Tankers the Schneider way

I know everyone's schedules are different. Today on the road I was given the tank that has surge as bad as they could make it. You learn to start smoothly, accelerate gently and apply brakes consistently, don't pulse the brakes! If you don't start smoothly you wake up that beast in the tank and he will be reminding you of it for the next couple of miles down the road.

Oh, and Wisconsin has been installing a lot of round a bouts. I dragged my tank around a half dozen of them today. They really weren't designed for trucks. On the plus side, nobody could try and pass me once I was in one.

Listening to the instructor, trying to shift gentle, watching the traffic, don't lug the engine or over rev and what was the bridge clearance on that sign you just passed? I mean the instructor wouldn't take you down a road you couldn't go on...would he?

Lets just say I was flustered, frazzled, and humbled today. I'm still in the program but I hope to hold on to that humility and try to gain some situational awareness.

 

That bus of kids is ok for now. Maybe that's why they wait until school has started before we hit the road.

Yesterday had nothing specific to do with tankers. Trip planning, we got our punkin pads, skid and blow out training on the simulator. There is way more to trip planning than just knowing you are going south and hit the first even numbered Interstate.

Big take home test on trip planning Monday. The recap on the log sheet is still a dog's dinner. Once I get that straightened up I can fill out my Mac 17 and answer the questions in the back.

 

Yup, we had training on the weekend. Got more miles per day than I did previous. Don't let anyone tell you there are no mountains in Wisconsin. Ok, there are no mountains in Wisconsin, but there are some pretty steep grades as you transition from the Lake Michigan shore to the bluffs overlooking.

Tanker specific training happened in the classroom. Hooking up your hose to the wrong tank could be an epic mistake. Contaminated product, product disposal, tank clean-up, unexpected chemical reactions (let your mind wander on this one), even the possible shut down of an entire municipal water system. Lord please keep me off the TV news.

Yeah, those are worst case scenarios. But a chemical spill only takes a single drop on the ground. Buckets, drip pads, Schneider tape, moon suit and respirator, oh where is the emergency shower and eye wash? Walk the hose to remove the last of the product from it, Cap the hose, go to the tank wash, get your tank washed but get your buckets and hoses washed first because you probably will be picking up a previously washed tank and those hoses and fittings are part of the tractor, not the tank.

Is everything clean, dry and odor free?

Shave every day. I'm sure the wife likes that idea.

 

Having your hoses washed and ready to go means that a drop and hook is just that. When you drop your tank to be washed the buckets and hoses get done first, hour tops. If you are picking up an already washed tank you can drop off your hoses and they will get first attention while you are doing a pre-trip and hooking up.

Passed my road exam yesterday. Class tests are done. Get my boots and meet with my dispatcher today. Today is my hire date. Wednesday home, Thursday off to Gary, IN for some hands on tanker training.

I'll be home for Christmas and waiting for a call from my training engineer. Merry Christmas everyone, hope you make it home safe to your families in time to open those presents.