newbie wants a tanker job!!!!

Howdy,

New to this forum and usually not into this stuff but need some guidance.

Started driving in 1989. Drove tank trailer hauling milk, chemicals and cryogenics until 2000. From there I took a local job driving a 10 wheel concrete mixer in 2000 and then hired on as a conductor with the railroad in 2006. Got licensed for and ran a remote control locomotive while I was there none the less. Low and behold the railroad just laid me and 100 other people off about a month ago. I’m looking at a couple of years at least until a re-call.

Now, I know I’ve been out of this for a little while but come on man. Not many people that pay anything worthwhile are bending over to give me a job right now. When I applied for a tanker job at Schneider they told me they weren’t looking for “inexperienced” drivers in my area. And oh yeah, since I’m such a green hand that never went to driving school (learned on the farm) I’d have to go to their academy and indenture myself to them for a year. Sorry, I had to laugh at that one ……… actually, I’m not sorry. I thought it was just flat out ridiculous.

Finally I just today got an offer from a local tank outfit to haul gasoline, fuel oil, propane and hot asphalt. And according to their guidelines, which I feel are reasonable and sane, I qualify for experienced driver pay. I even told them I may be a bit rusty when I take the road test. They said they could tell the difference between rusty and never did this before – don’t worry about it. I guess I’ll be in training for a couple of weeks to learn handling the products so they, and I, figure it’ll all come back to me in the mean time.

Anyway, I basically have 2 questions.

1 What is with these companies blowing off a guy with a long, clean and solid history for someone with 90 days experience and a diploma in hand? Sure as hell wasn’t that way when I started out. It’s like; how are they or insurance companies any better off by not just holding my hand around the block a few times until I get my sea legs back? Nothing against you new guys (and girls) here. Just don’t go taking any long vacations; I tell ya.

2 Anybody out here a petroleum transport driver? Lets here the pros and cons. Never really paid much attention before but since it’s my new gig; lay it on me.

Thanks.

Remember; no job is so important, no service so urgent, that we can not take the time to do our work safely.