Owning a tanker

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Lazy, Feb 25, 2019.

  1. Orange713

    Orange713 Medium Load Member

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    some asphalt guys in Houston own they own trailers
     
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  3. Bill51

    Bill51 Road Train Member

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    Not all tanker loads are hazmat. Not sure what extra requirements go with food grade (i.e. corn syrup, etc.), other than no baffles in the tank. And some of those tankers have to have steam line jacketing/insulation to keep warm/hot. I assume you can only washout at certain facilities.
    Tomorrow I'll be hauling used motor oil, which doesn't require placards. But that is all we use that particular tank trailer for.
    When I hauled chemicals, almost all of the trailers were dedicated to a particular product. Not much washout action.

    What they said. Haul someone else's trailers for awhile and keep an eye out for a dedicated opportunity.
     
  4. Lazy

    Lazy Light Load Member

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    I'll keep this in mind thanks guys. I'll give one of those companies a try
     
  5. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Is most tanker work one way only...? How far will they run empty if the load is a long one say Houston to Seattle for example? Or do they try to load something for the return..? Do tanker drivers run all over or are the trips out and back rather than multiple destinations before returning to home 20..?
     
  6. Orange713

    Orange713 Medium Load Member

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    Houston, tx
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    The plan is to load something back. But that don’t always happen depends on product compatibility etc etc. some companies bounce around and others are out and back.
     
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  7. Derailed

    Derailed Road Train Member

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    Upstate NY
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    Often times it's out and back even on long runs. They usually try to keep trailers dedicated to a customer. Tough to be an O/O with a single tank trailer unless you have a tight connection with a steady dedicated customer requiring the same product. Even then you probably want to have a backup trailer just in case. They tend to frown when you cant deliver for whatever reason and they have to shut the plant down.
     
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  8. Orange713

    Orange713 Medium Load Member

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    Houston, tx
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    I see more and more companies playing the get a load from a broker game. Like last week I pulled some supernus global loads which is superior carriers. I guess everybody short on trucks now
     
  9. Lazy

    Lazy Light Load Member

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    Jun 26, 2018
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    Tanker rates, hazmat or no hazmat has to be better than a van right?
     
  10. Orange713

    Orange713 Medium Load Member

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    Sep 14, 2013
    Houston, tx
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    Some pays well and some don’t just depends on the customer from what I seen.
     
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  11. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    SW Arkansas
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    I have run long distances, delivered, got a washout then reloaded. But many of our trailers are dedicated and the customer does not want any other product in the trailers so the rate reflects the trip back empty.
     
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