hauling gas vs chemicals

Hard to say, I do Chemicals but, I've never hauled gas. I would assume gas is easier because at my company you haul a whole different variety of chemicals and each has has there own challenges where as gas and diesel are gas and diesel. We haul things more flammable than gas as well as corrosives, poisons and food grade products. I'll take squeezing into tight stations and dealing with cars over standing outside in 100 degree weather wearing a boatload of PPE blowing off caustic.

 

You would think so but, I probably make the same or a little less than most high end gas haulers. We also run vans/LTL with all the before mentioned goodies but, in totes/drums instead of bulk.

 

I can not comment on chemicals but I would think that certain chemicals have a lot of regulations. Much more than gasoline. I preferred gasoline because I liked the city and what was going on. I never had a dull moment and in Las Vegas there's something going on somewhere so you'd know what to do. We had over 75 gas stations when I was there and after awhile you would know how to get into and out of the station plus you'd know if there was more than one way in. You'd know the underground tank layout so you'd know how to load the truck.

At first when I was training there was a couple of stations that I swore the extra large tanker would no way fit into the station. The Driver Trainer would just laugh and pull right in. Some stations you'd have a couple of inches clearance and I do mean inches. We would have a side light on the trailer at the loading heads and you'd set it to point to the ground to where your short hose would be lined up perfect. The trucks were slip seaters but the truck I was assigned to did not have a drop axle so I could drop the 4 axle trailer and hook the small trailer and go to AZ. It was a nice break to have 2 loads in town then take a 6 hour load to AZ and back. Even thou we knew all the tank sites we always preached to new drivers to check the tank tags twice before a drop was let go. We had a lot of common carriers pulling our loads because of the sales we did. But of course we had priority and they had to wait for us. We'd do 5-6 loads a day and stay under 12 hours. I know it's different now because BP watched every second the truck was working. No more do 6 loads in 10 hours and get paid for 12 hours. Glad I got out when I did.

 

I've never hauled fuel...i pull chemicals....it's some good money in it...clean work as long as your careful..hardest thing about chemical is having to pump off from a rear end unloader...takes 4 hoses from the fitting to your pump...then maybe 1 or 2 to reach the customers valve..

 

Can you elaborate on that? What kind of mistakes? Racks are...stations?

 

Racks are loading racks..... The oil terminals where you load .


Problems could be overloading a compartment or not having the vapor hose tight....
Maybe having the dome light on in the truck......

Some racks are worse than others.... But none of them have a sense of humor...

 

i did both (and i was local both times) fuel pay was better, chemicals has better benefits, Fuel runs 24/7 365 and with fuel you are out in the weather. Chemicals there's PPE gears (HOT) 1 small drop on your skin have you running for WATER! Fuel on the otherhand you get your hustle on, Learn to load Quick, time that traffic and have a #### good Dispatcher who knows how to dispatch loads!

 

btw i'm back to fuel (happy) daylight hours and everyother sat.

 

I made more with chemicals and I only worked m-f off weekends and holidays. Dayshift