Tanker truck drivers have adventurous and lucrative jobs. They often spend a lot of time on the road transporting their loads from one destination to another. While there are a lot of responsibilities for tanker drivers, their job is often interesting and rewarding. In this article, we discuss what a tanker truck driver is and does, how to become a tanker truck driver, the skills, salary, job outlook and workplace environment for tanker truck drivers and answer some FAQs about tanker truck drivers.
What is a tanker truck driver?
A tanker truck driver is a specialized type of long-haul truck driver who hauls gasses or liquids in small or large tanker trucks. A long-haul truck driver is a professional who transports goods or materials throughout the entire country, often traveling routes with thousands of miles. Tanker trucks can be small for light duty or enormous for heavy duty loads, and they transport many kinds of gasses and liquids, like hazardous chemicals or food-grade beverages. Tanker trucks also occasionally transport dry goods like grain.
Related:
7 of the Highest Paying Trucking Jobs
What does a tanker truck driver do?
Tanker truck drivers have many duties besides delivering their materials on time and safely operating a large vehicle. Here are some key responsibilities and duties for a tanker truck driver:
Make frequent stops:
Some drivers have to stop several times to fill up their tank, for example, a milk tanker often stops at several farms before the tank is full.
Plan routes and schedules:
Once a driver knows their destination, they have to determine how many miles they can drive each day while considering weight limits, weather, traffic and hazardous materials regulations.
Inspect and maintain vehicles:
Tanker drivers must ensure they securely load transport materials, inspect their tanker vehicle before and after loading, conduct regular vehicle maintenance and provide proof of delivery.
Coordinate with dispatchers:
Most drivers work with logistics professionals to plan routes, provide delivery timeline updates, log information about pickups and deliveries, calculate total mileage and maintain delivery schedules.
Maintain records:
Drivers often need to keep detailed records about pickups, deliveries, tolls paid, expenses, miles driven, number of stops and proof of delivery.
Related:
How To Become a Truck Dispatcher
How to become a tanker truck driver
Here are the steps for becoming a tanker truck driver:
1. Get a state driver's license
Before you can advance to specialized types of driver's licenses, you need to start with a basic state license. You can contact the local branch of your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or look on your state's DMV website for the requirements to get a driver's license in your state. Requirements vary by state and by the age of the person applying for a license. Once you have a state driver's license, you can legally drive automobiles, like cars and trucks, and delivery trucks.
2. Meet the requirements
Employers for long-haul trucking, including tanker trucking, typically require their employees to have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. They also often require a drug test, alcohol test and a physical exam. Long-haul truck drivers must be at least 21 years of age for interstate driving. Drivers must also meet the requirements for and earn their Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
Related:
A Guide To High Pay Trucking Jobs
3. Get a commercial driver's license
Getting your CDL requires the successful completion of an accredited truck driving school. Truck driving schools teach their students not only how to drive large, heavy and placarded vehicles, but they also teach their students regulatory details to pass licensing exams. The classroom and behind-the-wheel training prepares you for the three part CDL exam which includes a road test, basic controls test and vehicle inspection test. Divers must also pass a hearing and sight exam with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation.
You can find CDL training programs at community colleges or private truck driving schools. The programs vary in length from several months to a year. Some programs offer tuition assistance. CDL students can hold a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), usually for a period of up to six months, to get experience on the road under the supervision of a CDL licensed driver.
4. Earn endorsements
Once you have the basic CDL license, you can earn endorsements that qualify you to drive special categories of vehicles. Each CDL endorsement has its own requirements, but typically includes passing a written test and a skills test. The endorsements requested by employers may vary depending on the type of tanker truck driving you are driving, but endorsements H, N or X are typical. The most common special endorsements are:
H endorsement:
Mandatory to operate vehicles that contain hazardous materials. Candidates must take a written knowledge test
N endorsement:
Required for CDL drivers to operate a tanker vehicle that transports gasses or liquids
X endorsement:
This combination endorsement is for both hazardous materials and tanker vehicles
P endorsement:
Allows you to operate a vehicle with 16 or more seats, including the driver
S endorsement:
Required for operating a school bus
T endorsement:
Allows CDL drivers to tow a double or triple trailer
3. Seek tanker truck employment
There are many ways to seek employment as a tanker truck driver. Some ways you can seek employment include:
National job boards:
There are national websites that post job openings.
Recruiting services:
There are for-pay organizations that provide professional recruiting services.
Associations:
There are professional truck driving organizations and associations with job boards.
Schools:
There are truck driving schools that have career counseling and job boards.
Related:
Truck Driver Resume Examples and Templates 2021
4. Complete orientation
The majority of long-haul employers require their new employees to go through Driver Finishing Programs, which are proprietary, in-house training programs. On average, these programs take three to four weeks and teach new drivers about the equipments, materials and vehicles the company uses. The company assigns a licensed mentor to oversee the new employee's training.
5. Gain experience
Some long-haul employers prefer for their new hires to have two or more years of related experience. The amount of experience you have can affect your hourly wage or yearly salary. The most common way to gain experience is to be a delivery truck driver. Besides driving experience, this type of on the road experience provides learning tips, equipment improvements, shows the value of getting endorsements and encourages networking with other drivers about job openings.
Skills needed to become a tanker truck driver
Hauling liquids takes excellent and specific driving skills. There are many hard skills and soft skills that tanker truck drivers need, including:
Punctuality:
Time management is key to reliably delivering loads on time and building a good reputation.
Customer service:
Drivers must interact with clients in a professional manner during stops and other times they're not on the road.
Record keeping:
Organization, attention to detail and current knowledge about regulations and requirements are necessary for accurate record keeping.
Good driving record:
Safety and experience help build an excellent driving record and show your ability to safely operate a tanker vehicle.
Mental stamina:
The long hours of driving can be mentally and psychically challenging, so mental stamina is indispensable.
Related:
Truck Driving Skills: Definition and Examples
Workplace environment for tanker truck drivers
Daily life for a tanker driver can vary greatly depending on the types of loads carried and locations of stops. A tanker driver carrying milk may spend the day traveling rural roads to farms, whereas a tanker driver carrying hazardous materials may spend the day traveling interstate highways to factories. Truck drivers spend the majority of their time driving inside the comfort of their cabs. There are different types of tanker truck driving positions that can affect how much time a trucker spends driving, they are:
Regional driver:
The trucker drives routes closer to home with little or no overnight stays.
Over-the-road driver:
The trucker drives longer routes with longer stretches of time away from home.
Dedicated drivers:
The trucker drives back and forth to one specific customer.
Intermodal driver:
The trucker drives back and forth to train stations picking up and dropping off loads.
Salary and job outlook for tanker truck drivers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a collective and trustworthy source for career outlook information. While the BLS doesn't have information specifically for tanker truck drivers, it does have information for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, which includes tanker truck drivers along with other types of truck drivers. According to the BLS, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can expect an
employment growth rate of 2%
from 2019 to 2029. This growth rate is a little slower than the average 4% growth rate for all occupations.
The salary for a tanker truck driver varies depending on the level of education, amount of experience, geographic location, specific industry and job market demand. Some commercial truckers get paid per load on a contractual basis and others get paid per mile at a set rate. In the United States, the average salary for a tanker truck driver is
$80,727 per year
.
Related:
How Much Do Truck Drivers Make? (and Other FAQs)
FAQ about tanker truck drivers
Here are some frequently asked questions about tanker trick drivers:
Is it dangerous to drive tanker trucks?
Driving a tanker truck does have additional hazards because of the unique nature of their liquid loads. Partially full tanks are especially risky when stopping, starting or turning because the force of the shifting liquid can cause the truck to roll or push forward. If the tanker is carrying a hazmat load, extra regulations and safety precautions to follow to prevent any dangerous situations. Common hazmat loads include gasoline, diesel, propane, chlorine, argon, carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. These hazmat loads are often highly flammable, can cause skin burns or cause lung damage if inhaled.
Are there different types of CDL?
Yes, there are three classes of CDL:
Class A CDL:
Includes owing vehicles and trailers over 26,001 pounds like semi-trucks, tanker trucks, truck and trailer combinations, flatbeds, livestock carriers, and most Class B and Class C vehicles.
Class B CDL:
Includes single vehicles without trailers over 26,000 pounds like straight trucks, large busses, segmented buses, box trucks, tractor-trailers, dump trucks and some Class C vehicles.
Class C CDL:
Includes single or towing vehicles less than 26,001 pounds like vehicles with 16 or more passengers, buses, small tanker trucks, small hazmat vehicles and double or triple trailers.
Are there CDL restrictions?
Yes, some drivers may have a restriction code placed on their CDL licenses. These restrictions get placed on your CDL license if you did not practice a particular skill during a skills test or if the driver failed that particular skills test. The most common restrictions are:
E restriction:
Prohibits CDL drivers from operating a manual transmission vehicle.
L restriction:
Prohibits CDL drivers from operating a full air brake system on any vehicle.
M restriction:
Indicates a CDL driver can only operate a school bus, Class B or Class C vehicle.
N restriction:
Indicates a CDL driver can only operate a school bus or Class C vehicle.
O restriction:
Prohibits CDL drivers from operating a Class A vehicle with a fifth wheel connection.
V restriction:
Indicates a CDL driver has a medical variance, like diabetes, seizures or hearing or vision impairments.
Z restriction:
Prohibits CDL drivers from operating a full air brake system on a commercial motor vehicle.
