Moving to tankers from reefers

TWIC is hardly used by many and used by a few all the time. If it was required they would have told you. I used my TWIC at one customer that I visited twice. If you got to ports or railyards it might be more useful.

 

When I burned out doing dry van HazMat tanker is what I moved into. It was the most money I made to date. Customers are more like a freindly neighbor than the angry, indifferent, careless common to van/reefer.
Every driver I asked said "I wish I had come to tanker sooner." Tankers are so much easier to back and visibility when you back is much better. No reason not to pull tanker. HazMat risk is reduced by following your procedures every time. No more parking on shoulders with HazMat.

 

Hauling fuel is amazing lol

 

nothing like pulling up to a gas station and hooking up two hoses and dropping 4K gasoline and 1500 diesel lol

 

The money is better at some places, but doing tanker doesn't guarantee more money, and pulling HazMat doesn't guarantee more money. Choose carefully and verify answers.

 

Just remember, some NASTY stuff goes in tankers. Anhydrous Ammonia, fertilizers, solvents, radioactive, well, maybe not that, kind of the "rectum" of trucking, meaning, not many people want to know about it, but it's mighty important. It's a different way, as the customers are generally waiting for you, not t'other way 'round, generally go to the same places, so you aren't a stranger, just also remember, THEIR jobs depend on you doing a good job, not melting the place down, 22 pallets of crappy strawberries, not so much. Tanker jobs don't open up often and for good reason, the drivers usually retire from it. So do it, DO IT NOW, you'll have an entirely new outlook on life, trust me.

 

If you gotta unload it think carefully. I have scars from yanking tanks. You can have a few brushes with fate before getting the hang of it, and depending on the freight if you get complacent it’ll bite back.