Looking to transition from dry bulk to liquid

Hello all....
I currently have 2 years solid experience hauling dry bulk pneumatic tankers in and around Texas region ( Houston based) chemical and industrial plants. I enjoy most of what my company offers such as getting home daily 85% of the time...out and back loads...good equipment...get to take truck home....and its a pretty easy gig but I don't think the money is right for what I'm doing. I have heard other tanker drivers easily knocking out $1500 weekly...I'm not making close to that. I average maybe 750-900 a week take home most weeks.
Am I looking at this wrong? Would I be sacrificing good fringe benefits to chase after a few hundred more dollars and would I be foolish to do so?
I've learned in this industry you can't have it all....good fringe benefits=less pay
More pay=less HOMETIME and fewer fringe benefits.....
Just looking for advice / suggestions from those in the industry if I am under/over valuing myself....
For better context...
I am a 4 year driver...2 YEARS IN PNEUMATIC TANKS...48 years old
Class A with Haz and Tank ENDS.
TWIC CARD
Perfect CSA and MVR
ALSO EXTENSIVE FLATBED AND DRY VAN EXPERIENCE.....
How should I value myself with these qualities?
Thanks.....

 

I may be out of the loop, but $750-$900/week plus taking the truck home would be ok by me. Stay where you're at, it's always greener somewhere else. Remember, when it comes to pay, BS reigns supreme. I don't know if you'd make that with a flat or van, plus all the BS putting up with those jobs, and pneumatic tanks aren't near as dangerous as liquid, I think most drivers would quit their lousy van work for what you have, really, stay put.

 

I'd say would mind hauling some nasty stuff like acids, bleach, or flammable liquids? Liquid hazmat pays well because of the danger, training, and retention of drivers in that field.

I started my career OTR running for a mega than onto teams for FedEx. Liquid tanker was the best move I ever made hands down. I've ran oil,chem,fuel and now cryogenic liquids and they all had their challenges but I loved it.

Your in a prime spot for a local gig that would pay very well.

 

Some of the most successful owner Operators at Matlack were the guys that were set up for both liquids and dry...expensive and they had to hustle but they got the 'once in a career' trips when XYZ's largest customer in Oregon was shutting down, can we send (2) trucks from the railyard in New Jersey????

 

I switched from long haul flat deck and dry bulk (at a company that wasn't treating me right) to regional liquid tankers a few months ago in pursuit of more money. I didn't like it and they didn't have enough work to fill out my week. Now I'm back doing flat deck at a company that treats me right and pays me what I'm worth.

I'd say regional dry bulk to regional liquid bulk would not be that big of a change. If you like regional work, pursue fuel hauling. The pay jump is pretty big (for trucking) and there's a lot of added responsibility and experience that comes along with it. Guys who like it, love it and want to do nothing else.

But in the end, if you are enjoying what you are doing and aren't really itching for something new, might as well just stay where you are at. Loyalty has it's own benefits if you are being treated right.

 

FWIW at my dry bulk company I average $280/day GROSS. I can knock down over $1500 GROSS per week but that'll be a 6 day work week...

It does sound like the pay is a little low at your place. Is it worth going through the hassle of changing jobs for extra couple hundred bucks a week? As you said yourself, you gain some, you lose some.

 

Silverbeard, with your qualifications and the fact that you live in the Houston area there's no reason you can't make over $1,000 per week gross.

I encourage you to do what kemosabi49 said, start knocking on doors and having conversations with terminal managers. Private fleets that haul hazmat would be a really good place to start.