Thanks for all the post's. After getting layed off for the third time in less than a year I decided it might be time to throw in the towel and find something more stable than the LTL freight. So I started last week with a tanker company hauling fuel. So far I really like it and YES, I have a lot to learn because it isn't just driving a truck like I thought it would be (wow there is a lot to know when it comes to hauling fuel!) I'm tired of jumping around because work is slow, which doesn't seem to be much of a shortage of people buying gas. It's also a pretty good opportunity, I am replacing a retired driver and not being added on just to cover for other drivers on vacation.

The only thing I can think of thats even close to being on the down side is the thought of 8800 gallons of gasoline 5 feet behind me. After spending the last week searching all over the Internet for safety records of tanker company's I'm not finding much at all. Of course when a tanker truck does go up in smoke you here about it, but it's not that often and it's usually their fault. The money is good and I'm going to save some money because I only live 3 miles from the terminal compared to driving 105 to the LTL job and living in a hotel when I'm too tired to drive home.

So I'm going to join the Cluggy Club of being a happy tanker yanker :lol:
(I will still defend JB Hunt though so I might not get "The Tanker Yanker of the year Cluggy award")

 

Ben..what is the name of the Company you are working for? Maybe some of us can give you an idea of their reputation.

After spending the last week searching all over the Internet for safety records of tanker company's I'm not finding much at all. On this score it would be the same as any other trucking company. Go to the Safer website, and look them up. See what their record is with the DOT.

Of course when a tanker truck does go up in smoke you here about it, but it's not that often and it's usually their fault. On this..you will be surprised I think, to find out that a majority of the "Catastrophic" tanker accidents, are usually the fault of another party.

Like Doc Who said, remember what it is you are hauling. Treat it with all do care. And you, the truck and the public, will be just fine. Listen to the people whom are acting as your trainers. I'm sure that your not riding with someone whom has only been hauling fuel for 6 months.

Best of Luck

 

What you're saying here is that "pulling out in front of a truck, in this case a gasoline tanker, or running a stop sign in front of a gasoline tanker (or any vehicle...even a Yugo) is dangerous. The guy driving the SUV made the mistake, and paid for it. It was ultimately dangerous for that person. Gee, lets think about this for a minute..... If the asshole driving the SUV, and the asshole was an educated Dr....had he just stopped at the stop sign, obeyed the light, or even waited for the truck to pass....what, a 5 second hesitation on his part....he'd still be alive, right?

No, driving a tanker is not dangerous. At least not anymore than picking your nose. Your example is so bull :dung: its hardly worth responding to.

Here's some simple facts for you to ruminate on: Over 42,000 people die on American roads every year. Approximately 5200 of those people died in accidents involving trucks (a TRUCK or Combination Vehicle is any vehicle that weighs over 10,001 pounds, and it includes all non-commercial vehicles over 10,001 pounds...including RV's.)and where commercial vehicles have been involved no less than 73% of the operators of the cars/motorcycles/pickup trucks/bicycles and pedestrians were found to be at fault for the accident.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd...006/810639.pdf

This PDF is 143 pages long, but it outlines starting on page 114 the numbers of fatalities by vehicle class....including "non-occupants" (pedestrians in fed speak?) It covers 2004 and 2005, and whats interesting is that in 2005 ...803 truck drivers died in accidents. I wonder how many of them died because of the 73% found at fault? Probably most of them.

Considering the number of miles that the average commercial drive does drive....as compared to the minimal miles the average car driver drives... its plainly obvious that it is far more dangerous to drive a car than a truck, especially if you do it with your head up your ass.

As I said before, hauling a tanker is only dangerous...if the driver is dangerous. Thank you for proving my point. As the SUV driver proved, operating a vehicle dangerously has fatal consequences. He died, the truck driver lived.....

 

You are a retard. Of course fuel is dangerous. Spin it any way you want.

 

In Oct. of 1992, one of my co-workers, was passing through an intersection in Tacoma WA, heading out to I-5, from the Tideflat's based load rack. He was in the lefthand lane of the street, in preparation to turn left onto the NB I-5 on-ramp. Heading into the intersection, he was doing approx 15 mph, having begun to stop for the light, only to have it turn green. A Broadway Truckstop transport truck tripped the light, when he stopped in the lefthand turn lane, to head north on Hiway 99, to deliver to the Flying Hook in Fife. A car, headed SB on 99, running without headlights, missed the back of the Broadway trailer, and ran square under Ed's trailer, striking the vessel just in front of the rear axles. Ed felt the jolt from the strike, and immediately applied brakes...but still drug that car over 250 feet, down a slight grade. His truck was fully loaded with 11,500 gallons, weighed 102,000#'s + and when the car struck him, he had shift up one gear and was doing 35 mph...in a posted 50.

Tacoma Police were just all full of themselves, seeing the front tire of the axle set, sitting on the woman riding in the front passenger seat. They just knew Ed had to be going 65. LOL..they lost all interest in Ed, when one Officer flipped up the truck lid, which had been knocked open during the collision. In the truck they found 5 Automatic Assault Rifles, half a dozen 45 pistols, ammo for each, plus over 20 bags of what turned out to be Cocaine. Not crack..but pure Lady C. LOL... I had been sent down there to help with the unloading of the trailer, and was just amazed at the entire deal. In a flash Ed went from being "scumbag trucker", to "Mr. Nobody". Several cops made their carreers over that accident.

BTW Ed was driving a 1992 4-axle T-800, with a 500 DD-60 and a 10speed, with 4.33 rears, polished aluminum cargo tank, pulling a 1992 Paramount 4-axle tri-compartment, with polished tank. Very shiney truck.

 

I do agree with that. I was company trained from permit to CDL(no trucking school for me ), the company prefered it that way.

The tanker company in question is a good company all around with decent drivers. One of them tried to get me to apply there. Thought about but when I heard the starting pay, forget.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: Then I guess you better stop operating any kind of vehicle there is....because they all carry fuel :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You know....you showed just completely how ignorant you are with this last post.

I'm not going to even bother explaining it. You wouldn't understand anyway.

I kind of get the feeling you can't qualify for a hazmat endorsement....??

 

Was this really necessary???

It does go without saying that fuel is dangerous however, the playground name calling was not called for....

 

Actually my good Doctor Who, according to "netiquette", the first person to call the other a "name" declares his capitulation in the matter. But so you know....my skin is far too thick to be bothered 8)

 

OK now, let me try to sort something out for you, at least for those who don't know about tankers......

1. Driving a tanker....is different than driving a van, reefer, or flatbed. The reason its different is because the load is liquid.

a. A fuel tanker is normally multi-compartmented, so it can carry more than one grade of gasoline to deliver in the same trip. Some fuel tankers are smooth bore, and are generally used to deliver JetA, or diesel in large quantities. Compartmented tankers do not have much surge as the liquid cannot move about forward and back as much. Its main movement is to the sides. Smooth bore tanks have the surge. When I pulled fuels, JetA wouldn't surge much because it weighs less than water, so the tank was very full. Diesel is the same way, weight wise. A full gasoline tanker is far less prone to fire or other problems than an empty tank with fumes in it. Its a simple rule of physics. Diesel tanks aren't that easy to set on fire. JetA actually has flame retarders/inhibitors in it...to minimize fuel ignition during an airplane crash. There is no danger with the operation of these tanks, so long as it is not struck in the side to the point of puncturing it, or something else drastic happening. Its pretty much the same as driving anything else. I believe many gasoline tankers are built out of heavy gage aluminum mounted on steel frames.

b. Chemical tankers are different in that the majority of them are smooth bore, and have a lower capacity. The fluids, chemicals, and chemical compounds transported are often times much much heavier than water, so some compounds may only fill the tank to half capacity and the truck will be at its legal maximum weight. There are compartmented tankers for chemicals. Because the liquids are heavier and take up less space in the tank...surge is produced to the front and rear when the tank is moved. Taking ramps and turns too quickly can cause the liquid to climb the side of the tank which can change the center of gravity on the tank. Yes, its possible to roll a tank over, and yes its easier to roll a tank than a box or flat. But I have been told its easier to roll a reefer hauling swinging beef. Chemical tankers are all made of stainless steel, and sulphuric acid and some other tanks are coated inside with special materials. The tanks are all built to specifications that prevent them from opening up and rupturing during a rollover. Average weight of a 42'6" tanker is about 14-15,000 lbs. The surge and side slosh is the reason that chemical tanker drivers drive a little differently when accelerating, decelerating, turning, and using curving ramps. Safety in all manner of operations around tankers is paramount in importance. There is more training done with chemical tankers than any other type of trucking.

c. Food grade tankers are normally smooth bore, weigh less than chemical tankers, and are around 45' long. About the only "hazmat" that they haul is the alcohol that goes into liquor. They are subject to surge as well.

2. In my opinion, having done this for quite a while, both chemical tankers and dry vans, I believe that more actual danger exists with dry vans, and reefers. Heres why:

a. The van/reefer is loaded, then sealed....while in route the load can shift suddenly and in doing so pull the truck over into a rollover than cannot be stopped. Unless the driver uses dunnage, load locks, straps, or air bags.....none of which is 100% secure, the freight is subject to shift if caution is not used in driving.

b. In the event that a van or reefer is carrying hazmat, and there is a hazmat spill or leak, much of it will have already occurred before the driver will be aware of it, and the real danger lies in the driver being exposed to fumes, dust, or even raw chemicals due to ruptures, tears, or leaks in packaging. If the chemicals are being refrigerated and there is a leak, more caution is required, especially when opening the doors, in case of a leak...due to the high volume of air circulating in the trailer.

3. All things considered.... I personally feel there is no more danger involved in fuel transportation than chemical transportation than food grade liquid transportation than general freight transportation. Overall, I think driving a car, pickup, motorcycle, or bicycle is more dangerous nowadays....and being a pedestrian is significantly dangerous.

Do not allow people with limited knowledge of the different segments of the industry to unnecessarily frighten or worry you about things. There are simply different styles and mentalities that go with different sectors.
One must simply adjust to the requirements of the vehicle they are driving. But regardless of what kind of truck you are driving.... Safety is always paramount, all the time.