tanker and I get a 2013 or newer full size truck going tanker. If I stay reefer as a company driver I would be driving a lightweight truck at .41 CPM with the same miles. I'm hopeful of our tanker division growing in the very near future.

 

If you like it I love it. I couldn't work for a company that almost has a religious obsession with fuel. I passed a Prime doing 50 on the open road yesterday, 50!! But to each his own.

 

I can certainly respect your position on that. It's a shame that these trucks cut out at around 63 for company drivers. Our trainers here at prime are taught that we keep the speed at 56 or less and use no cruise control. I feel that's a problem but I'm just a newbie who is trying to conform to slow (lol). There are major perks for being fuel conscious. Anywhere from .2-.6 CPM on top of mileage pay. During my 75 hours of drive time training I averaged around 8 MPG and we ran mostly west coast (Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Cali, Nevada & Colorado) so the hills didn't help at all.

 

That no cruise control thing will go out the window your first month.

 

I can guarantee that much. It's there for a reason and depending on where you are driving it aids in fuel economy.

Any good advice for a new guy starting out in the business on the tanker side of things? Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions and help

 

I am averaging 8.142 mpg running 68 70 in VA TN PA NY usually around 25 k in the box so this 50 mph to save fuel I just can't buy into. To each their own but I think it's more about insurance rates and government tax breaks than fuel. But what do I know I'm just a truck driver.

 

I know nothing of food grade.l so I wouldn't be much help. Just try and remember what your trainer taught you. Be patient this job is hard to learn but worth it.

 

I have always needed to work on the patience thing anyway so I'll keep that in mind. I am only planning on working for prime for a year and hopefully I can get a more local job closer to home depending on what is available at that point in time. Prime does make sure we have everything we need to move forward though as far as passport, TWIC card, hazmat endorsement, etc

 

I work as a tanker Schneider driver and last 6 months gotten about 1800 miles a week average. I was told 2300 miles when I signed up. I only got that 2300 miles twice in six months.

 

Accessorial pay is stuff like extra pay, not your milage pay. They pay us for stuff like $65 a day for 24 hr layover. $10 per hour after the second hour of an unload, $20 for shuttling empty trailers, $40 for hauling a full loaded trailer a short distance which doesn't happen for me much because I am OTR driver. Their pay is very hard for new bees to understand. They told me $20 for tank wash pay, which was not true. I only get $20 for supervised tank wash where you sit in the truck while the inside of your tanker is being washed, never happens much at all while on the road. They don't pay you for getting hoses cleaned which can be a pain in the butt taking an hour or so of your time. It's dirty work at times and can be dangerous getting splashed in the face with chemicals. You have to wear a face shield while working around hoses full of chemicals and rubber gloves. The dirty work is just a very small portion of your day. Some days, I never have to take my face shield out at all because I'm driving all day, or laid over waiting for a load.