Looking forward to yanking tanks

the one we had, the driver said the lid must have blown shut, the customer had just told him it was going to be MT soon and as he stepped on the ladder, groan, crunch, done...using the customers electric pump.

It was a 304 and I think it was about 85 or 86.

 

Worked at a tanker outfit in Portland in the late 80's. They kept a large picture of what happens to a semi tank when the wash rack guys steamed the tank out and closed up the dome before it cooled.. When it went, it was like Godzilla grabbed the middle of the tank and twisted. The force was incredible to cause that kind of damage.

 

Again, I would like to see the pictures and even then, a reliable source for what actually happened.

 

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2016/01/16/mythbusters-recap-tanker-implosion-crushed/

Rail tanker so not the same but the same idea. Result.... Myth busted.

 

I was going to post that one also, love the myth busters.

 

One thing you'll notice in transferring from dry van to tanker, is the respect you'll get from fellow motorists and your colleagues from other companies. I first noticed this in my second week as a milk tanker driver...I haul fuel now, so it looks really prestigious when you have a chromed-out set of double tankers (truck/trailer), with shiny HAZMAT placards...

I mean, most dry van truck drivers are kind of looked down on by people who aren't familiar with our line of work. There's a stereotype amongst truck drivers, that we're all some lazy, bearded, pot-bellied uneducated redneck. And I've found that the general public actually believed this about us--they treated me like this when I was hauling dry van freight.

^^But that's not even applicable to the niche of tanker work, in my experience. When I'm out delivering a gas station for example, I get bombarded with questions from curious patrons and excited children about the nature of my work... "Is it true that we can't pump gas while you're delivering?" is what I hear the most (that's a MYTH by the way..) You really should look forward to your career as a tanker driver, the alone time is pretty amazing and pulling a tanker is some of the best pay in the industry. I guess two years on, like a lot of people, I'd never go back to hauling dry van freight unless the manager gave me 4 days off a week and paid me $80k to work 30 hours per week.

 

What moloko said. A budy of mine drives for UPS and he is always trying to get me to switch over. Yea Im going to give up the UPS door slammer money and stick with my dry bulk and chem tankers. Them boxes just don't appeal to me.

 

I spent 5 years pulling food grade liquid tankers around. Our rule of thumb was 10 km/h or so under the speed limit around bends and be smoooth. To be called a "tanker yanker" would have been an insult to us because that would insinuated that we were racing around having the load banging like crazy. I never pulled an unbaffled trailer until we got ones to go to the U.S. We always just flipped two ears in when unloading and made sure the cooling cycle was done when washing. Plus we always left the bottom valve cracked open after a wash. When we dropped it at the yard then it was shut. When you loaded that was the first thing you checked. Always! lol. I liked it but wouldnt go back unless l had to. Too many night pick ups and deliveries and strict appointment times for me anymore. Good luck with your choice.

 

There is nothing and I mean nothing more exhilarating than taking a corner and looking in the mirror only to see your trailer axel 3 feet of the ground. Nothing I've done has filled my veins with that much adrenaline!!!

There's also nothing more satisfying than pulling over and have a smoke or 4 while stepping in the brush to shake 6 months worth of crap out of your jeans!

I would ignore all the comments about taking corners slow and live a little.

(The comment's above may or may not reflect the drivers personal experience it's purely a don't ask don't tell policy)

Keep the rubber side down!

 

I-287 South onto Route 1 North. Senior Matlack drivers joked about going just fast enough and the inside wheels lifted every time.