Tanker Truck Driving and Hazmat Safety Concerns

Canned Spam · Jun 17, 2016

I was watching a Schneider driver unload something at the rack the other day and this guy was very professional in a way most veteran guys give up a long time ago. They must have a really thorough and professional training program.

Jeff2011 · Jun 17, 2016

Wyatt22 said: ↑

I just spoke with a recruiter from Schneider about an OTR tanker position out of New Jersey.
I would be applying as a new driver and was told to expect the following:

First year: approximately 45K based on 2000-2500 miles/week at .41 cents mile
Loading fees: $25 to load and $35 to unload
There is also a small ongoing on time delivery bonus and a first year sign on bonus of 5K offered to inexperienced drivers.

I have a couple of questions for you experienced drivers:
1. do you think the potential compensation mentioned above is fair and realistic for a new driver?
2. when I asked the recruiter what the biggest negative she heard from people about this particular job was, she said some people don't want to do it because of the Hazmat requirement. Some people are afraid they might "go dark" doing it. She mentioned the possibility of carrying radioactive material and other potential health issues. So, my question is, how potentially hazardous to a driver are today's Hazmat loads? Is this a reason to avoid employment as a tanker? Or, are the concerns of some drivers overblown?
(From the job details: "Schneider tanker drivers specialize in the safe transfer of bulk liquid chemicals with 2/3 of them non-hazardous.")
Click to expand...

We actually don't haul radioactive. It's on our "No haul" list

ethos · Jun 18, 2016

Canned Spam said: ↑

I was watching a Schneider driver unload something at the rack the other day and this guy was very professional in a way most veteran guys give up a long time ago. They must have a really thorough and professional training program.
Click to expand...

They do, I was a part of it. Schneider will train new guys right.

Wyatt22 · Jun 22, 2016

Thanks for the feedback.

It looks like Houston tanker OTR might pay about the same as New Jersey tanker OTR.
While the training would be in Houston in one case and Coraopolis in the other, I figure they'll both do the job.
It makes little difference to me at this point which terminal I drive out of because I’m considering living out of the truck for a good while.
So, it comes down to where I’d rather be driving.
(I was told, for what it’s worth, that with Houston “90% of drive time is east of the Mississippi” whereas New Jersey is “US and Canada”.)

Another safety related question … (sort of)
A recruiter today said as a new driver I might want to choose Houston over NJ because accidents in and around NJ are more common. So, doing “home time” in the Houston area might be a less accident prone way to get going as a driver.
Anybody know if there’s any truth to that?
If so, it sounds like Houston would be the better choice for a while.
Thanks

Jeff2011 · Jun 23, 2016

Wyatt22 said: ↑

Thanks for the feedback.

It looks like Houston tanker OTR might pay about the same as New Jersey tanker OTR.
While the training would be in Houston in one case and Coraopolis in the other, I figure they'll both do the job.
It makes little difference to me at this point which terminal I drive out of because I’m considering living out of the truck for a good while.
So, it comes down to where I’d rather be driving.
(I was told, for what it’s worth, that with Houston “90% of drive time is east of the Mississippi” whereas New Jersey is “US and Canada”.)

Another safety related question … (sort of)
A recruiter today said as a new driver I might want to choose Houston over NJ because accidents in and around NJ are more common. So, doing “home time” in the Houston area might be a less accident prone way to get going as a driver.
Anybody know if there’s any truth to that?
If so, it sounds like Houston would be the better choice for a while.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Every source will tell you that NJ is the most dense state in the US. I don't know about the accident rate but driving here is definitely riskier. Peoples' attitudes up here are different. If it makes no difference to you then stay down there. At least Houston has fuel pumps in the yard along with schneider mechanics that are always available. Here in nj, we have to fuel at different places all the time and we have no shop on the weekends and after 5pm mon-fri. BTW, I was otr out of jersey for a while and spent more time in the south than I did up north. Something to think about.

ethos · Jun 23, 2016

Wyatt22 said: ↑

Thanks for the feedback.

It looks like Houston tanker OTR might pay about the same as New Jersey tanker OTR.
While the training would be in Houston in one case and Coraopolis in the other, I figure they'll both do the job.
It makes little difference to me at this point which terminal I drive out of because I’m considering living out of the truck for a good while.
So, it comes down to where I’d rather be driving.
(I was told, for what it’s worth, that with Houston “90% of drive time is east of the Mississippi” whereas New Jersey is “US and Canada”.)

Another safety related question … (sort of)
A recruiter today said as a new driver I might want to choose Houston over NJ because accidents in and around NJ are more common. So, doing “home time” in the Houston area might be a less accident prone way to get going as a driver.
Anybody know if there’s any truth to that?
If so, it sounds like Houston would be the better choice for a while.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Houston is chemical Mecca, so spending more time there is a good thing. Besides, you will make a lot of deliveries to Houston so you could get some extra home time just in the course of your normal schedule. I moved to Houston, it's a great city!

ChicagoJohn · Jun 23, 2016

ethos said: ↑

Houston is chemical Mecca, so spending more time there is a good thing. Besides, you will make a lot of deliveries to Houston so you could get some extra home time just in the course of your normal schedule. I moved to Houston, it's a great city!
Click to expand...

Great city, but hot as hell.

ethos · Jun 23, 2016

ChicagoJohn said: ↑

Great city, but hot as hell.
Click to expand...

That it is.

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