Tanker - advantages/disadvantages

I have only been driving tanker for a couple years now and one of the biggest things that I have noticed as compared to hauling general dry freight is the time at the dock, since there is "no dock" you can usually get into "your spot" without too much sitting around. Sometimes you have to wait for someone to move or maybe they have to make room in their tank for your load but the waiting game is much shorter. Driving a smooth bore is alot different than hauling something around that is not moving around in a tank all the time and you have to be aware of that fact, ie: Snowy/icy/wet or slick roads, turning corners like off ramps or on ramps.

 

I'll just fess up to my ignorance here - I hauled hazmat for many years "back in the day" and just parked and stopped wherever. Now I see the "safe haven" information and I don't know where you could park. . . I talked to a driver out of Phoenix and he told me he just parks anywhere. I see sleepers with hazmat and i don't know where they park and sleep legally.

 

Just make sure you leave your invoice on the driver's seat when you get out so it's readily available in case of an emergency.

As for pulling a tanker itself, if it's not baffled (food products, hazmat, etc.), you are going to have to learn how to stop all over again if you don't like getting slammed around. About three seconds after you stop, that surge hits and WHAM! If you stop hard enough, you can seriously hurt your back or something...

 

Hauling a tank is alot better than a reefer no or almost no waiting to load or unload .You cant smoke in the truck...You can park in rest areas truck stops .Cant leave truck idling if your not in it . A baffled trailer you dont get that slam like in a smooth bore tank

 

The huge advantage is once you get trained in tankers you're in demand if your record is clean. The training you receive is very valuable. The bad part just depends on what you're hauling. I only hauled gasoline because the money was ridiculous. But hauling gasoline there's times you'll work nights and weekends. But then again we worked 4 10 hour days with 3 days off every week. And the money was ridiculous.

 

Are you saying that all tanker drivers are not allowed to smoke in their trucks. I'm sure you're referring to Hazmat loads, but I find it hard to believe some drivers that haul hazmat aren't smokers.