Question:
After reading the thread of Cyanide, I decided to write on a different job of pulling a tank. I drive a petroleum tanker,hualing gasoline, diesel and kerosene.
The same reasons that Cyanide likes to pull a tank is almost the same for me, with a few exceptions. Different companys pay differnet ways so I'll just tell you what my company pays.
I am responcible for loading my tank at one of the different terminals.Depending on what the customer orders. Our tanks have five separated compartments that will hold differenent amounts.The tanks have each compartment labled to show the max amount it will hold.
Each load pays different depending on how far you have to go. We have a chart that will tell you what your paid. All loads that are under 20 miles will pay $28.00 but if you have to wait to load or unload, you recieve and hourly wage after giving up the first hour..
If your truck breaks down your paid hourly and do not have to give the company that first hour, same goes if you have the truck washed
Unloading is usually where the headaches begin. After getting your truck in position to unload, you stick your tanks and record the inches. We have a tank chart book that tells how much the tank will hold, however it is not perfect.
You hook up your hose and connect it to the tank with a special fitting. We alsot hook up a hose to catch the return vapors from the tank. After everything is hooked up, slowly open the valve and look for leaks, no leaks open it wide open and let gravity do the job.
After unloading is finished you walk your hose down to get all of the product out, if you don't you'll have a spill. Record your ending inches on your paper work and get it sign. Then try to fight your way out of the parking lot. Return to the terminal and do it all over again. The quicker you turn a load the more you make for that day..
I knoq I have probably left something out of this, so if you have questions please ask.
Coolbreeze

Answer:
I also work for a tanker company pulling a fuel tanker, we are paid pretty much the same way anything in town is $25.00 and a extra stop is $10.00 most local take about a hour to a hour and a half to turn, plus loading time, some times 15 minutes some times hours.
We are paid if loading time takes any longer than a hour. Average $150 - $200 a day here just like any other vendor job its a early start and sometimes a late ending time any where from 60 - 70 hours aweek 6 days on two days off. Its not a bad job personally I love it.
Certin customers can really test your driving skills Murphys (Wal mart) seems to be the worst

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Glad to see that I'm not the only fuel relocator on this board. If we have a split stop we get an extra 15 dollars. The company also has an $800 guarneter pay. Which is good since I only worked 1 day last week.
Clusx who do you drive for?
Coolbreeze

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Coastal Transport real big down here in Texas and all points west of here

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Hi Guys,
Other transport driver's. COOL I work for a CO-OP we have 3 Service Stations, I haul the fuel and propane.. When I'm not hauling fuel I'm hauling grain of some kind.. How far are your terminals away?? Ours are each 1 hour away..
My favorite haul is twice a year I go to Cenex in Amarillo after oil..
See Ya On Down The Road
Robert

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Helllo Kenworth,
Glad to see other transport drivers. I hual for Eagle Transport out of Knoxville Tn.
When I get my truck, it is only 1 mile to the terminal to load it. Our farthest run was 160 miles away but we just lost that account because of them not paying thier bill. Which I am glad we did lose that one, didnt pay to good driving a 65 MPH truck and going into the MTNS, Took you about 4.5 hrs to get there loaded.
Coolbreeze

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Glad to see you all post on fuel hauling. You've talked me out of ever trying it.

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Don't knock until youve tried it .

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I pull a tank. It's all that loading and unloading you all do. Sounds way to much like work.
My usual run is around a 750 mile turn. Some times 2 -3 drops in a day but then its a few hundred miles back to get reloaded. Get paid for loading and unloading with no free time at either end. Of course that depends on the account but it works out. I think I like it better that way.
Hopefully you all don't drive those trucks as fast as you can? One of the larger companies down here lost several trucks last in year in crash and burns. They lost the drivers also. I never could understand while fuel tank drivers are in such a big hurry.

Answer:
JUst as in any other job you have your Billy Bad A$$'es who think they know it all, they usally dont last. Our trucks are goverened at 75 which is fast enough for me.
Our biggest safety concern seems to be the public aint nothing like seeing a 90 year old woman driving right at your drops
The loading and unloading isnt that big of a deal I pull up hook up a cable thats connected to my over flow sensors (scully) hook up a vapor hose open my valves and then connect a load arm max time maybe two minutes. And then depending on where im loading at i am in and out in anywhere from 8-20 minutes. Our main termianls here are only about 8 minutes from town, lately we have been loadin out of Big Spring Texas a lot which is nice usally turns into a $200 dollar day for about 10 -12 hours
So far I love it and I have been lucky with no spills accidents mixes or top loads of any kind ( loading into a still full compartment) with slip seating it has happened last driver forgets to drop a compartment, its not to big of a deal unless there was gas in it and you in turn loaded diesel into it or vice versa
Its not a bad job but its not for everyone some cant handle what they are pulling behind them, it scares them to much and others are fine with it
Be careful out there
Charlie

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I hauled fuel for 3 yrs+ out of Rockford IL and Madison WI., as well as Amboy IL and Lemont IL. I was carded at around 15 terminals for fuel as well as fingerprinted to haul LP. In the seasons we also hauled NH3. (annhydrous ammonia). I was on a dedicated Growmark (FS) account for both WI and IL. The Coop I was hauling for merged with another, and their carrier cut our rates, so I was put on the circuit hauling for everybody. Went from 60-70 hrs a week to less than 40. I was paid by the hour for everything I did. Overtime after 40 hrs. Drove a new International with a Pro Sleeper and a newer Heil 4 holer. Probably would still be there if we had'nt lost the haul. One of the best bosses I ever had. Now I drive OTR for a carrier hauling chocolate and chocolate ingredients. Always looking for something better. Applied for a dispatch job today. Would like to go back to a local job.Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
One reason fuel hualers are in such a hurry is that tere paid by the load.The quicker you turn a load the more you make that day. Here in TN about every company pays you by the load except for Pilot, there drivers are paid by the hr and they only deliver to there own stores
The terminal that I drive out of just open up in July of last year. So far we have not had any spills or product mixed up. I think if you have a set routine and do it consitantly things goes quick but you have to be on your toes or something bad will happen when you least expect it. It almost happened to me 6 months ago, I thought I had un hooked everything but had forgot to unhook the scully. luckly when I pulled out the scully came lose from my truck no damage. I now check very carefully before pulling out of the rack.
Coolbreeze
PS Wish my truck would do 75 we are governed down to 65

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No Way I would drive and be paid by the load. Dumbest thing a driver could possibly do. The ONLY WAY to haul fuel is to be paid by the HOUR> Get paid for EVERYTHING you do, from the time you turn the key on til the time you climb out at the end of the day. Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

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Razz. would have to disagree with you on the hourly pay. Here is an example of a run I did Sunday night. Loaded at Marathon 6000 gals regular unleaded. 15 mins from start to finsh. Went to CTI and loaded 600 galons of ethnol<sp> 10 mins. Went to the store to deliver, 10 mins. Spent about 35mins unloading. 5 min drive back to reload again. Now here is what the load paid me.
Load at Marathon. 28.00
Load at CTI 10.00
Total time spent. 1hr 5 mins That averages at about 37.90hr
I dont think you will find a company that will pay that kind of hourly wage.
Coolbreeze

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Hi gang, I pull hot oil in spring,summer and fall supplying a asphault plant. During the winter I haul propane. Pulling hot oil leaves a driver to have great concern over the 320f liquid behind you. Hauling propane at first seemed like alot of work as the hoses tend to get very stiff, I was so happy to escape the meat grinder of pulling vans and refers, now home every night, pay is strait 18.50 and hour from the time I get to the shop. I really feel for the fuel haulers I do not have the patience to deal with stupid people smoking or driving over your hoses. I do not think tanker pulling is any place for a new driver to start, have to do your time pulling something less likely to kill.
HAMMER DOWN