Advice for a potential tank hauler.

I had been driving around 20 years when I switched to tankers. I rode with a trainer for about 3 weeks because it's not about the driving part, it's about safety of dealing with hazmat chemicals of various types and different customer situations. I was a company driver.
New Orleans is an excellent area for many tanker jobs.
Trimac Transportation pays really well, but doesn't have the best trucks. Their "Elite Fleet" drivers can make $100K or more each year. @ethos worked there and can give better information.
Probably a good place to work until your daughter finishes school.

 

Trimac Transportation Owner Operators:
What do we haul?
Trimac transports a diverse range of products, including:

• Chemicals
• Dry bulk products
• Food products
• Industrial gases
• Oilfield services
• Petroleum
• Resource Commodities
• Owner-operator welcome videos:
• • Chicago, IL
  • Greeley, CO
  • Geismar, LA
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Spartanburg, SC

 

I side with what Chinatown said about being a company man to get your feet wet. Remember you will be starting all over again in a new part of the industry, it takes time to learn the product and the customers. Some carriers may even have you learning completely different products such as oil and chemicals, some are pump offs, some gravity drop, some are driver unload/load others the customer does everything. It's a lot to learn but you are in a very good location.

 

Lots to learn and money is good. Where I was, might haul a load of acid, then the next load is dry bulk flour for Bisquick, then the next load is glue for microwave popcorn bags, etc. Interesting work and enjoyable in my opinion.

 

Never hurts to learn all types of trucking. Pulling a tanker has it's own set of rules. Slow and steady wins the race. It's not like a box or a flat, you can't forget what's behind you, even for a second. The best way, and probably the only way these companies will take you, is if you go with "old Charlie", who is fixin' to retire, ( after 47 years) you know,,,and pick up his good habits. You'll be way ahead of the game, rather than finding that stuff out on your own. I've done it all, and in my opinion, tanker is the best trucking there is. Low key, laid back, no hurry( usually) and companies are waiting for YOU, not t'other way 'round. Good luck, patience is the key, and once you get that tanker job, I'll bet you'll do that for the rest of your trucking days.

 

I like pulling tanks , places we go it's no touch lol , they load and unload you . Some places you might have to hook up a hose or 2 . I try to stay away from acid loads , just don't like wearing the rubber suite . I work for mckenzie tank , they have a terminal in st.gabriel la they might let you run 3 and off 1 pay is good .

 

Saint Gabriel will be the place to go. Plenty of choices there. Go in, sit down and state your case!

 

Switched from refers to hazmat tanker 15 years ago and have never looked back.
Lots to learn not so much about driving but all of the different trailers, valves,hoses unloading procedures etc.
It's not a boring or mundane job.