Propane delivery driver.

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Roadgeek395, Jan 3, 2018.

  1. Roadgeek395

    Roadgeek395 Light Load Member

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    I have some questions for current or former propane delivery drivers.

    Just to clarify I'm referring to bobtail propane delivery not tractor trailer.

    The following questions are regarding the busy winter season.

    On average, how many deliveries do you make a day?

    On average how many hours do you work a day?

    I have many more questions but I'll wait and see if I get any responses first. Thanks in advance.
     
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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Here in Arkansas local propane trucks run until they cannot do the work safely when winter is biting. They work really hard. In time of emergency, they are absolutely a first line defense against families freezing or not able to cook etc. We have quite a bit of that in our area. Propane farms etc.
     
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  4. moloko

    moloko Road Train Member

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    I've hauled LPG before, but only on a Class A tanker. I highly advise a Class A job. You just sit there for 2 hours running the compressor and chillin in the truck
     
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  5. Paddlewagon

    Paddlewagon Light Load Member

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    In the winter, 12-14 hour days were fairly common. Obviously depending on your customer base and how many you can get on "contract" or "keep full" orders...........once spring/summer came around I was usually off by noon...............8 year bobtail operator
     
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  6. scythe08

    scythe08 Road Train Member

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    Deleted. Couldn't answer the OP questions
     
  7. PROPANE

    PROPANE Bobtail Member

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    11 hours is the most I've worked in a day delivering, that's including a lunch break.

    we have been working overtime some where the weather has been so cold. and customers are using a lot of propane.

    but for the most part averaging 8 hrs a day , but the pay is good, and the job is easy......

    the road was icing up today, and everyone came in and went home.

    I'd say about 20 deliveries in a 8 hr day, is what I try to stick to.

    maybe 25-35 if they are paying me overtime

    I think I might have delivered to 38 people in one day. my personal best.

    depends on where your customers on your route are at , and how close the houses are together, you might drive for miles and get one customers tank filled, and then get in a subdivision and there are 30 people , all in a row.

    some guys can get 40-60 deliveries done in one day.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2018
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  8. Roadgeek395

    Roadgeek395 Light Load Member

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    Thanks for the reply! Do you work for one of the bigger propane companies or do you work for a smaller independent company?

    I usually average 10 to 11 hours a day with 60 total stops a day with 50 of those being deliveries.

    When you say you do 20 stops a day, how far apart are those stops?
     
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  9. PROPANE

    PROPANE Bobtail Member

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    its a smaller company,

    I couldn't imagine how many deliveries a day a bigger company would require.

    I've talked to some that work in other companies , and one guy swore they worked to 11PM at night. almost on a daily basis.

    6:30PM is the latest I've worked, and its hard to find everything in the dark. I couldn't imagine working until 11PM.

    we have some rural routes, and some of those roads will take you 14-16 miles of the main road, and the main road going into the town in the particular area we are delivering to is 42 miles away from where we start. Its not just how far the stops are apart, its how far they are away from where we load. have to take into account the drive time back. that route is about 120-150 miles total for the day. I usually don't keep count.

    about 20-25 stops usually will about unload half or more of the tanker anyways.

    what is funny is people who have lp/heating oil could care less if they see you when the weather is OK, but when it gets bad the phone goes off the hook, and people call in all day wanting you there ASAP. when the weather is OK, I don't get in a real big hurry, because for some odd reason, people that stay home all day, act like your trying to sneak LP in their tank. I had one guy as me the other day "how did you get any LP in the tank I haven't even had it on".........

    I had to explain if he had the pilot light on it would use LP.

    I like doing this type of work, and would like to do it until I'm a old fart,

    so I try and take it easy, I've already figured out the more you deliver the more you have to climb in and out of the truck,

    so I'm trying to take it easy on my body, that way when I'm old I'll still be in good shape, I don't want to over do it while I'm still young.

    haha.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
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  10. Roadgeek395

    Roadgeek395 Light Load Member

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    If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? How many full-time drivers are on the fleet?
     
  11. PROPANE

    PROPANE Bobtail Member

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    we have 4 drivers,

    but some of the bigger companies only have 2 drivers, that's why they work a lot of overtime, they are forced into over time, at least that's what I was told by a guy who left that place, who once worked for one of the bigger companies.

    we had to take a safety class on propane delivery, and some of the other guys at the other companies had at least 4 or more drivers, and I always ask if they tell me how much they make, $22 is the most I've been told by a far more larger company they made by the hour.

    this is on the east coast in VA. in a 100 miles radius, there are probably 20 propane companies.

    when I started I asked if this position was all year long, even in the summer,

    I did the same thing when I was interested in driving a mixer truck,

    the propane company said yes, it was a full time driving position, and the concrete company said not really. only when a driver was needed. especially in the summer.

    if you have all your stuff together you can pretty much negotiate your salary driving one of these trucks.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2018
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