Tanker Yankers......help!

[fightinirish]

Starting a new job Tuesday with a local petroleum delivery company. 24 years of OTR experience but 0 servicing fuel stations or operating a fuel tanker.

Need quick know how from the pro's. Advice on operation please.

Thanks!

[Griff]

You will most likely spend a few week's with a trainer so you can get carded for the loading rack's.. They usually want to watch you load a few time's before they will card you. It will be a bit overwhelming at first just take it slow and before long it's a cakewalk. my #1 tip is always trace your hose's before you ever pull the handle to unload. If you do this you will never drop the wrong product in the wrong tank.

[Kentla93]

Do not argue with your trainer listen to him and learn. Follow his lead and do everything the same way every time just like brushing your teeth, Most importantly do not become complacent. Two weeks ago here in Orlando an Eagle driver with his trainee on board ended up having to be cut out of the cab of their tractor because of failure to pay attention. Word is that the trainer was haveing an arguement with the trainee and told him he just needed to shut up and learn rather then voice his opinions, shortly after these words were spoken a car cut off the driver and he over responded causing the tractor to roll over on it's side in a small ravine and crushed the cab, as I said both drivers had to be cut out, they were lucky no fuel was spilled and no fire erupted, but just imagine how you would feel stuck in the cab with 8700 gallons of flamable product behind you while fire and resuce are working to cut you out. Both guys will be okay. One month ago another driver I know was going 68 mph down the Florida turnpike at 3 am and closed his eyes one time to many as he was pushing the limit to get that extra load pulled. He fell asleep at 68MPH in a loaded fuel tanker..... another lucky soul as his tractor hit the gaurdrail on the right side and blew out ALL Tires and ripped off the fuel tank, he then proceded to the other side of the road which then took out all the drivers side tires, still up right his truck went back across two lanes and broke thru the gaurd rail and out into a field still upright and no fire. He said he realized what was happening right after the first hit but was unable to do anything as the first hit broke the front axle and steering colum all he could do was ride it out, which he did luckly...
Pulling fuel is an awesome job just make sure you pay attention at all times and you will do fine. Also when you do make a mistake (and you will) don't beat yourself up for it learn from it and continue to move forward. Who are you working for?

Good Luck...

Kentla93
Timberwolf

[Griff]

100% agree with not being complacent in this industry. Those are some lucky driver's right there show's how fast thing's can go wrong.

[fightinirish]

Thanks! I appreciate and value your input!

[BHG0069]

I pull a chemical tanker.

Never get in a hurry, always double check, do everything the right way the first time(no short cuts or "the fast way") and never get lazy/careless. Almost every mistake I've made driving a truck I was in a hurry to be somewhere or do something.

Good luck hand.

[KKtrucking]

Make sure you wear cotton panties polyester sparks!!!

[Kentla93]

cotton panties??? Hell no everyone on this board knows all to well that I choose to wear sexy Silky Panties with a little bow on the front of them, Ain't that right Gman???
Silk wont spark any flames, Maybe a flamer or two but never a flame....

Kentla93
Timberwolf...

Hey Gman have you Moderators held a round tale discusion regarding my sincere apology and maybe the possibility of letting me have my not so good name back?? Pretty Please with sugar and silk on top...?????

[freebirdrfd]

Timberwolf...

Hey Gman have you Moderators held a round tale discusion regarding my sincere apology and maybe the possibility of letting me have my not so good name back?? Pretty Please with sugar and silk on top...?????

I say that we just keep referring to you as Timberwolf.......

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

I couldn't agree more with Griff..... always trace your lines before cracking a valve and you will do fine. Also, always make sure you are at the right station. I know it sounds weird, but one of our guys went to a BP that had another BP directly across the street up in Canada and he dumped Gas into the station that sold Diesel LOL.... needless to say, he was fired.

[Cluggy619]

Another thing you should do is follow ALL of the rules that any terminal gives you. All of them are for the safety of yourself, but mostly the safety of the terminal.

Getting banned from any terminal is the surest way to become unemployed. I worked for a company that I was carded at 11 different terminals.... Just about everyone of them have their own fire story on how a careless driver caught the rack on fire.

Now, if not for my CDL being trashed by too many points, I would go back to hauling fuel. I think you will like it as well.

Good luck.

[geargrinder]

I pull a chemical tanker.

Never get in a hurry, always double check, do everything the right way the first time(no short cuts or "the fast way") and never get lazy/careless. Almost every mistake I've made driving a truck I was in a hurry to be somewhere or do something.

Good luck hand.

The more you hurry the more the tank will beat you up and make life a living heck. Try rushing and the surge will slam you, slow you down (or speed you up) so quickly that you can't grab a gear. Read somewhere to drive a tanker like you are on ice. If you do it will make things a lot easier on your body and the equipment. I pretty much idle through the gears and take my good ol time getting up to cruising speed.

[geargrinder]

Do not argue with your trainer listen to him and learn. Follow his lead and do everything the same way every time just like brushing your teeth, Most importantly do not become complacent. Pulling fuel is an awesome job just make sure you pay attention at all times and you will do fine. Also when you do make a mistake (and you will) don't beat yourself up for it learn from it and continue to move forward. Who are you working for?

Good Luck...

Kentla93
Timberwolf

Lol only a truly argumentative person would start a post with, "don't argue with..." A monumental Freudian Slip if I have ever heard one!

[Kentla93]

Lol only a truly argumentative person would start a post with, "don't argue with..." A monumental Freudian Slip if I have ever heard one!

Geargrinder, so glad you know my personality / work ethic without ever meeting me in person. To bad for you as I come from the school of teach me everything you have and I will soak it up like a sponge then I will complete my job exactly as I was trained with a few personal touches that work better for me in my system. 2.5 years of pulling fuel and only one incedent which happened this past January after an arguement with my child while I was working ( my mind was where it should not have been and subsequently I made a mistake). When I trained to pull fuel I realized I knew exactly ZERO about the job, not once did I ever question my trainer in a manner of argumentative tone, that would not have gone over very well, and surely would not have helped me get out on my own as my trainer is a 20+ year vet to pulling fuel and does not put up with any BS I have personaly watched him take a guy off his truck for not paying attention. So before you go out and play Dr Phil try getting to know an individual first.. I could just as easily say your signature of being a prisoner of the white lines of the free way is code for you are addicted to cocaine, but a statement like that would be just as foolish as the statement you made about me... Maybe it is you who is having the Freudian slip thinking of a life wasted behind the wheel when you really want to be sitting behind a desk judging others...

With all due respect.

Timberwolf

[Phreddo]

If a fuel tanker surges, I've stopped noticing.
Maybe if I've got a short load with 500 gallons in my 3500 pocket, but otherwise it's become very stable to me. Hell, I don't even notice or think about the fact that I usually run at or a little over 80000. If I'm running up to the TA, I'll bring 7500 diesel. If I have to cross a scale, I'll cut it to 7350 net.

I like hauling fuel, but in my current job, I'm beginning to hate the hours. I work days, slipseat, 5 days a week, 12 hour shifts. I rarely get above 55 hours a week. As far as I'm concerned, that's still too much for me. I think it's the hard start times that makes it more of a pain, even if it's fewer hours overall.

Another pet peeve is that, well, like most trucking, -everything- is your fault. Overweight, cross drop, wrong supplier (a wrong digit can put you in another state), and all the fun shenanigans you have to do to get into a busy corner gas station. Sometimes you have to cut someone off to do your job or else you're stuck halfway through an intersection with everyone going around you. But if you force it, then they call the company and the safety guy has to have a little heart to heart with you. They're pretty understanding, but if they want to ever get rid of a driver, they won't have to dig too deep to find some sort of infraction.

Hell, I got locked out of Flint Hills for drinking coffee in the doghouse. Mind you, it wasn't a hard lock out, just a verbal reminder, not even a warning. But at 6AM, all you know is you gotta back out of the gate and find another supplier/load until you can get it figured out. I didn't know at the time that I could have called there and then and someone would have taken care of it remotely. The point is that you learn not to challenge any of the terminal rules if you want to do good at this job.

Oh, and try not to let your hoses drop off the tray onto their heads. a bent hose head is damned near impossible to open.

But, yeah, take your time, take your time, take your time. Don't let anyone rush you, nobody is driving the truck but you. And if you make -any- mistake, I mean -anything-, first rule of trucking, stop what you're doing. Know how to turn off or stop anything before starting it. Locate and know how to use the stops, emergency shut-offs, and emergency close valves. A little product can make a big mess, and we deal with a -lot- of product.

But be honest and open, take your lumps. If you're at the wrong station, don't drop. If the bill shows something other than what you meant to pull, call someone. Some terminals can be accommodating about changing a source, some places will bill you for it. If you got the wrong product, you may have to find another home for it. If the paper says it's not going to fit, don't see how much you can get in there by waiting for the flow to stop. If you realize you're dropping in the wrong tank, close the valve and tell someone before the contamination spreads.

These things happen, and there are solutions to the problems. Not pretty, but they are there. They may have to close that pump until someone can pump out that tank. That's no fun, but it can be fixed. Covering your mess will only cause problems further down the road, either for you or the company that signs your paycheck.

We have a lot of accountability and responsibility in this job. You can make good money at it, but you will have to work for it.

BOL and keep us posted.

[Daddy's Rig]

YouTube.com...Then type "truckers ed .com" in the search box..And for another good video type"Palisa66"in search box..then click "Fuel tanker truck driver at work"

[geargrinder]

Don't us a lighter to see if your trailer is MT.

Make sure you wear cotton panties polyester sparks!!!

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

I have never seen a smooth-bore fuel tanker. Every one I have pulled and seen all had at least 4 compartments so the surge is basically not noticable. Mainly got to worry about roll-overs.

As for the shifting ANY tank with surge, it's a craft you got to learn, and if your buying a truck and going to run tanker, an AUTO-SHIFT is your best friend. Never worry about missing a gear up-hill or down. I loved my auto-shift in my IH when i ran tanks with it. Pulling a van it got annoying, but anyhting with a moving load is better not to have to worry about the gears LOL

[Skywalker]

If you pull "Jet A" it will usually be done with a smooth bore single compartment tanker.... I pulled some of it long ago with FL Rock (ugh!)
We always used multi-compartments to deliver gas/diesel to stations.... Didn't stay with the job long....too many stoooopid people in gas station/convenience stores....run over the hoses, walk up and try to light cigarettes and such....

I like my chemical tanker more better, uh-huh, yep...

[Kentla93]

If you pull "Jet A" it will usually be done with a smooth bore single compartment tanker.... I pulled some of it long ago with FL Rock (ugh!)
We always used multi-compartments to deliver gas/diesel to stations.... Didn't stay with the job long....too many stoooopid people in gas station/convenience stores....run over the hoses, walk up and try to light cigarettes and such....

I like my chemical tanker more better, uh-huh, yep...

Oh come on now you didnt like the Rock?? Did'nt like the IPO'S that Alonzo would do...They werent that bad all things considered a good training ground and then move on to bigger and better things and more money.. I don't mind gas stations even when you deal with the idiots, the other day less then 15 ' from my drops this 18 yer old kid gets out of the passenger seat as his girl goes inside to pay for the gas, (first sign he was a loser) It's habit now I automaticly see smokes in a persons mouth or hands. This kid leans up against the front hood of the car and begins to put the smoke to his mouth and is seconds from lighting it when I speak up and without concern to his ego ask him if he is really as stupid as he looks right now or is it something that comes slowly, he responds with what are you talking about and i just shook my head and said dude no offense but you are one dumb fu.k i am dropping gasoline less then 15' from you, his response oh I did not see you.. to which I said yea I realize I am only 45' long hoses all over the ground and the smell of fumes in the air I can understand why you did not see me, it just reconfirms my first thoughts about you..
Sh.t likes this goes with the job, I myself do mostly commercial pumps with a station or three thrown in on a weekly basis..

Timberwolf