Three Tanker Outfits of the Houston Petroplex

Several tanker companies have terminals around the Houston Petroplex, and they're pretty much all the same. The same as in 'not that great'. I've worked for three the past two years: Schwerman, Martin, and Andrews. Be sure to avoid these three. They have equipment issues they won't deal with, they "forget" to pay you what you've got coming, and they talk down to you like you're their kindergarten kid if you do work for them. Ripoffs are common at these places, and be ready to clean out your truck when you HIRE ON, especially with Martin Transport. And with Martin, you'll be driving Macks that have worn out suspensions and bounce around on day cab seats that will screw your back up on any run longer than about 300 miles. You can ask for the problems to be solved, but it's in one ear and out the other. Just avoid them. There are better outfits out there you can work for that are far from the Petroplex.

 

They all seem to be the same. Faulty equipment. Shops that won't correct minor issues that will sooner or later become major issues. Shops that won't correct the major issues after they've become major issues and been told 20 times about those issues. Being told how to drive by insiders who don't have CDLs. Having to give two free hours on live loading. Being forced to sit in the hot sun for hours while you get loaded because they won't allow you to sit in the truck or lay down in the bunk. Having to give two free hours on unloading. Huffing heavy 3" hoses that were light until they got full of heavy oil, with no air pump on the rigs to push it off. Constant silly propaganda about how they don't allow any spills. Newsflash: You're gonna have spills, even if its into buckets. Constant scare-tactic stories about people being fired for not obeying. Trying to blame the drivers when those major issues that aren't taken care of finally cause something the driver gets blamed for or get spotted in a roadside, with the driver being blamed for it. The petroplex companies believe they have drivers over a barrel and can abuse them at will. And they do because their drivers allow it.

 

Drivers really do need to go on a three-week strike. They've needed to since about 1980.