Arky's Sunoco adventure begins in the west TX oilfields!

My guess is Yes...to both questions. I can ask about the first one, but there is likely info on the internet to answer your second question.

 

Thought of something else last night that I forgot to mention in my "Day 1" post. This does justify it's own post...and it is a negative.

Sunoco apparently requires you to log a 1/2 hr pretrip and 1/2 post trip...both taking away from your 12 hr work day, but neither is paid. I do not agree with this at all...but it's not a deal breaker for me...at this time.

Just wanted to make sure I keep it real. I am excited about this opportunity...but every company has warts...this is a big one at Sunoco.

 

Here are eligibility requirements for Hazmat.

You must be a U.S. Citizen; natural, lawful permanent resident; naturalized citizen; or a nonimmigrant alien, asylee, or refugee who is in lawful status and possess valid and unrestricted documentation establishing eligibility for employment. You may not have a disqualifying criminal offense, be adjudicated as mentally incompetent, or be involuntarily committed to a mental institution. Additionally, you may not pose a threat to national or transportation security.You must have a valid CDL license or CDL permit (as long as the permit number is the number that will be used on the permanent CDL license) prior to applying for a TSA Hazardous Materials Endorsement Security Threat Assessment.
The TSA security threat assessment is valid for up to five years.

 

Why can't you log those half hours before and after your regular shift? You are not getting paid for them anyway. DOT allows a 14 hour day.

 

I want to address something else that I'm getting asked about by a few people.

You need to have your hazmat on your license before I can get you any help. I specifically asked my guy about this yesterday. His reasoning was simple. He needs a lot of drivers and he is working with as many as he can as fast as he can. Any time he spends working with a driver who doesn't have all of the required qualifications could have been spent working with a driver who is ready to go. Its basicly a time management issue for these guys.

Oh..btw. They have no qualms asking you to text, fax or email a picture of your CDL. Don't cut corners guys. It could get your app thrown in the circular file at the end of his desk.

 

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Go to the link below and fill out the full online app. You will have to look through that list of jobs and find the driving job you are looking for.

And btw...please go back and unquote my original post from your post. It is making the page a mile long for those using phones (just a request...it's your post)

https://sunocologistics.ats.hrsmart...nyid=2&total=86&order=jobs.jobid DESC&start=0

 

Orientation Day 2:

Today was a little less paperwork and quite a bit of watching videos and conference calls. We did a lot of safety oriented stuff like the Smith System.

Then there was a conference call with HR to explain the benefits and vacation, etc. The health insurance seems to be good, I like the options and rates. They have short and long term disability paid by Sunoco. Vacation is 2 weeks after 1 year...and as I understand it...we can take a week after 6 months since we're starting midyear. They offer 401k matching, and profit sharing. All in all, a pretty impressive benefits package.

Notable items of the day:

1) I learned that we are paid on hub miles....recorded from the odometer at start and end of shift as well as at the well and the unload station. For anyone who has experienced the anal reaming of hhg miles in these otr companies...you know how much I liked hearing that.

2) Something that I had never considered as a newbie to crude hauling. We will be paid by gross barrels hauled, not net barrels. The experienced haulers will know what I'm talking about. Apparently not all carriers pay like this...one guy in orientation says he has always been paid on net. I tried to write an explanation, but erased it...I think it would be better for one of the experienced guys to explain the difference.

3) we also learned that the driver trainers are paid at an hourly rate for training us. We will be paid on the commission package from day one in the truck.

Ok...I did think of something else that I think is worth mentioning. As we go through this orientation...talking with different people. It seems that the dispatch structure is a lot less direct and forced than I had anticipated. I don't want to go into too much detail for fear of misrepresenting and/or sharing something that they don't want shared. It just seems to be very driver oriented...not forced dispatch.

There was talk today about the fact that it has been raining here for a couple of days. The statement made by the truck supervisor in the office was basicly that when the roads are muddy and slick...we don't go on them. The drivers also are encouraged to report potential hazards at the well site. The driver also has right of refusal to load oil anywhere HE feels there is a safety issue. If the H2S monitor goes off...just leave, don't look back. Let the managers and the oil producer figure it out.

The on-the-job reality could be different, but so far I get the feeling that Sunoco empowers and trusts their drivers to make decisions that effect their safety. I like that.

 

Sounds great so far. The proof will be when you start dealing with dispatchers. I haven't had one yet that won't lie to you.

 

True... but I'm not sure that I'll have a dispatcher though. It appears to be much different than I had envisioned.