First tanker job

I thought so. I was the rookie.

 

Doing it the same way everytime will definitely help if something isn't right.
Part of your routine, as others have said, is a final check before opening the final valve.

Piece of pie.

 

Here’s easy advice, always double check, meaning everything before the point of no return(opening valves on trailer, once that happens it’s in the hose and to late.)
Say you got it all hooked up, you’re ready to go, check your paperwork against your delivery tank number, product tag, ears don’t need shims(should’ve done that when you hooked the hose up but remember if you did put the shims in)

 

DON’T RUSH. I do this all day every day. Get a routine after lots of repetition. Pick apart that routine after a while and move ONE THING AT A TIME until it is super efficient. From placement of tools to order of actions. You need a foundation to build a house. Memorize their procedure as a starting point and walk through it. On paper at first. Remember while unloading to periodically check for flow and valve positions, in addition to leaks. It is a lot especially when something breaks, which will definitely happen.

 

???
We always used these (mostly the red ones):
New-Line Hose & Fittings

or these:
https://www.gshields.com/cam-arm-strap-2x18-orange-velcro-10pk/

Always.

 

First, I've been away from tankers.

I used double sided velcro around cam loc fittings in the 90's and left that part of the industry 19 years ago as these retention items started to multiply.

Two times I needed to drive a mechanic out to recover a unit after the driver was taken to a local hospital.

Driving up to a trailer and seeing the contrast of the blood running down the stainless wapper skin is unforgetable.

Not every cam-loc has retention devices; one was after a driver removed a fuseable washout and borowed a 3" a-nut and cap to load caustic.

He 'rushed' to return it attempting to remove it before the trailer fully de-pressurized. His splash goggles saved his eye-sight though the he did break the bone around his eye socket.

Had a boss [who knew better] tried to close a partially open cam on a 6" dry bulker cap while it was blowing off.

We found it a half mile away.

#1 rule never 'trust' anything when air pressure is involved.

 

Good advise, routine helps.

Tip of the day:

Customer gets a lot of a product, has their own pump with a 3" hose.
Expect the customer's hose end to be out of round from being dropped countless times by previous drivers.
You hook up and open valves and start the pump and find a steady drip from the customer's fitting.
Slowly close your QRB a few turns unitl the leak stops.
You have reached equlibrum as the amount of product the pump is pulling IS 100% of what you are letting come out.