A Guide to Tanker Trucks

Do you need a tanker truck for your next shipment? You’ve seen them on the highway or pulled up to gas stations, the signature heavy duty truck flanked by a cylinder-shaped tank trailer.

You might be a truck driver looking to boost your trucking career or you might be in need of a tanker to transport specialized content, such as liquids. If so, welcome to the world of the tanker truck.

It’s a niche that offers well-paid opportunities for truckers and gives the shipper reliable equipment options for HAZMAT shipping.

In this post, you’ll read all about tankers, what they transport and how it’s a great truck to drive if your career is in trucking.

What is a tanker truck?

Tankers are used to transport a variety of liquids, such as chemicals, liquids, gases, beverages and dry goods, such as grain. A class 8 truck, they can be used for heavy haul purposes, especially when transporting hazardous materials.

Heavy duty isn’t the only option with these carriers. You can also utilize medium duty or light duty tankers.

Tanker trucks can be pressurized/non-pressurized, vacuum sealed, insulated or non-insulated.

Who drives tanker trucks?

If you’re interested in becoming a tanker driver, know that tankers are frequently used to transport flammable liquids such as gasoline, pesticides and cleaning solutions.

Besides the CDL license, safety is heightened with these vehicles. Hence, you’ll need extra training as regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in order to handle hazardous materials.

There is definitely more responsibility on the road when you are part of this specialized niche, but with that added responsibility comes benefits of higher pay than with other trucking niches.

If your career is in trucking, it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile with training and experience in order to get the best salary possible in a less focused on niche by driving a tanker.