Tanker Driver

Not in chemical plants. Gosh, there are some doozies where you have to twist into a pretzel while backing up. And I believe dry bulk do quite a lot of backing.

 

No backing??? Bwahahahaha

 

I've hauled fuel, diesel, and all sorts of nasty chemicals in large tankers. I didn't find it very difficult. You just have to pay attention to corners, exits, shifting, and stopping a little bit more closely than you do hauling the dry stuff because the liquid moves around and that changes the center of gravity of the tank. Like what someone above said, different liquids weigh different amounts per gallon. If you have an unbaffled tanker -- one that doesn't have plates or divisions inside it -- the liquid can act like a sledgehammer slamming into you as it surges from back to front. It can feel like someone in a big truck just rear-ended you. My back had to be realigned once when I stopped too fast at a yellow light about to change--yes, it can be that bad. You feel it coming....the truck reverses direction a bit and then "wham!"....followed by expletives. Many tanks are baffled though and so this doesn't present a problem.

Tankers and flatbeds pay well these days. Don't be afraid to give it a try. And remember: You can go down a hill as many times as you like too slowly, but usually only once too fast.

 

Yeah, that was a good one !

 

I'll tell you what I don't like about it. 99% of OTR or regional loads require a clean tank after every unload. So that means either 1. have your tank and hoses cleaned at a tank wash (who knows how many hours), or 2. pick up a clean tank from the local terminal if you delivered to a city where you have a terminal.

What that means is, if you unload at 8:00am Monday morning, you likely won't get another load until Tuesday sometime. You waste nearly a full day between loads. That's been my experience 9 out of 10 times.

 

We get paid for tank wash time.
And that’s usually where I take my 10 hour if it’s a decent tank wash that has a shower and nice break room.

 

This right here is the best answer IMO. Tanker work can be very repetitive. Easy to become complacent and F up after awhile especially if you do the same routine every day. Also you cant be in a hurry to get done and go home when you have an easy night. It can present its challenges such as deliveries in small parking lots with some bozo parked in the way that should no better and is nowhere to be found. Sometimes it gets to the point where you welcome a challenge.

 

personally I found it way easier than any other trailer to haul asides from surge not much else to learn even then Milk hauling was the worst as far as surge goes just watch your curves but after a while you can feel it out pretty easily