Driving a tanker

Thanks for this. I was just offered a dedicated position hauling propane tanks and I know nothing about them or how they handle. I only haul 307/407 chemical tanks.

 

Ill be honest, propane has been a good gig for me. Its like anything, once you get past the initial trainning and load and unload procedures, its a clean easy job. Run at your own pace.

 

I appreciate the offer and if life has taught me anything its you'll never know whats next, so its good to know I have options.

 

That is soooooo true

 

if there is one thing on planet earth I do not want to tickle, it is the left and right limits of the logarithmic acceleration of a smooth bore tanker's lateral center of gravity. it's all fun and games in a straight line to get donkey punched up and down west virginia, but in a turn I don't even want to think about having 45 THOUSAND POUNDS of liquid rolling up the side of a 43 foot tube. I have enough experience on a BMW R1200 GS Adventure to have a mature respect for what a high center of gravity can do if you let it walk. it's got an 8 gallon gas tank on it, and waaay up high, on an already monolith of a bike. if it's full you get about 6 inches of left-and-right at a stand still. one more inch in either direction, and she will lay down for a nap, regardless of whether you want to try and stop it or not.

 

Personally my favorite saying is "MOTHER F'ER!!!," every time the serge hits. Followed by yup I'm driving a tanker......

 

Yea I switch between dry and liquid tankers quite a bit and if I run the dry bulk for a while then go back to liquid Im like son of the first time that surge witch slaps me when taking off from the shipper.