Diary of a New Tanker Driver - Comcar CTL

Thermos Bottle · Mar 15, 2016

GolfPro said: ↑

I think tankers are no longer possible for me at this time, as it appears only Schneider trains new tanker drivers, and they forbid contact lenses.
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That is actually smart thinking. When I took Chemistry lab in college, they told us not to wear contacts. The fumes from chemicals can get on the contacts and damage your eyes.

G13Tomcat · Mar 15, 2016

Any reason you can't drop back to the good ole' "bespectacles" ?? Just wondering. It may be posted, and I may have missed it; if so, I apologize.

Just wondering. I gave up contacts years ago, tho' they were fun in my 20's! ((((((years ago...LoL)))))) I feel safer with the physical and protective lenses as my glasses ( I have RX sunglasses AND RX clears as I am not comfortable with the time it takes for the photo-greys when I'm driving ) and they are both rated safety lenses and frames. With my insurance, it's not really that bad price-wise.

Everyone has their comfort zone, LoL!

I agree with @Thermos Bottle though. Man, I remember Chem labs from the days; that plastic becomes caustic gases with a little chem or two, and therefore..... eyes.

GolfPro · Mar 16, 2016

G13Tomcat said: ↑

Splash-out from a leaky dome is not like a leaking/non-capped hose.
HE WAS NOT PROPERLY TRAINED, is how I see it, guys. Yeah, his product has more surge than my asphalt, I get that.
If his trainer(s) allowed spillout/slosh and wrote it off as "oops" what's he supposed to do, measure it?
Y'all are being too hard on this green-horn, and I'm sure he doesn't mind that dub-name... he still works the greens when he's not trying to be one of us.

Y'all DO have good points, providing that TRAINING WAS NOT SUBSTANDARD. I really feel bad for this guy, and I hope he gives HIMSELF another chance; seems a few people here don't think he deserves it. We were not all born pulling hoses, with our heads in our domes, and teetering on catwalks.

He already said, for the most part, that if he had it all to do over again, he would have reported it. Quit being so hard on the newbies to our field that really GIVE A CRAP~!

Gentlemen, I'm sorry. I never post negatives to anyone here; haven't posted much in the years i've been a member. I'm just saying there are SO MANY non-deserving/non-caring/non-qualified people trying to get into OUR industry, and perhaps even under-cut us. I'm company more/less, so no-matter here, but still. This guy really gave it a go.

Read his earlier posts when he didn't even think his hands could handle the hoses. He's a newbie I'd take OTR with me (if I still ran such) ANYDAY.

HE TRIES. Really hard. More than we can say for these "one post wonders" around here. Kept us updated on his journey, even if it was a momentary lapse of reason. I'd run behind him or beside him ANY day, because DANG, he tries.

Whadya think, @TROOPER to TRUCKER ??

NO dis to the 2 previous posts; I don't normally say as much but y'all are being so hard on a man that is only worth the salt in the shaker he was trained in.

Hang in, @GolfPro ...

my apologies to any i've offended. It's not me to do so.
G'night (or G'day for me, guys!) .... BE SAFE.
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Your words mean a great deal to me, thank you. I also appreciate @Chinatown and others, too.

Look, the reason I didn't report it was I was afraid if I did, I would be fired. Nonsensical, right? But that's what went through this rookie's head. I made a weighted judgment: Report = 100% being fired, or no report based on unloaders' comments = <100% of being fired. And that judgment was based on my trainers spilling stuff, not reporting it, and other consignees not concerned with spills.

I found out otherwise.

ethos · Mar 16, 2016

RogerThat72 said: ↑

Just about 95% do and yes that's basically all you can do. But, if you take all the steps on your part with no visual problems or leaks. Why lie just tell them. We load toluene in Ohio. I hate doing it.

I don't want to get in a pissing match I'm just explaining how I feel about it. If he wasn't properly trained as stated above his trainer never reported anything that's not right. He still should have some kind of gut instinct that he knows right from wrong. In orientation I'm sure they said report everything or anything. And something like that why wouldn't you? Ah well it's done and over with.
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You don't just call a man a liar and then say that your just saying how you feel about like it's the most nonchalant thing in the world to do.

ethos · Mar 16, 2016

rz14nj said: ↑

there is a big difference between a couple drops hitting the ground when you disconnect the hose and gallons of chemical spilling all over from the dome not being sealed correctly. i really doubt his trainers had gallons of material spill all over the ground from a damaged dome seal. even if the seal was intact and damaged by the loader, he still should of called the spill in.... 2 people saw it, it was a hazardous material, at that point you HAVE to call it in. that's common sense, not a rookie mistake.

he took responsibility for it in the wrong place. obviously comcar and every other trucking company isn't going to care what you post on truckersreport, only that you didn't bother to tell them in the real world. what would the EPA think about this spill? if it spilled out at the customer, i'm sure it spilled all over the road some where as well. how would you feel if you were driving down the road and got splashed in the face with sodium hydroxide?
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Where is the lie? Did the company call and ask? Both of you guys seem to throw that word so cavalierly.

G13Tomcat · Mar 16, 2016

^^ you are very well-versed, ethos. Much respect, man. Agreed.

GolfPro · Mar 16, 2016

I re-applied at McElroy and talked to the recruiter and explained everything. Also took @Chinatown advice and applied at Abilene. Will apply for others right after I post this.

G13Tomcat · Mar 17, 2016

Keep us posted, @GolfPro ... you've got a lot of respect, and Kudos around here ya know. Some of these big boys got your back and that's not including me! (Yes, I do too, tho.. !)

GolfPro · Mar 21, 2016

So I've contacted McElroy, Schneider, and Abilene at the suggestion of @Chinatown. Abilene doesn't appear interested; Schneider invited me to orientation for a dedicated job that will have me out of town for 5 1/2 days at a time, home for my 34-hour reset and then back on the road, all for a whopping 30¢ per mile. Quite a comedown from the tanker 45¢ per mile I threw down the drain.

I'm so depressed about what I did that I contacted the manager at my old job, Jos. A. Bank clothing store, and he agreed to hire me back. Job pays only about $500/wk but I just might take it and abandon truck driving. Not sure what to do at this point; I'm not too keen on working for 30¢ per mile, even if I am a rookie who screwed up.

Chinatown · Mar 21, 2016

Don't give up yet. Try Magnum Ltd.

If that doesn't work then try Tyson Foods and Freymiller.
12 months of any OTR driving and then go back to tanks.
Do the online apps. and follow with a phone call tomorrow.
I like Jos.A.Bank and bought lots of clothes there. Best underwear, undershorts/undershirts, in the world.

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