Tanker info for y'all...

**Cyanide** · 05-05-2005, 08:14 AM

Since I've been asked...

Some of you from this site or the other I post on have asked generally in one form or another about the miles I (we) run in food-grade. One,if that's the hardest part of the job? Two, how can we run those consistent high miles and be legal?.

To answer question one, honestly speaking I would have to say yes. With food-grade companies such as Jim Aartman, Indian River/Quality Express/North American Tank Lines, and Bynum, you're NOT going to be physically loading or unloading the product or anything associated with that procedure except for weighing in/out, and pulling/backing into a loading bay, and that's it! In order to simply pick-up and deliver on time safely, you must drive. That's your job and what you're being paid to for, which leads us to question two.

Remember that as an average each trip is going to be between 1,300-2,000 miles (from personal experience), our freight lanes take us across many 70-75 m.p.h. states, and that the trucks are capable of running those speed limits. What this means is that you should realistically expect to put in a minimum of 660 miles daily. Sometimes you can slack a little, and sometimes you'll push upwards of 700 to 750. A large factor contributing to all this is how you manage your time :?...

However, if you are coming from a carrier governed around 65 m.p.h. and are used to running only 550-600 miles daily, this will be quite an adjustment and may lead many to think we are dispatched and/or run illegal. NOT SO!!! Remember that you are hauling a time-sensitive product so YOU"RE NOT going to be given the same time to do trips as you may have been used to, and, that provided you average at least 60 m.p.h. for your DRIVING TIME every run can be done legally. This includes daily, the required 10-hour break plus a half hour for doing your pre-trip inspection and fueling. Just for S.&G., if you really do the numbers, almost every load I've personally ran can even be completed in the time frame given averaging 57 m.p.h. for DRIVING TIME!

One more item, the above mentioned companies don't expect every driver to push the miles like I do (and I'm not a hard runner by a long shot). They have freight for drivers who only want to run 10,000 miles a month, for those such as myself who like to get around 12,000, and for those who never go home and want 14,000. It's all in what you need, and what you want to do.

If you have any doubts about being able to do this consistently day in, day out then I suggest you seriously reconsider ever hauling food-grade tankers. Once again, it's not for everyone, but those of us who do it and stick with it are quite happy for many reasons...;-).

As always, y'all be safe and have fun

!

**floydiandays** · 05-05-2005, 08:43 AM

Colin you work for may? How do you like them? They have a terminal like 2 miles from my house, Brooks exit I-5. I live in Keizer, OR.

**Cyanide** · 05-05-2005, 09:19 AM

Hey Contractor!

Be heading out that way this weekend. Love going to SoCal, as a very good friend of mine lives in Pomona and time permitting I take a day off visiting. Heck, one of our favorite hangouts is Joey's B.B.Q. I'm pretty sure ya know about it

!!!

Also, tanks a lot

for the compliment. Yeah, I keep working out quite often, and some don't understand how I do it and run like I do...TIME MANAGEMENT and PLANNING is the key! Guess ya can say I'm a bit anal about that, being a virgo and Marine N.C.O.

!

Just keep your eyes peeled for my T-800, it hasn't changed any from the picture there in my signature.

**Cyanide** · 05-06-2005, 02:13 PM

To everyone, y'all be safe as always, have fun, and stay out of trouble. I'll be busy wrapping things up here later before heading out tomorrow, so not going to be online anymore. Until next time ;-)...

**Doctor Who** · 05-06-2005, 04:51 PM

I really miss Tanker Yanking... Hmm, I wonder if???????

Better not talk too loud someone may take me serious and offer me a tanker job... I can only HOPE

**yoopr** · 05-06-2005, 04:54 PM

I get the Itch too Doc but it goes away :P

**countrygirl** · 05-06-2005, 05:27 PM

Hmmmmm............
Me thinking.....Flatbed or Tanker????
Tough one here......

**yoopr** · 05-06-2005, 06:08 PM

you must be-You posted it twice :P

**countrygirl** · 05-06-2005, 06:44 PM

HAY!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:
How in the HELLo did that happen :?: :?: :?: :?: :shock: :shock:
I never posted twice.. :evil: :evil:

**yoopr** · 05-06-2005, 07:22 PM

Found out today that i'm still OFFICIALLY an employee of KBR-woohoo

**countrygirl** · 05-07-2005, 03:42 AM

CONGRADS!!!!!!!

now get back to work..... :twisted: :twisted:

**nrvsreck** · 05-07-2005, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Cyanide

Legality:
Tanker drivers never worry about having an overweight load, much less trying to get axle weights proper. No more sliding tandems or worries about a bridge law!

Curious... when I hauled milk tanks company policy was to always bypass the scales. Most of my loads grossed well over 80,000#. This was a small company though, running mainly in TX, AR, and LA. That was a big reason why I quit. I don't like being forced to illegal every day. :evil:

**Xelectro** · 05-07-2005, 01:39 PM

I am going to start orientation at Bynum Transport on May, 25. I am very excited about the company and the type of runs they got. I still have couple of questions about the Food Grade hauling such as. What time are most pick-ups and Deliveries are done. Like VAN is mostly during normal hours and reefer is done at very early and sometimes crazy hours of the day. Can anyone tell me what about food grade tanker what time are most deliveries and pickups are done. And can anyone tell me what speed are their trucks governed at.

Thanks

**Xelectro** · 05-16-2005, 09:51 AM

Does anyone have any info about Bynum, I am really excited about my orientation next week and would like some input.

Thanks

**Cyanide** · 05-17-2005, 08:01 PM

Hey gang I'm back already...

Got in late this morning and enjoyed the rest of today off, and will be in until Monday, when I pick up another load destined for California. I then will most likely stay out until the end of June, when I hit my anniversary mark here with Aartman

. Nothing has changed because as always, I'm loving MY JOB and MY LIFE!!! Anyway, here's the couple of trips I did since last time around...

Week 19:
-Abbeville, AL to Mulberry, FL (swap tanks), then to Haines City, FL (tank wash), then load at Arcadia, FL going to Anaheim, CA (524 empty-2,598 loaded=3,122 total.....live load 05-07/1500-1700, live unload 05-12/0700-0900, then tank wash there in Anaheim).
End of week total: 3,122 miles.

Week 20:
-Anaheim to Fresno, CA for reload going to Apopka, FL (246 empty-2,641 loaded=2,887 total.....washout and live load 05-13/0000-0300, Drop & Hook 05-17).
End of week total: 2,887 miles.

2005 Totals (with leaving out 05-23)
Miles: 54,423
Loads: 27 (54)
Live Loads/Unloads: 44 (81%)
Drop and Hooks: 10 (19%)
Length of Haul: 2,016 miles
Days Out/Working: 105
Days Off: 38

Jim Aartman Totals
Miles: 126,848
Loads: 63 (126)
Live Loads/Unloads: 111 (88%)
Drop and Hooks: 15 (12%)
Length Of Haul: 2,013 miles
Days Out/Working: 250
Days Off: 83

Xelectro, just in case ya didn't catch it before in the very first post of this thread is detailed info about Bynum...

Also, from talking with a driver this past week who's been there almost fifteen years, they're implementing a safety bonus program now. Think he'd said it was going to be $250 per quarter. You may want to go over to TruckNet and send a p.m. to Dak1 and Messyme. Dak still drives for Bynum and has been there a number of years, and Messyme seemed happy with them. Unfortunately she had to recently leave due to personal matters.

Also, check through all of my runs and you'll get a good idea of our load schedules. The nice thing with food-grade is that many of the customers will take you early. Also, we may not make the highest c.p.m. figure, but we have a very consistent freight base and can run as hard or soft as you want. You can see from my personal experiences that I turn almost 12,000 miles per month and still take off a week on average. To the dismay of others (the negative naysayers) I run legal. I do the speed limit, I log things as they happen, and I still make the time to work out constantly, eat properly, and get plenty of rest. Once you learn the freight lanes and customers you'll find a routine that works for you and honestly, be spoiled. There will be times you may have to push, and times when you'll have a funky pick-up/delivery time, but all in all, I think you'll enjoy it. Personally I WILL DO NOTHING ELSE!

Y'all be safe and have fun out there. More later

...

**Contractor** · 05-18-2005, 06:04 AM

Cyanide,

I was passing a Jim Aartman day cab on the eastbound 210 past Huntington Drive yesterday in thick 15 - 20 mph traffic. I knew it wasn't you because it was a day cab. I happened to be looking in my rearview mirror as traffic was coming to a stop. Just then it look like the Aartman truck "bucked" as he rear ended a full size Ford van. He didn't hit the guy very hard at all and they both pulled of the freeway at the next exit. I wonder if it was surge that pushed him into the van? Too bad for the driver as I suspect it will be recorded as a preventable accident.

**Doctor Who** · 05-18-2005, 04:37 PM

There will be times you may have to push, and times when you'll have a funky pick-up/delivery time, but all in all, I think you'll enjoy it. Personally I WILL DO NOTHING ELSE!

AMEN to the first part of the quote...

It's really tempting to get back on the "ROCK & ROLL" loads again!!!

Just then it look like the Aartman truck "bucked" as he rear ended a full size Ford van. He didn't hit the guy very hard at all and they both pulled of the freeway at the next exit. I wonder if it was surge that pushed him into the van?

More than likely, the "SURGE" factor can cause an accident if the driver isn't 100% on top of his "game" so to speak!!!

**Cyanide** · 05-19-2005, 05:49 AM

Amen to that Doc! Yeah, I'd say that will be listed as a preventable, especially with how slow things were going.

As to surge factor what's really fun is when you have a thin product...like the 51,800 pounds of grape juice I just brought back home :shock:

. I prefer running just about anything compared to that d*** grape juice (or apple juice). It doesn't matter how heavy you get loaded, it still slams the hell outta the tank!!! Give me upwards of 52,700 pounds of eggs, milk, cream, or deep-frozen o.j...now there's a smooth ride

. That may sound odd, but the more product you have, the less slosh room in the tank, equaling a smoother ride. Just remember the old comparison with a partially filled water/juice/soda bottle versus almost full.

Hey Nrvsreck, as to what ya had mentioned, I'd say that definitely was an issue with that company. The big-name food-grade companies have way too much $$$$$ to lose by playing stupid games like dodging scales, and I don't know of any chemical outfits that would try it. That'd be real interesting to try and expain why you're overloaded with HAZMAT!!! But, we know there are some out there that will do it...amongst other things

!

**yoopr** · 05-19-2005, 08:18 AM

With the Tankers in Iraq we loaded the JP8 right to the top-NO surge which was nice because sometimes we had to make some pretty drastic Maneuvers :shock:

**Cyanide** · 07-03-2005, 03:07 AM

Hello to everybody again!!!

Hope this finds y'all getting ready for a safe and great 4th of July celebration tomorrow. It's been awhile since I've been online...I pretty much decided to stay out until my year anniversery with Aartman and then go ahead and take my vacation. I can say that the past year has been greatly enjoyed, not to mention much more productive than my fifty-four weeks spent at Indian River...a lot more miles and, a lot more time off. This last several weeks have been particularly good for me, as I turned good miles (same old consistent loads), and also took time off when I needed it (allowing for quite a bit of damn good intense workouts and being able to see a couple of new movies around their release date, amongst other things). I can't really ask for anything more

...

Before I get sidetracked rambling on and on, I'll go ahead and catch up how my runs have been going, picking up from the last week I reported on.

Week 20:
-Anaheim to Fresno, CA for reload going to Apopka, FL (246 empty-2,641 loaded=2,887 total.....washout and live load 05-13/0000-0300, Drop & Hook 05-17).
End of week total: 2,887 miles.

Week 21:
-Apopka, FL to Jacksonville, FL (tank wash and time off), then to Blackshear, GA for load going to Ripon, CA (221 empty-2,652 loaded=2,873 total.....washout and live load 05-23/0600-0900, Drop and Hook 05-26).
End of week total: 2,873 miles.

Week 22:
-Ripon, CA to Lemoore, CA for load going to Greenwood, WI (136 empty-2,216 loaded=2,352 total.....washout and live load 05-28/0700-1100, live unload and washout 05-31/1600-1900).
End of week total: 2,352 miles.

Week 23:
-Greenwood, WI to Fair Oaks, IN (swap tanks and time off), then to Chaseburg, WI for load going to Fortuna, CA (746 empty-2,282 loaded=3,026 total.....washout and live load 06-05/2130-2230, live unload and washout 06-08/2145-2305).
Was originally scheduled to reload in Tracy, CA going to Greenwood, WI but that cancelled, so I did a couple of West Coast regional runs during the weekend to keep busy...
-Fortuna, CA to Ripon, CA for reload going to Medford, OR (330 empty-373 loaded=703 total.....Drop and Hook 06-10, live unload 06-11/1645-1730).
End of week total: 3,729 miles.

Week 24:
-Medford, OR back to Ripon, CA (to swap tanks), then to Pixley, CA for load going to Fortuna, CA (538 empty-495 loaded=1,033 total.....washout and live load 06-12/1330-1445, live unload and washout 06-13/0830-0950).
-Fortuna, CA reload going to Milbank, SD (2,105 loaded and total miles.....live load 06-13/0950-1200, live unload and washout 06-16/1830-1945).
End of week total: 3,138 miles.

Week 25:
-Milbank, SD to Fair Oaks, IN for load going to Spartanburg, SC (660 empty-643 loaded=1,303 total.....live load 06-18/1800-1830, live unload and washout 06-19/1400-1545).
-Spartanburg, SC to Blackshear, GA for load going to Ripon, CA (339 empty-2,652 loaded=2,991 total.....washout and live load 06-20/0730-1045, live unload and then across street to yard for tankwash 06-23/1730-1955).
This load completed my first year with Jim Aartman. I'll post these results after the next week's numbers.
End of week total: 4,294 miles.

Week 26:
-Ripon, CA to Hilmar, CA for load going to Greenwood, WI (29 empty-2,155 loaded=2,184 total.....washout and live load 06-25/0815-0930, live unload and washout 06-28/0620-0730).
-Greenwood, WI to Fair Oaks, IN for load going to Braselton, GA (384 empty-685 loaded=1,069 total.....live load 06-30/0130-0200, live unload and washout 07-01/0610-0730).
From there came on home and began my vacation

!
End of week total: 3,253 miles.

Now to the numbers...
June 25, 2004 to June 24, 2005
Miles: 143,243
Loads: 71 (142)
Live Loads/Unloads: 124 (87%)
Drop and Hooks: 18 (13%)
Length of Haul: 2,018 miles
Days Working: 277
Days Off: 88
Workouts: 106 (Approximately one-third done at gyms across country, remaining workouts done in truck)
72,425 x .29=$21,003.25
54,432 x .30=$16,329.60
16,386 x .31=$5,079.66
143,243 x .02=$2,864.86
Holiday Pay x 4=$400.00
Layover Pay x 4=$200.00
Gross Pay =$45,877.37 (not including vacation pay, will add in for 2005 totals when that time comes.)
:P WORKS FOR ME! :P

2005 Totals (with leaving out scheduled 07-11, will adjust as necessary)
Miles: 74,071
Loads: 37 (74)
Live Loads/Unloads: 62 (84%)
Drop and Hooks: 12 (16%)
Length of Haul: 2,002 miles
Days Working: 138
Days Off: 53

Jim Aartman Totals
Miles: 146,496
Loads: 73 (146)
Live Loads/Unloads: 129 (88%)
Drop and Hooks: 17 (12%)
Length Of Haul: 2,007 miles
Days Working: 282
Days Off: 99

I'll get back with more later. Y'all be safe and have fun :wink:...

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