Ive had an axventure with tanks.

time the surge, when you feel the liquid starting to come forward start your next up shift. then you will be landing in your next gear about the time the liquid is in the back of the trailer again, when stopping try to keep the liquid forward. its all about finesse and timing. when cornering go slow smooth motions with the wheel no jerking.

 

I've been tankin 29 yrs last 12 smooth bore, and I still get slapped around some. What works best for me is is take off nice and easy, when I feel it hit the back (try to stop me) I EASE the fuel to it and to try to pull through it (keep it at the back).It makes every one behind you pretty mad going so slow,but imagine how mad they are going to be when you come to a dead stop in the middle of the intersection because your driveshaft is laying in the street.(which by the way usually takes out at least 1 fuel line(HAZMAT spill) and a couple of airlines.

 

Less than 1/2 the posted limit for exit ramps is what we used to teach at Matlack

 

Be very gentle. When you bake if you actually push on the pedal thats too much, Touch the pedal and wait for the reaction. Shifting has to be ultra smooth. same with acceleration.

You will get it, jist do everything with the motion in mind.

 

One important thing (for me anyway) is to pay a little more attention further down the road and making a plan for things you see. You don't want to get surprised by a broken down vehicle halfway on the shoulder, or traffic coming to a stop. Not that it isn't important in any vehicle, but with a tank, a minor incident can quickly turn into a major disaster if it catches you by surprise.

 

Absolutely. We run 50 gallons shy of full, and there is hardly any surge at all. A far cry from the days when I played around with waste oil. Even in a compartmentalized tank, I'd still get hammered around as I started out empty and made pick ups all day long like a milk hauler.

 

The exit ramps are marked for cars. Ten miles or more slower than the posted speed. Remember, tankers do not jack knife, they roll. I find floating the gears is smoother than double clutching. Double clutching will get you out of the intersection faster, floating the gears will give you a smoother ride with less surge. Never, I repeat, NEVER take your foot of the brake when you are first stopped. Surge can push you into or through the intersection and anything in front of you is in trouble. Surge will also pull you backwards with the same drastic results. Use the jake brake on hills. It works better than the service brake for a steady slow down.

Be careful out there.