The Fuel Hauler Thread

looks like we're hitting an impasse. haha, nobody's gonna touch this one with a 53' pole. It's actually on page 138 of the California Commercial Vehicle DMV handbook, that the heaviest trailer should be placed behind the tractor, and the lightest trailer in the back. It's under Coupling and Uncoupling, but it's entirely relevant to the gas tanker truck/trailer setup.

I'm going to stop posting on this thread for a while, but you guys feel free to PM me if you have any further info on this. I also have a mind to try to get a moderator to delete all of my posts from the end of February, through this date. I'm realizing there's too much information specific to my situation on here.

 

You're right, when hooking up trailers the heaviest goes first. But to me you're looking to find hard instructions to retain, how much, where to hold it, and should you drop or not. What if it's the last compartment and the load will not fit anywhere? Do you fail the load and the station gets none of it's load? Do you keep compartments back to balance the load? You'd be at that station a couple of hours when it should have been 30 minutes. I can only tell you from my experience and from the type of truck I drove. In the very last compartment on the trailer we had a 2850 hole. I've retained a full compartment, half, and almost empty and never had a problem. We drove gasoline tankers that were much different than a general semi. The trucks had 2 pivots points and you would think that would get the set wobbling down the road. It doesn't, in fact if we do not leave a message to the next driver there's retain in the #5 hole he wouldn't know until he goes to load. In all the loads and all the miles I've driven plus talking with some 20 and 30 year drivers the general answer is you try to avoid it but it's no big deal. Now that's with our trucks and I wouldn't make a statement like that to all trucks. We have 4 axle trailers with a 3axle truck with a drop axle. 8 axles on the ground provide a stability I liked. The company brought out the Smith System and come to find out the drivers have been using the tools in the Smith System long before the Smith System was. So I guess those habits paid off. I only wish I could have!!!! It takes years but those drivers are legends and I'm proud to have known them.

 

So many variables here. I won't go into a L O N G story. I will just say use YOUR best judgement.

 

What do you guys do for getting the lids off the fills? The company I worked for up in Seattle had t-handle hooks on every truck, it was about 2-3' long and made getting the lids up very easy. It was also barely a pound, maybe less, very light weight steel. I moved back to Vegas and the company I just went to work for has their guys trying to pry the lids up with their fingers. I have a manhole hook I could use but its like 4lbs and way heavier than what I was using in Seattle. Unfortunately I can't seem to find anything like what I was using in Seattle down here in Vegas. So I ask all Y'all again, what do you use to get those lids up?

 

I use a Leatherman "Rebar" multi-tool.

 

I used a big flathead screwdriver.

 

@Cali kid

Just wondering why did you leave sentinel and go cryo? You had me sold on moving over to sentinel, but now i am hearing stories about OT being down/cut. Should i go to sentinel, or am i going to regret it? Lol

 

That's what I use as well. It's never an issue popping them for me.

 

Yep. +1 on the big flathead screwdriver.
Just stopped by to say hi. I'm back hauling gas after a 10 year detour into mechanic school and employment as a mechanic. I scratched a couple gears during the road test but it was like riding a bike after that. I'm still riding with a trainer but I'm doing pretty well shaking off the rust as far as loading/unloading.

It feels great to be back in the brotherhood of fuel again. I know some days are gonna suck(did a pumpoff in the rain Friday) but I'm glad to be back at a job where I'm a valued professional, and not considered to be the poop on the soles of some CEO's shoes.