Old Man Thinking of Driving A Tanker

I tell you this. It is not the electronics that is wrong, when it's really wrong the people compound the error by eyeing that field and roll into it. It's not often you go somewhere in a field. So why follow that dot into it at all?

Forget the electronics, roll on as you have before with your mind on the problem of getting to where you are going.

Normally I would be the one to go poo poo on the silly GPS stuff and never get into a field. But once in bad fog I got into a Celluar tower complex very close to a shipper? Why> They had chopped the original road rerouted it half a mile around the fence and used the old road as a entrance for the first 5 feet driveway in. The GPS I was using did not update properly. And so I had to learn how to get out of that complex without pulling the tower down by cables around me in several locations.

 

Most of the fuel haulers I know now are over 60 or close to it. My trainer started hauling fuel when he got back from Vietnam. It’s not hard work. If anything I’d say it’s just barely enough work to keep you active and moving. Go for it.

 

I've thought about doing tanker and might end up there. I'm a physics nut and I like the idea of having to factor the physics of the fluid sloshing around behind you as part of how you drive. Just the way I think about things, I think I would enjoy it more. But, I also want to do OTR and run around the country to wherever I haven't been yet, and there is not nearly as much OTR Tanker work as dedicated routes and specific regional work. Not saying OTR Tanker isn't there, it is just in the minority as I understand. I have tanker already on my learner's permit, along with doubles/triples. I couldn't do Hazmat at the DMV I tested at due to fingerprinting stuff, So I'll add that later. Also plan on insisting on using a manual for my CDL test itself. I want to ensure I am as flexible as I reasonably can be.

 

I don’t think age matters. I’m now 55, I delivered gas for 20 years as a company driver working for the major gas/oil companies as well as an o/o. I just switched to chemicals 2 years ago...just a better job. After all these years I have slight aches and pains but that’s probably just age and driving for over 25 years. The majors I worked for train you and tell you not to lift hoses above your waist to prevent injuries. You say you drive a school bus ? Much different than driving trailers especially tankers. I’d say get some trailer experience but that’s just my opinion. I will tell to be prepared for gas being a 24/7 365 industry. Low man on the pole will most likely be working nights weekends and holidays. I’ll tell you what someone told me when first starting doing gas. “ Gas don’t be afraid of it but respect it. “ If someone will hire you with no experience then go for it ! Best of luck !

 

The hardest part of hauling gas is getting the hose empty. Not a huge deal if you can short hose everything, but if you ever have to run two hoses together to reach the fill, well, that sucks.

Edit...the last place I worked had a very senior work force. When we had safety meetings there was only one person in the room under 40, the majority were 55+ with a few being 70+.