How many ways to die hauling gasoline?
 

Somebody is going to be mad. Sorry. I've seen some gas hauling threads but I haven't seen one that specifically addressed the threats. I'm interested because gas hauling pays $21/hr where I am and that's much better than the local job I have now.

So what' the deal?'

Tank gets punctured for any reason, you die? You jackknife; somebody hits you; you hit something on a loading rack; blowout or anything else puts you in a ditch or against an overpass... Other vehicles, these things usually don't kill you.

What else? Brake dragging overheats wheel hub?

What else? Somehow, some way, there is a spark or cigarette while unloading or loading?

Anything else?

So then, how high are these risks? Anyone know the mortality rate of fuel haulers compared to other truck drivers?

TIA and don't be mad.

You could fall off the top of the tank or get cancer from the fumes or you could have a heart attack form the stress of worrying about how your might die. :)

Nice. We're getting down there like getting stung in the neck by a wasp while waiting on a traffic light and suffocating to death.

Just driving would be crazy if anyone was transported 100 years in time. 80,000 pound vehicles passing each other moving in opposite directions going 50 mph just 6 feet apart.

Some Crazy dude driving the tanker say's the hell with it and drives off a cliff.

How about 2:00 am delivery to a place with 1 inch bullet proof glass and three dudes walk around the corner with bad intentions.

Would a 22 cal round penetrate a tank and then no more driver?

Might as well think about this stuff before orientation, right?

Why should anyone be mad over this?? But, if it will make you feel better..... :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
On a more serious note, the next time you see a fuel truck stopped at a Mohamed-Mart, why not ask the driver for his read?? No reason for him (or her) to get mad, as long as you don't have a cigarette, a blunt, a joint, or a gun in your hand!!

Take it easy! When some thing like that happened to a tank full of gasoline, it's a big deal,and would be on all local news, and not even local. How many times, you saw, or read about it? I don't recall too many...

Hey Solo. It's been forever, how have you been?

When I first started thinking about it, I didn't recall too many accidents. Then you go to Youtube and you can see all you want. It's kind of unpleasant to think about but better now instead of orientation. I've been messing around a little including the thread title but some of these things I want to clearly understand.

The tanks are insulated so what do we have? A steel outer skin and an aluminum inner tank? So then, is it true- run that thing off in a ditch and it's the last thing you do?

I know a guy *cough* *cough* slammed on his brakes to miss a dog and the hatch popped open on his milk tanker- milk washing over the sides. Now, technically the whole load coulda shoulda been lost. He got to his terminal, got the tank washed off, and let's just say everything turned out for the good. All that to say this, crazy stuff does happen out there.

I read another thread and some seemed to take offense at anyone doing a kind risk assessment- like you shouldn't even have to ask.

Nah, not likely you'll ever find me at a Mohammed Mart without a blunt in my hand.

IF you broke the tank somehow fuel would leak, it would take a perfect situation to make it blow. An empty tank if more likely to blow than a full one or one with a descent amont of fuel. They are designed to withstand some damage. Just like when there is major natural gasleaks that they can't fix quickly, what do they do? LIGHT THEM ON FIRE! Safer that way. Don't worry about it. My family owns an Oil Company which granted, isn't as flammable as gasoline but same rules. What part of the country are you in? $21/hr seems low for tanker work.

I'm skeptical about that. It seems like leaking gasoline would be more inclined to blow than not.

Actually, I'm also considering going back to North Dakota to haul diesel. I don't know about the flashpoint differential but I've hardly thought about the danger of doing that.

I live in Michigan.

Yeah, it's been a while! Same ol same. Not getting any younger.... Good to hear from you too!

If we get more Christlike it's not so bad. But then I started with a low bar.

No offense taken here. :)

I can't speak of the mortality rate, as I don't know. But, I used to have similar questions. A few of my fuel hauling buddies
were barraged with questions, for months.

I've been hauling gas and diesel for just over 9 months now. I respect the product I'm hauling, but it's not nearly as "scary"
as I imagined it would be. Obviously, there are risks. In my short time doing it, I've heard of a few minor accidents; pulling
the scully cord from a rack, a minor rear end, getting side swiped by a 4 wheeler, going into a ditch, even a jackknife in the
recent ice storm. No leaks, punctures, etc... I've even had a nasty blowout. No different than pulling a box. I'll try posting a
photo from my phone.

As for hot brakes, we usually check for those at every rack, before loading.

Personally, I wish I'd have started doing it sooner. In my opinion, it's good, easy money.

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My little blowout :)




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A driver "forced" into the median.


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Much appreciate the response, WildK9. I guess you just do it and don't worry about it. Like I said before, 2 loaded trucks going past each other in opposite directions at 50 or 60 miles per hour...bad time to have a front tire blow out. I think there are just the risks we are used to and the ones we aren't used to.

A lot of us watch sports. I don't know about all of you but I don't fly a whole lot and I really like it when the plane touches ground. We never talk about it but these sports teams live on airplanes.

You're welcome. In a couple months, you'll hardly think about it. Honestly, my mind is more on not scullying a compartment,
not cross dropping, or having a major spill.

I had an easy day. Did 5 loads, 201 miles - all gas, no diesel, and came home early. It's easy money and I love it. You just have
to keep your head in the game, at all times.

Well that lets me out! :)
One hazard lately would be freezing while unloading, but if ya hauled oil in ND I guess you already know about that.

Hahaha! Not sure I'd want to do it in the ND winters. Although, my buddy has been delivering fuel from Casper, Wyoming for almost 2 decades. He sometimes goes up to the Dakotas, Utah, Montana, and Idaho.. Makes 6 figures doing it. Pulls wiggle wagon tanks.


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I've only had one ND winter but I'll take it over West Michigan. Colder up there but this lake keeps our roads greasy. If 5 loads is easy I don't want to know about difficult.

Yeah, been there, done that. I'm done with OTR and winters lol. That's why I live in Texas. 12 years of OTR, 5 years of regional, and almost a year of local. I loved OTR for many years, but I was single for most of that time.. I enjoy being home every night.

I don't think there's really anything difficult to my job. I usually do 6-7 loads. Our loads pay between $51.50 and $150.00. Depending upon length and product.


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When you drive your four-wheeler down the highway there is nothing between the road surface and your fuel supply except for thin piece of sheet metal(or plastic), does that make you nervous?

So like, maybe only 25% disappear in a fireball, but 75% contract this natural causes plague?

I hadn't thought of that. Guess I'd better get to job hunting. [emoji12]


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I hauled retail diesel and gas for 3 years and natural gas for 6 years , ground yourself and don't crash ! Never had a worry made good money . You're always working because fuel is always in demand

What do you mean "ground yourself"?

touch something big and metallic, gasoline doesn't blow, it burns so if you have a spill then you need to worry about the spill not an explosion.

I've been hauling gas and diesel part time(1-3 runs a week) for the past 2.5 years and I don't think about dying in a fire ball, doesn't even cross my mind, my biggest fear is mixing product, about six weeks ago my fear came true, got called out on a long weekend to take 15000L of nolead to a local gas station. Had 3 compartments empty, pulled up to the rack in a hurry cause I had plans with the family, loaded 10000L then switched to the next comp. for the remaining 5000, but hooked up to the wrong one and didn't realize till it scullied out that I filled a comp. that already had 2500L of coloured diesel in it.

delivered the 10000L, called the boss and thought for sure I was fired, but he said he would deal with it on Monday, I guess he just diluted it down enough he didn't lose any product.

7 years under my belt pulling fuel, wouldn't do anything else I love my job and the company I work for. You can die slipping in the bath tub, you can die pissing off a woman, you can die walking out to get your mail. Fact is you are going to die someday. In 7 years I have know three guys personally wreck their tankers, one took a complete 360 roll over after falling asleep, loaded with gas and walked away with a broken collar bone and some scraps, the next guy tried to beat a stale light and took corner to fast loaded and rolled on his side spilled about 3000 gallons of ULSD, the last guy fell asleep too and road out a broken steer axle after hitting the guard rail. All three survived. Now I am also aware a five guys who have died in the Florida area because of tanker accidents, and yes the died in the fire after the accident. somehow as a fuel driver you pay attention to these types of accidents and word travels fast when you are loading on the rack. You just need to be aware at all times and do your job the same way every time, just like you brush your teeth, when you change up how you do things you tend to forget a step and that can lead to a spill, a cross drop, a probing out, so many different things can happen.
The fact is though the same can happen driving a flatbed, doubles, dry van, or even in your car. Pulling fuel is not for everyone and you will know once you get into it. Good luck!
Timberwolf

Was this you K9? :p heh heh

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Woohoo! Heck of a wild ride there, Hoggie!

[QUOTE=Roadhog;534290]Was this you K9? :p heh heh

Funny, Nope this not I the wolf,
How's life treating you these days?
Hope all is well.

https://www.facebook.com/peter.lawrence.79

Five in the Florida area during your seven years...I mean, it's something to think about..

Hauling Fuel is easy. What can be more fun is some of the other Haz Mats that do not like to be jolted around that much. Some of them really love to be COLD to be stable. I pulled 2 loads that had to be kept in Dry Ice and handled like they where antique cars. You prayed like Hell you had enough Dry Ice and no one cut you off.

Somebody tell me about a whale. Something seems unchristian about a double load of a flammable.