Tanker - drivers loading / unloading responsibilities

I currently haul Jet Fuel/Gas/ULSD here in Alaska. Going to buy my own truck and start running in the lower 48 for about 8 months a year. One thing I heard which could be BS is you have to go get your tankers washed out after every load? Driving 50 miles or however many seems kinda crappy doesnt it? I had to do that hauling reefers on Frozen Beef runs out of CO. I had to drive 100 miles round trip more than once to bring in a "clean" trailer before I could get my loaded truck. Sucked.

 

Washouts depend a lot on customer requirements. Sometimes all you need is a simple rinse out and other times it might be a full on Kosher wash. If its a dedicated trailer to one product or a related compatible product you may not have to wash out at all. Of course, some places will reject a trailer outright if they don't like the last contained product regardless of the washout. For example, dupont only requires a simple rinse and dry for ti02, but if the last contained was a petroleum based product its rejected no matter how it was cleaned.

Also sometimes you may have to drive 100's of miles to get to a tank wash, so price your loads accordingly.

 

No need to wash out when hauling gas/diesel on consecutive loads but if you haul ethanol then it can present a problem
i used to haul ethanol and the rack would lock you out if they find out that your previous load was diesel. I was told it flares up really badly. This was in the San Antonio terminal.
If the previous was gasoline, then it wasn't a problem. Let's face it, a tank wash may not be available where you're at. A small amount of gas in the diesel isn't going to be a problem and visa versa.
Just a heads up if you do haul ethanol. Your last contained has to be gasoline.
As usual YMMV, so check it.
Good luck.

 

Tank washes are the biggest problem I see pulling a tank. There are 3 in the entire state of Colorado. Maybe 5 or 6 in Arizona. Half don't do hazmat washes. I drove from Jamestown, NM to Denver, CO just to get washed. That kinda sucks. It's 50/50 loading. If you pop the dome or drag a hose, you're a part of it. Sometimes you use your pump or compressor, sometimes it's theirs. I've only had a small handful instruct me to kick back and relax, take a nap, whatever.

Don't forget that if it's a hazmat load, you're "supposed" to be logging it as on duty, even if you are studying the inside of your eyelids. Only time you can legally be off duty is if you drop the trailer and they come by and grab it. Clean Harbors is good for that.

 

I guess if the miles are paid decently then no big deal. I load Jet, Gas, Av-Gas, Home Heating fuel which is basicly jet, ULSD#1 and #2 all in the same trucks and trailers here in Alaska. We bottom load though and that is WAY safer! I haul about 40,000 gallons a day here.

 

You'd think that it would pay phenomenal, but some weeks are better than others. Especially when you you load on a Thursday or Friday, drive 1500+ miles, and deliver Monday. All the fuel you bought the first week, is deducted on the first week. Not on the week you actually deliver. Sometimes that will bite you hard.

Alot depends on the region you're in and what direction you're headed. From Chicago area to CA pays really good, but only cause you're doin 2000+ miles. Going from Chicago to Houston pays a better per mile, but it's half the miles. BUT, you will be able to land a great load (usually $4 +/- mile) and deliver it the same week. Forget FL. Only 2 things come out of there. Old people and drugs. Lol

 

I pull hot asphalt. Only 2 places I go that I don't load my own trailer. Mostly I just pull under the rack drop and lock the spout open loading valve turn on the pump. When the level reaches my marker that hangs from my dome. Turn off pump close valve shut dome then scale out. All of our customer have their own pumps for off loading. I carry NO hoses at all. Back up to the unloading hose. Attached hose open dome the start pump open breather valve to insure pump is working close breather valve open main valve. Chill out for 30 min till hose starts hopping. Climb up ladder insure tank is empty. Close all valves turn of pumps disconnect close dome. Never ever wash out Water and asphalt do not mix. Go get next load.
We get paid percentage not cpm.

 

I like that route. Chicago to LA to Houston to Chicago. When I first started OTR I was with FFE and Did Laredo to Chicago a lot with produce. When I was with Transport America I never got out west and sure missed it. Farthest west was Montana hauling sugar beet sugar to El Paso.

 

Company driver or o/o? I’m thinking of going on my own looking for
Company’s to look into