Pulling smooth bore tankers

Baffles in a chemical tank make them incredibly difficult to clean.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4374053]Question kemosabi, why would you use a smooth bore to haul chemicals? I know you can't have baffles on a milk tanker, or you'll have butter by the time you get there, but why chemicals? Are you sure you don't have baffles? We had an old chemical tanker when I hauled waste, and it had baffles.[/QUOTE]\

A shotgun tank makes wash-outs easier. If you're switching from one chemical to another they may not be compatible and might even start a chemical reaction of some kind. No baffles means less chance for little pockets of residue.

 

Thanks, REO and david, in my experience, most chemical tankers were 1 way tube freight, and you came back empty to get another load of the same thing, because washouts on chemical trailers and the chance of contamination was too great.

 

Tank loads are high center of gravity. Also, that liquid is rolling forward and aft. So, going into a curve, you have both of those working against the turn. That high center of gravity will pop you over in a second, and the longitudinal movement wants to keep the tank going staight, and you are trying to turn it. Kind of like trying to move a centrifuge off center.

Stay to the inside of the off ramp, so that if it starts to go over to the left on a right turn, you can move the steering wheel and truck to the left and have some room to mitigate the roll over. Of couse, as others have stated, set the speed before the ramp and there will be no problem. Spike the brakes in the too fast turn and you will go over right now.

But, stay on the brakes at a light, as that 25 tons will move you several feet each direction.

Shift only when the material is coming forward. Great way to get unstuck, get the load rolling, and when it comes forward walk it right out. Nothing like a 50,000 lb. push...

If you have to start on a hill and have a jumpy clutch, good luck.....you will learn to pray for those ujoints.

 

I am always amazed that the kingpin doesn't just break right off

 

Not sure what gears you'd skip shifting up, aside from using 1st,2nd. most times 3rd is good for starting out, the only time I'm skipping gears is down shifting