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What kind of tanker work is best?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Bud A., Apr 2, 2017.

Page 2 of 6
  1. Apr 3, 2017 #11
    wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I have been saying for years the only way to accurately compare pay between companies is on a pay per day basis. You also need to know how many days off you get.

    Take your annual gross. Divide it by the number of days worked. A day off is defined as 24 hours off. Paid vacation days and paid holidays contribute to the gross but count as days off if you don't work them.That gives you a basis to compare jobs no matter how you are paid. The only thing left to compare is insurance costs and deductibles.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
    wsyrob, Apr 3, 2017
    wsyrob, Apr 3, 2017
    #11
    19d, Bud A., RockinChair and 2 others Thank this.
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  3. Apr 3, 2017 #12
    Bud A.

    Bud A. Road Train Member

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    So I talked to three tanker recruiters today (plus five flatbed recruiters).

    One I have already decided against, just because it turns out the job involves making 4 - 5 local runs from a plant to a storage facility across town. They said it takes an hour to load and an hour to unload. I don't really want to spend 8 - 10 hours loading and unloading and 2 hours driving, so that one's out.

    One is a regional food grade job with Foodliner. Home every weekend, maybe out two weeks if another driver is off, and routed past the house once or twice during the week. I'm pretty interested in this one.

    The third is OTR with Liquid Trucking, some food grade, some hazmat. Out two or three weeks at a time. This one sounds pretty good to me too.

    The thing that throws me off on this one is the pay. It's all hourly, $21.25 on the drive line, $14 on duty. I'm really not sure how to evaluate the pay for this one since I'm not used to calculating pay for driving by the hour. And frankly, why wouldn't I drive 55 mph all the time if I'm going to make more money doing that? (Yes, I know, there will be appointment times, etc.) I'm just not sure if I like the idea of being paid hourly for OTR work. Is that common in tanker work?
     
    Bud A., Apr 3, 2017
    Bud A., Apr 3, 2017
    #12
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  4. Apr 3, 2017 #13
    Dick Danger

    Dick Danger Medium Load Member

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    I truly do not mean to be a d-bag, but seriously?!?! Frankly it's hard for me not to be insulting here, so I'll just say this, if you really don't like being paid for the work you do ask to be paid less. Truckers aren't exempt from FLSA because it's good for them.
     
    Dick Danger, Apr 3, 2017
    Dick Danger, Apr 3, 2017
    #13
  5. Apr 3, 2017 #14
    Bud A.

    Bud A. Road Train Member

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    Wait, I wasn't clear, sorry! I meant that the two other tanker jobs said they paid mileage for driving and hourly for loading / unloading, whereas the second said they pay hourly for both driving and loading / unloading. I'm not complaining about getting paid! I just didn't know how to translate hourly pay for driving into a mileage rate.

    But my brother the tanker driver helped me, says he spends 60% of his time driving, 40% loading/unloading, so figure about $18/hr x 70 hours a week (12 hour days x 5 days / week including 20 hours of OT at 1.5 x rate). In other words, $1260 / week. That's all I was trying to figure out, not whether I should be paid less. I can understand why you thought I was being stupid lol.
     
    Bud A., Apr 3, 2017
    Bud A., Apr 3, 2017
    #14
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  7. Apr 3, 2017 #15
    Roberts450

    Roberts450 Road Train Member

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    Dont know the area you are driving in put $21.25/60mph is only $0.354 per mile. Thats if you can do 60mph all the time. If your sitting in traffic a lot then its good but if your running 600+ miles a day Im not sure its a good rate.
     
    Roberts450, Apr 3, 2017
    Roberts450, Apr 3, 2017
    #15
    Just passing by and Bud A. Thank this.
  8. Apr 3, 2017 #16
    Roberts450

    Roberts450 Road Train Member

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    Im not sure OT would get figured in there ether. I driver tankers out here in Wa and we are paid milage and the hourly for loading/unloading.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
    Roberts450, Apr 3, 2017
    Roberts450, Apr 3, 2017
    #16
    Bud A. Thanks this.
  9. Apr 3, 2017 #17
    Dick Danger

    Dick Danger Medium Load Member

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    Last memorial day weekend it took me 2.5 hours to get from Mukilteo back to the shell rack....it's like 30 miles...if you get paid milage for that God help you. Routinely from Harbor Island to Marysville is a two hour trip one way, that's just regular traffic. Also in Washington you aren't exempt from overtime laws.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
    Dick Danger, Apr 3, 2017
    Dick Danger, Apr 3, 2017
    #17
    Bud A. and scythe08 Thank this.
  10. Apr 3, 2017 #18
    Roberts450

    Roberts450 Road Train Member

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    I run east/west. Ive played the tanker game on I5 and its not for me and why I moved to North Idaho but work out of Spokane.
     
    Roberts450, Apr 3, 2017
    Roberts450, Apr 3, 2017
    #18
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  11. Apr 4, 2017 #19
    Lucy in the Sky

    Lucy in the Sky Medium Load Member

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    Hey there bud. I work for liquid trucking/ofc. Super laid back company and the pay is amazing. They keep you rolling. Dead head is no issue. The pay per hour/mile evens out. Ur getting paid for all loading, unloading, pre trips, fuel, breakdowns, ect. Plus ur not always traveling 65. Going through towns, stop lights, city, rush hour back ups, all 21.25. Usually I'll take home on a good week 1,100 and a super slow week maybe 750-800. They do pay $5 of ur drive time in per diem, which is something Dave didn't tell u I'm sure lol. But I must say it's an all around great outfit to drive for. Small company feel. People know ur name and they treat u right. We haul a variety of things, mainly ag products like molasses, corn and soybean oil, fertilizer. Food grade and haz mat maybe 10-15% I'd guess. Got any questions feel free to message me
     
    Lucy in the Sky, Apr 4, 2017
    Lucy in the Sky, Apr 4, 2017
    #19
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  12. Apr 4, 2017 #20
    wp77

    wp77 Light Load Member

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    Just stick to hourly pay with overtime and you can't go wrong. Anything else is designed to benefit the employer, not you.
     
    wp77, Apr 4, 2017
    wp77, Apr 4, 2017
    #20
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