Any advice for a newbie starting out driving water truck?

Watch out for the downhill off ramps, slow early, and gently as you approach that stop sign, light at the bottom. The weight has already shifted forward, and hard breaking will feel like a car has hit you.

 

Put it this way. If you follow my advice, it will still feel uncomfortable until you get used to it. But take turns slowly and it's nothing that is dangerous. You will start to know when to expect the wave to hit very quickly. This is my first day ever and it's nothing too scary. Make all lane changes as if you are driving in a straight line. No sudden movements at all. You will feel the centrifugal force of the liquid climbing the tank when you turn.

 

Worst case scenario is to be half loaded wether you have compartments or smooth bore ... then you will REALLY feel it. If you have compartments try and keep a good deal of weight in that front compartment, especially in bad weather.

 

A half full one is more dangerous than a full one. Most jobs require you to take a full load. Never drop a full trailer unless you absolutely have too. Not meant to be dropped. It can be done but its very risky.A full tanker with baffles don't have a noticeable hard surge. Partially filled tankers really do.The biggest danger is pulling full ones for a long time then get a half full one. Your gonna be used to the full one. Trust me the first time you try the half full one its going to shock you in the difference. Lucky if you don't get pushed through the intersection by the surge. LOL

 

on the winter icy roads you better go slower when you're empty then when you're loaded because you will slide a lot more

 

It depends on what type of tanker he's going to drive. A transport will have baffles. A vacuum truck doesn't. The surge isn't bad at all. Just be mindful of what you are doing.

 

I float all my gears when shifting and seems to be better th an double clutching. Like everyone has said watch your speed on off ramps and curves. Curves not so much in my opionion. Also try not to accelerate in a turn and let your jake brake do most of the work.

As for the surge you wont really feel it until you completely stop and take your foot of the brake. I also slowly release the brake and hover over it. Also the heavy the product the harder it hits. For example sludge at 2% solid i wont ever feel but at 7% it feels like a pickup rear ended me at 50mph.

As for highway driving and back roads watch the potholes and speed because they tend to cause your product to swash side to side.

So in the end of there is a line of cars behind you getting off the of ramp or getting on the on ramp or around a corner your doing something right.

 

Make sure your mirror heaters are turned on.