Do tanker drivers need to scale out?

Huh? Have you ever pulled a tank?

 

Pulled hazmat tankers for 5 years, coast to coast & border to border.

 

The wind comment really threw me. Pull up on a scale slowly, stop, then release your foot brakes, the truck will roll forward and back for a few seconds then stop. At this point your done sloshing and have an accurate wieght. From coming to a complete stop to having an accurate wieght is less than a minute.

Ever notice some scales have a small sign by the red/green light that says release brakes? That sign is geared towards tank yankers.

 

Opps. Smash hour brakes and then hold them that thing will slosh for a week. Want to shut a scale down to get your buddy by? Pull on the scale at about 15mph and stop hard af. Then pull out your red & yellow knobs. Now watch the smoke boil out of smokeys head

 

The wind mainly affects high profile tractors such as condos. Pull on some scales at a truck stop on a windy day with a liquid load and if you're driving a condo the wind will make the condo sway back and forth which starts the liquid in the trailer moving. We only had condos and about 4 older flat tops, so I chose the older flat tops to drive.
The liquid is already moving when you pull up on the scales and stop. The wind keeps it moving by shaking the tractor. At least that's my experience.

 

I hear you, i never had a condo when yanking tanks. Condos would have been to tall for us. You’re 100% on wind keeping the needle moving, but that is with all trucks/trailers. I know i’ve sat for 20+ minutes waiting on a scale that was going from 80,000 to 80,150 to settle enough for me to print my ticket. And that was with an end dump. I’ve also lifted up on the icc bar to pull a couple hundred pounds off so a ticket could be printed. (Hey if we weren’t over we weren’t trying)lol

 

I heard that after I left the company they quit buying condos and went to midroofs.

 

Yes, buy 9 out of 10 shippers have scale on site, and cause 99.9% of tanker trailers does not have sliding tandems, you can forget about all this weight description problems for every state, like you have in dry van.
Weigh stations will let you pass as long as you will be under 80 000.
That of course if you drive smooth bore like I do.

 

You will find that out when you have the truck keys, find your truck. If it's a fixed 5th wheel it's going to be anchored to the frame via welded plates etc and bolts. If it's slideable you will see a series of teeth above the frame rails where the 5th wheel needs to slide on in between. Have something with you to put down below there before you try to slide anything.

Buy a box of school children chalk, the thick kind. Mark where your 5th wheel WAS before sliding out of that particular slot. That way when it's finished and you want to go back to where it was slide it back to the mark.

 

yes, you will scale out. If you work for a good company this information will be included from your dispatcher. It will state if you scale on site or not. If not it should state where to scale and how much it will cost you out of pocket $5.00 - $20.00 usually. This will be reimbursed to you if you write it on your trip envelope/sheet.