The Pneumatic Tanker Thread

I had zero bulk experience when I started I learned more from forums and YouTube than I did my two days of training. I've been driving almost 13 years now and I wish I had did this in the beginning. Some loads and some receivers unloading procedures can be annoying but beats tarps and warehouses. All bulk loads are paid by the ton and if far enough a fuel surcharge is added. And you get a percentage of the truck revenue

 

Ohh and make sure you wear ear protection even if you have a muffler

 

Do it! You'll never look back! Don't worry about not having the experience. You'll learn it soon enough. I had no tank experience when I started 8 years ago, and it took about 3 days for me to get comfortable with unloading. Now, I tend to fall asleep at some places while unloading. (I do not recommend this by the way)

As blade says, make sure you use hearing protection. Even with a muffler, it's loud. And I would add eye protection as well. You only get one set of those, so you wanna take care of them. Just last week a driver at my former employer had a hose blow out, and had hydrated lime in his eyes. Can't imagine the pain that must have caused.

As you go through training, you'll have questions. And we'll have answers

 

Aww just makes your unloading time longer unless you plug up then it's gonna get real load real quick great alarm. I also don't recommend sleeping or sitting in the truck while unloading but we all do it

 

Yeah it does add a few minutes to the unload time, but I'm hardly ever in a hurry lol. I learned early in my days of doing this that the faster I try, the more behinder I get.

You know what? I just realized it, but the last time I blocked up was about four years ago. I was training a new guy, and wanted to show him how to unblock one. So after working hard to block it up, I was showing him how easy it is to unblock it. Couple minutes go by and I'm having a gut check on what I really know. As hard as I tried to block it up, I worked twice as hard to unblock it, and made myself look like an idiot in the process. But my trainee learned it real quick and did a great job while he worked for us

 

I'm still learning and since I don't just pull a tank I get no where the amount of time to get it down to a science also don't pull the same trailer or even the same type when I am hooked to one but I still wouldn't trade where I'm at for any other unless the wife decides we can move back down south and I'll have to find a new carrier

 

Hats off to you guys. I ran away screaming back to dry van after getting a pretty good idea what I was in for at a pneumatic food grade tank outfit that ill be polite enough not to name.

 

It ain't for everybody. We won't hold it against the company cause you weren't cut out for food grade bulk

 

Food grade bulk is pretty awesome for me. Especially when I go to Smith Cookies. We get "leftovers" and then another place we get a couple loafs of bread. . But yea the dealing with flour mill and customer schedules can be a pain.