Curious about Bulk or Tankers

Well I never done it, SO I can not help you, But I'll say Good Luck, and enjoy...

 

It all depends on the who, what, where, and when it takes place. These factors will make, or break, a trucking gig.

With my present employer, I jump from 53' dry-vans, to 38' end-dumps, to roll-off containers, to double conical vac-tanks, and to straight barrel, single compartment, liquid bulk-tanks. We even have a 12,400 gallon, three compartment, super-tanker.

I like the tanks because they're easy to see around, and they're easier to park due to the shorter length. I don't care for "The Slosh". With some tanks, and some loads, I spend a lot of time checking the mirrors to see who just rear-ended me, when actually, it was just "The Slosh". Sometimes the hoses will work me to death. Sometimes I touch nothing but the pillow in the bunk.

Vans are easy because there is very little to do but open the doors, and bump the dock. After pulling a tanker for a while, hitting the last parking spot at the Pilot, or a tight dock, can be a challenge with a big ol' 53' van.

Pulling bulk loads in a dump, or roll-off is a pain. The weight is always too light, or too heavy, and everything has to be tarped.

Roll-offs are the worst because of having to move the container with a series of cables and hydraulic cylinders.

If I had to choose, today, which type of trailer I'd pull for the rest of my trucking career, it would be a tanker. I might be picky about the who, what, where, and when part, but I'd choose the tanker.

 

I'm retired now but tankers ended up being my best job. But just like anywhere else it depends on the job and the company. I worked for a major oil company that paid top scale and had great benefits. But those jobs are at the top and are hard to come by. There was one driver here that posted about driving OTR with tankers and what he described was good too. It just boils down to what you like and with tankers you can set your goals to get to the high paying jobs once you become trained. But you've got to stay clean because what I've seen for the good jobs there's always a waiting list to get hired. If you want more information about hauling gasoline you can e-mail me at LINK REMOVED.

 

Sorry didn't know. So I should say that if you want more information on gasoline hauling just PM me.

 

Just as it has been said, it all depends on what you are looking for in a job. Personally, I drove vans and doubles before I took the chance on tankers. I started hauling gasoline and it was the best driving job that I have EVER had. Since I only drove compartment trailers, the slosh wasn't too noticeable.

I now work for a tank-truck carrier that hauls nearly everything on single compartment trailers and the slosh is of greater concern. Once you get the hang of it, slosh is not really a problem. Its just requires different driving skills.

We haul everything from corn syrup to ethyl-methyl-kill-ya-quick. Tank truck carrier drivers don't seem as rushed or pressured as vans and other type company drivers. The business is very different than vans, etc. Safety is of the utmost concern for most drivers. PPE requirements, plant rules, loading and unloading procedures must be strictly adhered to.

Tanker drivers typically don't run as many miles as other truckers. It's really not the nature of the business. Although long 1000 mile runs are not uncommon, they are however not typical. Most runs are between 600 to 800 miles and a large amount are shorter. A typical tanker driver is paid by percentage or by mileage. Our company's drivers make a lot of money by doing the other things that's required of the job like loading, unloading, detention, using the truck pump and some companies even pay a driver to sleep in the truck's sleeper (we do). There're many other things that our drivers are compensated.

I know the major benefit to driving a tanker is that the driver will NEVER fingerprint a load. No lumpers are ever needed. No BS grocery warehouses to deliver to. Just hook up a few hoses, open a valve or two and in a couple of hours you're empty and headed to a tank wash to have your tank cleaned (we pay for that too).

Some drivers hate working with hoses that are full of product but with experience you'll learn to work the hoses instead of letting the hoses work you! It just takes a little time to learn. The majority of the shippers will load your tank while you sleep. The majority of the consignees will unload your tank or have the hoses available for you to unload. Some don't but most do.

It really boils down to what is important to you. The factor that drove me to tankers is the fact that I hated all the BS lumpers and grocery warehouses and the fingerprinting that's sometimes required.