Want to switch from van to tanker. What to expect?

I work 6 days off 2. It ain't so bad. I work hard enough to where on my 6th day I usually only have 8-10 hours left on my 70.

Though I chose to do a 6/2 rotation and I get a 4 day weekend every 5 weeks. I got off Friday morning and don't go back till Tuesday afternoon

 

Spoiled! You should be embarrassed! I'm OTR, been out for three months. I'd welcome 6 days and 60k!
Something about pulling tankers is appealing to me, even if OTR. I appreciate the discussion here and input from all you tanker yankers.

 

You get in 1 yr with a clean mvr give a Quality carriers affiliate a call.
Go online(work4qc) and do the app. and call the nearest QC affiliate and follow up with them.
Make sure you get your endorsements tank and hazmat and they'll train you.

 

I switched over 2 months ago and I wish I had started my career doing it! Entirely different world than Van. I enjoyed van, but Tankers are so much more interesting. My customers are always happy to see me. The locations are interesting. I unload 90% of my own product with truck air, so I usually don't get help. Home on the weekend for 1-2 days and I'm Making Almost 30% More THAn My Best Year Hauling A van. I usually don't have to deal with appointments either. It's usually an open window with a ,"get here by"

 

I've been retired for some time now and the industry has changed since I was hauling gasoline. I was at the top for a major company and the benefits and pay was out of this world. I guess that's why the majors have sold their equipment and terminals because they have companies that do it cheaper. However, all those guys that were let go and went to work for the companies that took over still got paid better for their expertise. Those companies knew those drivers knew all the ins and outs of the stations and it would cost them more if they had to train new people. Back in the mid 90's I worked local with a 12 hour shift. I understand now they work a little longer but not much. I had my choice to either work 4 days a week or 5. My pay reached six figures because I worked all the overtime I could. Even with the drop in pay the drivers are still making a lot of cash. It's a job that gets away from truck driving and into product distribution. You have to know more about what you hauling and the truck is just a means to get it there. So there are some drivers still around that are bring home the big money but you can rest assure that the company is getting all they can from them. They have put astronomical requirements on them that they earn every dollar they work. It's no easy street but most drivers accept the challenge knowing full well that they are taking care of the rest of their lives. It's like the military where you work up the chain of command almost guarantee job security to retirement. So it's much different than OTR to were you work hard and stay clean and it pays off. If I was to do it all over again I would start at the bottom and work my way up to retirement. You have to pick the good companies and work hard but I would never go back to OTR..

 

I switched a year and a half ago and it was the best decision I could have made. Much easier that reefer or van. No sliding tandems, no cat scale, no backing into docks in the night, no miserable shippers or receivers treating me like a piece of dirt but greeted as a professional with a smile at the shipper and receiver alike. 90% of my loads (chemical) do not require anything from me other than showing up at each end. Other loads may require me to hook up air or a pump once in awhile. Very little work but you do need to exercise some judgement and caution as you are generally placarded and carrying some toxic stuff. Did I mention much better pay, two weeks vacation to start as well as ten paid holidays, detention pay over two hours, matching 401K, etc.

 

I got into bulk tanker work delivering plastic pellets and resin. I would not go back to LTL. I quit my union job at YRC to get into it. I like it. I deliver 2-3 loads a day. In the winter it is "cold" as I live in New England. I do not sit in the truck while it pumps off. So, you will be outside for 2-3 hours a day. Keep that in mind when it is - degrees outside.

 

It's an easy transition and you'll find after driving a tanker you're much smoother with a van...Being able to control the sloshing takes a finesse not required when driving a van...AND you don't have to hit docks, it's a good gig if the company and equipment is good...I used to run how asphalt and we did it all, filled and emptied it, I loved it! Good luck!

 

like gas hauler said the majors sold there equipment and have carriers but I work for one that only hauls for Philips66, and we still make great money we are union work 4/10s with a fifth day if we want and are paid buy the hour.

 

Hey Cali Kid,

I've been hauling oil in Texas for a year (getting experience), but I'm ready to come home to the family in San Diego. I was wondering if the company you work for does any hiring in San Diego? Sounds like a great job. I'm currently talking with a company that does hazardous waste disposal, but I don't know exactly what's involved, so I like to hear about other options.

Thanks for any help.