Tanker Terminology 101

coastal delivers fuel, in phoenix they were taking people out of cdl training, but they are kinda the bottom of the fuel haulers, and if they're not in your city look around at tankers while you're driving. look for the most beat up and old looking ones, they're the ones who'll hire anyone with a pulse. it wont be easy but you'll get your experience, if you survive you apply for one of the better companies.
I hauled fuel for DRPT in phoenix, i made 75k and 78k then I came out to haul crude which sucks now, i should have stayed with fuel. I worked less and stayed cleaner and I didnt have to shave. and sometimes working for the smaller companies is better, because they're more relaxed about stuff. its nice not to have someone on your butt all the time

 

I did oil for a few months to help out a good manager I had. I normally did fuel delivery. They kept me on hourly gas haulers wage while the oil guys were being paid by the load. Oil was harder and more dangerous. And didn't pay as much as fuel did. I was glad to go back to the easy life of 6 loads a day in a nice clean gas station.
I've got alot of respect for the oil guys out there.

 

I was contacted by a tanker company in South Gate, CA about hauling Hot Oil out of Mojave, He was only offering 18.00 per hour, I thought that was crazy for the hazards involved. I ve worked around the industry alot in the refineries and roofing plants like GAF, that Hot Stuff is Crazy Dangerous, and if you get it on you , your toast no wiping or rinsing it off, really bad news. Loads of respect for the guys who handle it.

 

What kind of oil?

 

Different kinds. Some you set the gallons and the tanks through a header like in gas. A few were pre loaded.
Some road oil. Mostly it was the kind you top loaded by sight. The guy I followed the first day showed me how to bend a sprinkler on/off pole so as soon as it touched you'd hop to the other catwalk to turn it off. Staring in the Dome lid and then hurrying to hop over onto another catwalk before anything can go wrong always seemed a little crazy to me. Oil guys definitely have a tougher go of it then the gas guys.

Only did it for a few months. Made good money because they gave me my regular hourly wage instead of perload like the regular guys got. I always got the crappy loads and worked the clock out every day. When you're paid by the hour work is work. Who cares what the load pays I just got it done, went back and did more. No complaints.

 

I have a question about leaks , if liquid or gas is going thru a mechanical connected line at some point there WILL be a leak . 1 poster said about a liqiud product a cup full is a problem . I ask how so ? I 've seen dumb sses dump fuel all over a fuel island with no reprocussion . Dumb question i guess but idk .

 

Have you ever experienced bad gaskets , as a bad batch ? Ive seen new gaskets , pressure release valves , thermostatic valves ect come from factory faulty . But im sure haz mat items have a a tighter QC regulation.