Tanker drivers tell me about your 1st experiences driving

[ohiomohawk]

I have 15 months OTR experience driving a van but I am considering driving a tanker for my next gig.

I am sure I will recieve proper training but i would guess you would take turns 10-15mph below the posted speed limit.

I have seen some tanker trucks fly past me taking curves at 65-70mph I assume they must have been empty.

The whole idea of rolling a tanker causes me to hesitate and stick to vans.

[Orangetxguy]

I have 15 months OTR experience driving a van but I am considering driving a tanker for my next gig.

I am sure I will recieve proper training but i would guess you would take turns 10-15mph below the posted speed limit.

I have seen some tanker trucks fly past me taking curves at 65-70mph I assume they must have been empty.

The whole idea of rolling a tanker causes me to hesitate and stick to vans.

Why would you worry about rolling a tanker...especially if you don't worry about rolling a van? A tanker is going to hold together in a roll-over...unless you go into a curve doing well over the posted "suggested speed" of that curve.

As for hauling tanks..it's just like anything else...it takes time to learn to do it properly. If you learn to do it properly...then you should automaticly be doing it safely.

[mdf1576]

Its not that bad at all. Sometimes the surge will hit you pretty good. but you get used to it. As far as curves go, I was taught that if you can feel the centrifugal force in a curve you are going to fast. That may be extreme but it works. HTH

[Red Clay Rambler]

I agree, mdf1576. I always told myself that if a curve was trying to pull my body out of the seat, I was taking the curve too fast.

[Larry Heyns]

I had a load of transmission fluid to GMC Truck & Coach. At the guard shack, I was given a map of the plant and told that a pipe fitter would help me hook up. I was so naive. I thought this would be easy. I pulled down an alley in the plant complex and waited. Before long, a man in sport coat and tie came along. He said, "I'm the pipe fitter. There is the pipe you hook to. I'll be back in an hour to sign your bills." Then he went through a gap in the chain link fence to a tavern across the street.

[BHG0069]

It's all about having respect for what you're pulling behind you. Just take it slow and easy and you shouldn't have a problem.

I always do 10mph below the posted speed for the sharp curves. IMO that seems to be safe for any curve that I've encountered.

[belpre122]

Ohio.......Nothing to fear. I think that Orangetxguy was absolutely on the money with "If you learn to do it properly...then you should automaticly be doing it safely. Fuel Hauling pays well.....and you are home everyday! Of course, if you still are looking for OTR, there is some very good info on here from the OTR tanker yankers. (search under author "Cyanide"). Whether you decide to stay out there with the "big dogs" or remain behind with us "pups," I think you'll be fine as long as you have a healthy respect for safety.

[Skywalker]

It's all about having respect for what you're pulling behind you. Just take it slow and easy and you shouldn't have a problem.

I always do 10mph below the posted speed for the sharp curves. IMO that seems to be safe for any curve that I've encountered.

What he says is correct! As so was what "Orangetxguy" said!

It isn't the tank thats "dangerous"....it would be the driver. If one is a safe driver who has taken the time to learn and understand his or her craft, then there is no issue where safety is concerned.

[mike3fan]

ditto,ditto,ditto.

I can only give you what I know,I wished I had found this job in my first couple of years of driving,oh all the headaches I would've missed from pulling freight.

[meanbone]

The first time I yanked tanks I thought this ain't for me. I been yankin for 20 years now. I have having to hump freight with a dry van.

[Phreddo]

I just made the jump from van to tanker.
i haven't officially driven the tanker yet, but i went for my first ride today.
My 2 biggest concerns are train crossings and missing a step during pumping ie forgetting to open a valve or a vent or properly buttoning everything up.
on the ride, i think the driver drove the tanker harder than i drive a van, so I'm not too terribly concerned.
i think a lot of drivers really psyche themselves out of trying tanker.
As long as you're careful, cautious, don't make any sudden moves, give yourself plenty of room, and just use your brainmeats, there should be no cause for concern.

Just wait until you get to use the wand to suck barrels. Whee!

[Phreddo]

well, i'm on my 3rd week of driving tanker. i've officially pulled 3 loads. load 1 was 150 miles, not bad.
2nd load was from michigan to memphis, nearly full, easy drive.
3rd was from memphis to beaumont, 40000 lbs of caustic, sloshed and surged pretty good.

overall, what's the fuss? It's not like the tanker is going to fly off into space or something. Honestly, after driving van for 2 years, I'm glad I made the switch. This stuff is too easy

[im6under]

too easy??? shhhhh, you're gonna let everybody in on the deal and flood the market... lol

drive it like its rented when empty unless you're on the ice.

10 mph under on posted curves when loaded.

plan for braking when loaded.

however you hook-up and put away, do it the same way every single time so you develope a routine.

I start at the front and work my way back buttoning up. then walk back to the front checking myself. AND last thing I do everytime is check the mirror to make sure I unhooked the hose.

A little anal perhaps... but I was in the terminal when a guy ripped the hose off the bulk plant, just before being fired, so I guess it was a good time to do it ??? :shock:

Scared the heck out of me !!!

[Phreddo]

I'll admit it, the tanker is harder to line up.
i missed teh crotch and got the pin over the 5th wheel. First time i ever did that. glad the tank was empty and i had someone to help me get undone. Now I'm much more careful about that until i get more familiar with the equipment.

[ben45750]

I've pulled vans, pups, doubles and tankers and I liked tankers the best. Every one has hit about everything you need to know.

The only thing I can add is prepare for the turn before you make it and stay off the brakes in curves.

Also,I always kept a half full bottle of windshield washer fluid on the floor on the passenger side. Watching the washer fluid can give you an idea of what the product is doing (if the product is about the consistency).

[JeffTheTerrible]

Nothing more I can really add. You already have driving experience, so you know how to operate the truck, and all. It's just not something I'd recommend for someone who has just started driving, when they'd still be in the process of getting the basics down.
Just keep in mind what you're pulling behind you at all times, and play it safe.
As for me, my first tanker experience was a 10 wheel straight truck, hauling water to job sites and spraying it to keep dust from being kicked up, and I'd occasionally have to drive the tack truck to get refilled (but the site foreman always did the actual tacking himself). From there, I moved to a 10 wheel dairy tanker, doing local runs, and then I moved up to doing regional food grade runs in an 18 wheeler. After that, the only other time I've driven a tank since was when I had to move a HEMMT refueling vehicle from the Defense Supply Center in Richmond to Fort Pickett (also in Virginia), because all the 88M personnel were either deployed to Irak, or else were E-1s fresh out of basic, and neither the Regular Army nor the National Guard had any personnel to send. That's also the only time I ever drove a chemical tank.

[convoykris]

I pulled drybulk cement tankers in Utah and Colorado. 80% off road in snowy canyons, mountains, and cliffs, the rest was on long snowy roads to get to the offroad locations. barely a person around. negative 40 degrees everyday with wind.
mountain roads with less than 1 foot clearance on each side. mud, you name. it was fun stuff. i drove in convoys with other trucks. sometimes acid tankers, water trucks, mixers, etc.
i loved it off road. i just hated the company i worked for, and the labor i did.
but the driving in the snow was so much fun. to chain up and slide around. it was scary at times cause i knew if i made one mistake, it was a long way down and Id be dead. but it was the thrill of the ride that made it fun.
spent a lot of time creeping in low low gear, but also a lot of time hauling at about 35 mph around those snowy canyon passes.

i also drove a teeny bit in NYC dry bulk cement. city driving was easy but Im not a fan of the east coast.

any specific questions, feel free to ask.