New To Tankers - Safe Access to the Top?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Tacomatrd99, Sep 3, 2018.

  1. intrepidor

    intrepidor Medium Load Member

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    My uncle hauled petroleum for 30 years. He went up the ladder fast when loading to make sure gents were open. He slipped and fell hitting his head on a blog securing a support on the ground. That was his last load as he had to relearn how to walk and speak.
     
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  3. Blackshack46

    Blackshack46 Road Train Member

    What kind of tanks? What will you be hauling?
     
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  4. Tacomatrd99

    Tacomatrd99 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 19, 2018
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    Oh wow. I’m very sorry to hear that.

    They are single tube / barrel (not hopper, nor multi-chamber). It’s used cooking oil going to refineries to be changed to bio-diesel.
     
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  5. Blackshack46

    Blackshack46 Road Train Member

    I figured everyone jumped the gun and assumed it was pneumatic tanks.

    Good luck, listen to your trainer and take your time. There is no rushing in tankers. The load you pull will not allow rushing for long and eventually will make a fool of you.

    P.s. the curves on the road with the yellow signs with speed suggestions are for cars. Till you learn tanks and judging the road, you should be 5 to 10 under the suggested speed. Decelerate before the curve, accelerateing slightly going through and out of the curve.

    Dont slam your brakes just before the curve, that will put all the product at the front of the trailer and if its there when entering the curve, bad things will happen. Be down to speed before the curve so the load will be settled and level in the tank.

    Good luck, tankers are the best trailer out there!
     
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  6. wis bang

    wis bang Road Train Member

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    Levittown, PA
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    Established areas, tank farms, refineries, etc. usually have overhead areas with a railing hanging down on the far side, and platforms with multiple drop down ramps to allow access to multiple lids.

    I've seen safety setups just for sampling too but once you get out in the real world, same as picking up an MT at the cleaning rack yard, you are on your own. Three point contact is still the way to go, carefully move only one hand or foot at a time...

    Keep your keys, lighter, pen, etc out of your shirt pockets. I've witnessed deformed and melted 'pocket' calculators jammed into hydraulic internal valves. You don't want to examine a clean tank and watch your personal stuff fall in.

    ALWAYS RESIST THE URGE TO JUMP IN AN GET YOUR STUFF, IT MIGHT BE THE LAST THING YOU REMEMBER!
     
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  7. Tacomatrd99

    Tacomatrd99 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 19, 2018
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    Awesome! Thanks for all the tips. Much appreciated.

    Thanks for the information. Very helpful.
     
  8. wis bang

    wis bang Road Train Member

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    Levittown, PA
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    One additional warning; the severe statements about tanks under pressure extend to liquids too.
    Two times I've had to take a mechanic to a customer to retrieve a unit where there was a trail of blood running down the sides.

    One was a guy who borrowed a 3" male and dust cap to replace a fuesable cap to load caustic. He reached for it while the 'last' bit of pressure was still in the trailer and at first contact it popped off and smacked him in the face, just off center enough to not break his nose. the chem goggles saved his eye, just cracked the orbital bone a bit and he had the largest fat lip ever...

    The second wasn't the tank but a spiller inside a large oil terminal. cold pipes and weird angles prevented the safety chain from holding the arm in place when the slug from the pump finally hit the arm it came up and rang the guy's bell.

    Always wear the PPE required, it might save your life; the guy with the crushed goggles realized that one pound pressure packs a punch and that at the pressure he had been off loading at the cap would have continued into his skull. Matlack used to preach that one pound of pressure equaled about a 200 pound punch from the dome lid...
     
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  9. ChicagoJohn

    ChicagoJohn Road Train Member

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    Chicago
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    Hahaha. Been there, done that. Time completely stops as your watching the flash light fall to the bottom of the tank. Even worse is unscrewing the dog ear only to have that fall into the tank. That cost me $10 to pay the tank wash guy to climb in there and get it.
     
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  10. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    LOL...you got off cheap. Our mechanic charged me a fifth of Scotch for picking two ink pens, a notebook, a pocket calculator, and a flashlight out of the tank. I had a pair of coveralls with big pockets and I forgot to empty them before I got on top.
    The Scotch was better than a warning letter from the company but still expensive.
     
  11. Tacomatrd99

    Tacomatrd99 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 19, 2018
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    So I went for a ride today with the owner to give it a shot. Spent 11.5 hours on the road. Climbed up and down four times without issue. Much more solid than I thought it would be. Just kept in mind the three points of contact. Thanks for all the input.
     
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