Log in or Sign up

Why would anyone want to pull tanker trailers (as opposed to dry van)?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by expedite_it, Jul 11, 2022.

Page 3 of 7

Cattleman84 Road Train Member

Joined:

Nov 1, 2017

Messages:

9,894

Thanks Received:

70,470

Location:

The Sticks, Idaho

0

And besides... How many reefers do you see getting to go unload in places like this???

Cattleman84, Jul 12, 2022

#21

Gearjammin' Penguin, Mike2633, silinus vers and 10 others Thank this.
expedite_it Road Train Member

Joined:

Sep 8, 2012

Messages:

1,646

Thanks Received:

863

0

Dave1837 said: ↑

I've ran dry van, flatbed, step deck and tanker (both liquid and pneumatic). I didn't like dry van because I hated waiting at shippers and receivers. Plus, if the van wasn't loaded the way you wanted it loaded, you had to ask them to rearrange the load, which could lead to an argument between you and the shipper. Mostly you're loading and unloading during normal business hours. Also worrying about axle weights.

Flatbed/step deck was okay, it was a challenge tarping when I first started. I hauled a lot of lumber and trim board which was stacked unevenly a lot of the time so getting the tarps right could be a pain. There could be a lot of waiting around at shippers and receivers, and again you're loading and unloading during normal business hours.

Pneumatic tanks aren't bad, but every product loads and unloads differently. One day I'd haul injection carbon and had to load it in 2 holes to get the axle weights right, the next day if load cement and load it in 1 hole. Takes some learning to get used to. Occasionally you'd get a place that would load or unload you 24 hrs.

Liquid tanker is my favorite because I don't have to wait around. On occasion I haul some food grade or oil products and have to wait for a sample to be analyzed, but I get paid for all my time. Hauling asphalt, LPG and tar, I set my own schedule. You load your own trailer, customer unloads it (except with LPG). Occasionally you pump the load off but even that isn't hard and you'll go empty within an hour. 24/7 loading and unloading at most places, no worries about axle weights. Backing a tanker is significantly easier than a van or a deck, mainly because you're 45-48 ft in length and if you're backing into somewhere tight and you're jackknifed, you can literally look in your mirror and see under your trailer to see where your blindside axles are.
Click to expand...

Did you make more money in dry van or tanker?

expedite_it, Jul 12, 2022

#22

Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
Dave1837 Road Train Member

Joined:

Nov 16, 2019

Messages:

1,399

Thanks Received:

4,342

Location:

Pennsylvania

0

expedite_it said: ↑

Did you make more money in dry van or tanker?
Click to expand...

Tanker for sure

Dave1837, Jul 12, 2022

#23

tscottme, Bean Jr., Another Canadian driver and 2 others Thank this.
Northern Nomad Light Load Member

Joined:

Apr 1, 2020

Messages:

165

Thanks Received:

643

Location:

The frozen north

0

But there are times when things go wrong and you can either fix them yourself, or drive X number of miles to have the items repaired. The filter gasket on this tank was worn out, so, I chose to climb up top and replace it myself. I like doing mechanical work, and I enjoy a challenge. I also keep a tool bag and spare parts in my truck for this reason. I could have had a service call, but that would have just made my day longer when I could fix it myself. Bumping a dock is definitely easier, but it’s also a lot more boring.

Northern Nomad, Jul 13, 2022

#24

Gearjammin' Penguin, Dexterr, gentleroger and 3 others Thank this.
expedite_it Road Train Member

Joined:

Sep 8, 2012

Messages:

1,646

Thanks Received:

863

0

Dave1837 said: ↑

Tanker for sure
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate?

How much more, 25% more, 50% more, or twice as much?

expedite_it, Jul 13, 2022

#25

Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
Dave1837 Road Train Member

Joined:

Nov 16, 2019

Messages:

1,399

Thanks Received:

4,342

Location:

Pennsylvania

0

expedite_it said: ↑

Could you elaborate?

How much more, 25% more, 50% more, or twice as much?
Click to expand...

I can elaborate with a disclaimer, I'm comparing pay from 2 separate companies. I pulled dry van & flatbed at my first job in 2019 and averaged between $8-900 gross a week, working Sunday night to Friday night. Very rarely did I see $1,000. Ran mostly New England and the east coast.

I started my current job in 2021 and was grossing $1,600-1,800 a week running tar and asphalt. Best I did in 1 week of LPG was just shy of $2,400 gross for one week. I'm currently on a $1,500 gross minimum weekly pay, but I've only seen the minimum once. I'm always around $1,800, Sunday night to Friday morning still running the east coast. So I've doubled my income so to speak. I think comparing pay is more or less comparing companies rather than which division pays more

Dave1837, Jul 13, 2022

#26

Mike2633, tscottme, Bean Jr. and 3 others Thank this.
expedite_it Road Train Member

Joined:

Sep 8, 2012

Messages:

1,646

Thanks Received:

863

0

Dave1837 said: ↑

I can elaborate with a disclaimer, I'm comparing pay from 2 separate companies. I pulled dry van & flatbed at my first job in 2019 and averaged between $8-900 gross a week, working Sunday night to Friday night. Very rarely did I see $1,000. Ran mostly New England and the east coast.

I started my current job in 2021 and was grossing $1,600-1,800 a week running tar and asphalt. Best I did in 1 week of LPG was just shy of $2,400 gross for one week. I'm currently on a $1,500 gross minimum weekly pay, but I've only seen the minimum once. I'm always around $1,800, Sunday night to Friday morning still running the east coast. So I've doubled my income so to speak. I think comparing pay is more or less comparing companies rather than which division pays more
Click to expand...

I know that the natural wage for linehaul LTL trucking is higher than the natural wage for OTR dry van. It seems plausible to me that the natural wage for OTR tanker might be different than the natural wage for OTR dry van.

expedite_it, Jul 13, 2022

#27

Dave1837 and Another Canadian driver Thank this.
RockinChair Road Train Member

Joined:

Feb 19, 2012

Messages:

5,067

Thanks Received:

12,771

Location:

CC, TX

0

Northern Nomad said: ↑

View attachment 419619 View attachment 419620 But there are times when things go wrong and you can either fix them yourself, or drive X number of miles to have the items repaired. The filter gasket on this tank was worn out, so, I chose to climb up top and replace it myself. I like doing mechanical work, and I enjoy a challenge. I also keep a tool bag and spare parts in my truck for this reason. I could have had a service call, but that would have just made my day longer when I could fix it myself. Bumping a dock is definitely easier, but it’s also a lot more boring.
Click to expand...

Is that the inside of one of those canisters (not sure what the correct term is) that's on the back of a vacuum pneumatic?

RockinChair, Jul 14, 2022

#28

Northern Nomad and Another Canadian driver Thank this.
Dave1837 Road Train Member

Joined:

Nov 16, 2019

Messages:

1,399

Thanks Received:

4,342

Location:

Pennsylvania

0

expedite_it said: ↑

I know that the natural wage for linehaul LTL trucking is higher than the natural wage for OTR dry van. It seems plausible to me that the natural wage for OTR tanker might be different than the natural wage for OTR dry van.
Click to expand...

Another plus besides pay...

Just yesterday I entered a sawmill where 7 flatbeds were in line to get loaded. I got to drive past the entire line and back into the bay to unload lol

Dave1837, Jul 14, 2022

#29

Bean Jr., kemosabi49, Northern Nomad and 1 other person Thank this.
Northern Nomad Light Load Member

Joined:

Apr 1, 2020

Messages:

165

Thanks Received:

643

Location:

The frozen north

0

RockinChair said: ↑

Is that the inside of one of those canisters (not sure what the correct term is) that's on the back of a vacuum pneumatic?
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s the inside of a filter. Usually they’re on the rear, top left.

Northern Nomad, Jul 14, 2022

#30

RockinChair and Another Canadian driver Thank this.

(You must log in or sign up to reply here.)

Page 3 of 7

Search