Seriously, How dangerous is it really?.... Hauling fuel?
#31
07-14-2007, 02:56 AM
I have driven tankers for a good number of years. I will have to say it is more dangerous than other jobs because of the products involved. We all know you can be the best driver in the world, but that will not stop a bad driver from hitting your truck. As the best driver in the world, you would avoid these kinds of drivers, right. It does not matter. Stuff happens. If some bad driver hits you, it will be more dangerous then being hit if you had a load of lumber. I have seen very bad fire balls and people screaming for their life as they burn to death. Please don't think it's not dangerous.
One accident I did not witness but heard of, a driver pulled into a terminal to load his truck and his stack caught the bucket that hangs on the fuel pipe. The fuel then ignited and burst into flames killing the driver in the cab and shut the terminal down. Driver era, but none the less, he's dead. Fuel tankers must use added caution, and drive with the most respect for what they are doing. Oh, by the way, I enjoyed it and may be going back to it. 
#33
07-14-2007, 03:41 AM
Originally Posted by Orangetxguy
Ben..what is the name of the Company you are working for? Maybe some of us can give you an idea of their reputation.
#34
07-14-2007, 04:43 AM
Ben..Kenan is a good company to work for. They have better than average bennies, and keep their pay in close proximity to the Majors, in those markets were the "Majors" run trucks. Kenan also has several different operating companies.
If you prove yourself to be competent at the job, you will have to opportunity to move to other areas of the company and country. Say you decided you wanted to live in California. You have an excellent driving record with kenan, and excellent safety record with Kenan, and a history of having a good re-pore with the Customers you will be serving. This will make you eligible to transfer to CA, where Benito is always in search of decent drivers..same as any company. Once in California, this brings you into the focus of the Majors that run their own fleets, such as Chevron, Shell and BP(ARCO). All three pay well over $20.00 and hour in CA, and have the bennies that go with being with a Major. Benito serves all three companies, as well as Valero & Tesoro.
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#35
07-14-2007, 08:42 AM
Originally Posted by ben45750
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") As well as I didn't find this club, I am a member. And as you will learn, with the vapor recovery laws soon to cover everywhere(if not in your area already), a loaded trailer is really not as dangerous as a empty one. Because your never truly empty, you will carry back the vapors to the terminal for recover/disposal, depending on where you go. Kenan is a good company....talked to a few drivers there, all seem very happy. Good luck.....and BTW, you get to keep your terminal cards to your next job if Kenan doesn't work out.....and some companies even give a bonus if you do. 
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#36
07-14-2007, 08:45 AM
Originally Posted by yoopr
Hauled JP8 in Iraq and it was pretty dangerous.
It's not JUST another product you're hauling because with a screw up the end results to yourself and others is compounded 10X
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Anyone can learn to drive a truck. Few become truck drivers. 'Deja moo. It's when you feel you have heard this BS before.
#37
07-14-2007, 10:33 AM
Ben, like you I left the LTL arena to haul gas. I have been doing it for over 2 years now. I really liked the job, but unfortunately the schedule got to be an issue. I work nights, weekends and holidays. When I first started I was just so happy to have a schedule that I didnt care about the weekends and holidays. Tonight will actually be my last night hauling gas as I have taken a job with a much better schedule. I am sad because I really like the job, but I need to spend more time with the family. You will find that there is a slow season for hauling fuel as well. This is the busy time of year and you will probably work as much as you want. This summer has been unusaully slow for some reason, at least where I am. You will enjoy the job. The biggest piece of advice I could give you is-NEVER GET COMPLACENT with this job as it will bite you in the ass if you do. Always check and then re-check your connections before ever pulling a handle. It only takes a second to make a huge mistake. As far as being dangerous-of course it can be. You just need to always remember what you are hauling and be the best defensive driver you can be. I never got cut off in a van as much as I do in a fuel tanker. I guess people think it doesnt look as big so it cant do as much damage. Good luck and be careful.
#38
07-14-2007, 12:35 PM
If you are a heavy smoker, you may want to either quit smoking before pursuing this type of freight hauling or find something else to haul. :? It amazes me how many people will light up before pumping fuel in their truck. :shock: Probably not the best thing to do when you are loading or unloading a fuel tanker.
#39
07-14-2007, 01:45 PM
Originally Posted by Sheepdancer
Maybe its because the hiring standards are tougher for jobs like that. I know for the tanker jobs Ive recently been trying to fill, they are really tough...Ive talked to about 50 drivers who want the job, out of those I have only found 3 that qualify.
Also there arent as many tankers out there as dry vans and such, so naturally, you would see less wrecks with them.
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#40
07-14-2007, 01:48 PM
Originally Posted by brian griffin
It's pretty regoddamndangerous. It's regodamdiculous. That's how dangerous it is regardless what anyone says.
I think tankers should only be allowed to operate between the hours of 11pm and 7am. No exceptions. I've never hauled tankers and NEVER WILL.
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