Is Fall A Good Time to Start Hauling Tankers?

Lol. Has nothing to do with the endorsement. Driving a smooth bore tank is alot different than a van. That liquid surges back and forth and will bang you around if you don't shift REEEEAAAAL smooth like. I mean real smooth. Takes alot of getting used to.

The biggest thing is the non driving parts tho. Dragging hoses, climbing ladders. Unloading molasses into a farmer's tiny tank and making sure you don't overfill it. Unloading or loading into totes (those small palletized tanks) loading at a place with no meter so you gotta measure from your dome opening to the product and figure weight based on gallons in the tank and weight of product. And God help you if it's a product like corn steep that has a variable weight. Then you gotta unhook pump, hoses pack up go to scale only to find your too light/heavy and head back to get more or pump some off. Wearing a chemical suit hard hat and face shield in 90+ degree weather Unloading some crap like caustic soda that one tiny drop will burn the crap outa you. Or dealing with stiff frozen hoses in the winter. Frozen product in hoses and using a torch to melt it away.

Having said all that I truly enjoy tanking 100× more than dry van. It's just more responsibility. Most dry van shipping offices drivers are asking what each other's companies are like. Everyone's looking for a new job and #####ing about their current employer. I never hear talk like that at tanker shipping offices.

 

I'm paid hourly..... I've never heard that phrase either.

'Drive it like you stole it!' Lol.

 

Perhaps your best off asking the company you plan on working for and hope they give you an honest answer. With the kind of tanker work i currently do its not so much seasonal but is very weather related while it rains we have very little work when its dry we have too much work.

 

I heard that phrase a month or so ago
Dow chemical 6:30 am appt. They had no room in their tank and apparently the product was needed that day, Dow asked. If I could wait there til 14;30 and they'd have room then, They were not worried about the demurge.
Called dispatch, explained.
Dispatch: Go ahead sit and wait

 

I'd imagine Dow to be a good customer; one worth waiting on, should the situation arise.

 

Chemical plants are the grocery warehouse of the tanker industry lol

 

Except they pay dmrg & layover.

 

You ever been rear ended my a hummer? That's what it feels like it you shift to aggressively with a midweight product in a smooth bore tanker.

Take offramps at the posted speed, especially if it's raining or snowing. Avoid driving aggressively especially while breaking, the surge can push your ### end out from under you. Basically, take your time and you'll be fine