The Fuel Hauler Thread

Yea I've been to some without a veeder. Stuck it, and 4-600 gal was below 90%. Last compartment began to empty but when I drained the hose the weight came back to me and I noticed the rush back and forth in the sight glass. Cracked the dog ear and nursed it in for 10 minutes. Job done but not a great situation to be in. Old tanks at the station and I was very close to the valve so it cutoff on me.

 

how exactly did you "nurse" it? did you just slowly let it drain ? how does one handle this situation?

 

Some of the old timers would use a short stick just enough to keep the flap open. When the station is pumping a whole lot you can just bump in the load. I've bumped 200 gallons but that was way before 90%

 

put a pole in the hole and get empty and hammer down

 

Ok, i got a question probably more directed at the people wh9 get paid ny the load. Had this happen the other day. Pulled into my first stop and the pepsi driver was parked right where my drops were. I found him inside and he said he'd be like 25 more minutes. So i asked if he could move his truck real fast so i could pump the fuel off. He did it, but was obviously not t9 happy about it. Then my 2nd stop was a super small station in a little country town that we have to back into. Get to that one and another soda driver is in there. Now here i just parked on the side of the road and took my 30m break.

So, when a delivery truck/van decides to park on your drops, do you try to get him to move, or do you just wait it out?

 

Here's the deal. Your truck can not be parked anywhere so you have a little more priority than the soda and beer guys. What I did was let the station manager take care of the problem. Check with your boss on how much time do you need to wait until you can fail the drop. We gave them about 10 minutes or so. It's not your job to make the beer and soda trucks to move so let the manager do it. But make it clear to the manager that when your time is up you're going down the street and failing his or her station. We had a couple of drops that your trailer would stick out on the side street if you didn't get all the way in. In that case I'd just drive on and the station would get their gas the next morning. You should have seen them after that. You don't even need to talk with the soda and beer guys and you can act like a premadonna to get their blood boiling.

I know it's a little different when you're common carrier and you need to please the station but go and talk with the boss because this is a very common problem. Plus a lot of times I'd just wait the few minutes the driver needed it, if I had the time. But they all knew that the gasoline trucks had a priority over them. Stay calm and after you talk with the boss it shouldn't be a big deal anymore.

 

Here's the thing. I'm finding that some of these gas station customers, and this could be extended to other outside contractors like delivery drivers; they expect you to provide them with a stellar customer service experience. Just the other night, some dude tried to get me to stop what I was doing and help him with his car. I explained to him that I couldn't just stop the flow of gasoline into the tank and put all my hoses away to help him with his vehicle. I explained to him that I couldn't leave the fuel flow unattended. Dude started getting snippy with me and I promptly (and condescendingly) put him in his place.

Run it by your boss first, but don't succumb to these customer's needs to use you as a doormat for their "excellent " customer service experience. You don't work for the gas station or the customer, and it's not your place to be kind or courteous to these people. Don't verbally abuse them, but don't take any guff from them either. Your main priority is to get in there, drop the fuel, and get the hell out as quickly as possible without running people over, damaging property, or mixing/spilling fuel.

I would save time and go over everybody's head, don't even talk to the driver and ask him to move. Directly go to the station manager and let them know you only have a certain amount of time to wait. Immediately call dispatch and let them know your situation, and if they're not out of your way within the time frame dispatch allows you, promptly leave without giving them a "second chance" to waste your time. Don't check back in with them to say goodbye or anything, just leave. And if it upsets them, then they should have been on top of it, because that's their job and not yours.

 

What's new with everyone?

 

It snowed up here a light dusting. And with an automatic and super singles it was a fun time learning how to slide around.

 

I do the same almost. but I do not talk to anyone until I am done. I will tell them to stay behind the line then when I, m done I'll direct them to the people that will tell them what to Now If they are in my way they have a very fast learning curve on who's got priority to who unloads first. I give five minutes. Then I drive off. Gasoline has the highest priority of all the material coming in that store. Talking to a customer is my last priority due to safety. Now If I see a little old lady having a hard time with getting the gasoline into their car I will stopped what I am doing and help and if I have a soda, beer, or other truck in my way and its my last load I'll wait if it's not too long. But I can tell you I was first name basis with the tow truck in Las Vegas because I will not while you try to get your money back.

All my conversations were with the station manage or higher. But Beware I was a Company for that Company I would be different if I was a dedicated, or common carrier hired by this company for the gasoline...