Pneumatic Tanks loading/unloading

[patriciajnsn]

Old thread but I will go for it ....
Thinking of doing it . cement . Wichita ks . offered .40 a mile out 5 days . independent contractor so more paper work to do . Claims I can make 1100 a week .
Is there anyone here that works for a kansas company hauling cement ? I used to see a lot of them when i ran end dumps but never asked them any questions . Trying to find out what the average pay is for around here.

EDIT :
Just talked to one driver who used to work for him . he said the runs go up from kansas to iowa . so 1000 a week is doable he said . He quit because the boss has only been in trucking for 9 months and driver came in at the beginning and did not like having to teach the boss how trucking works . Other than that he said it was all good.

Makes me wonder how the boss even got that position not knowing anything about trucking.

 

[Duck]

Makes me wonder how the boss even got that position not knowing anything about trucking.

It happens all the time. That's why they're called "management".

 

[patriciajnsn]

It happens all the time. That's why they're called "management".

I know it and not just trucking companies but the entire industry is run by ppl that don't know a thing about trucking.

 

[Duck]

I know it and not just trucking companies but the entire industry is run by ppl that don't know a thing about trucking.

Every once in a while, if I'm extremely bored in a doctor's office or something I'll pick up a "Forbes" or some other boring magazine since that's the only kind of crap they ever have, ...

I've read articles about companies wanting press about their new CEO. It'll be a lawnmower factory, saying their new CEO will bring years of experience to the company and blah blah blah "into the future" and blah blah blah. Then it'll say the new CEO's last job was at a food processing facility or a chain of restaurants.

So their new CEO has zero experience with the lawnmower factory industry, .. and they're bragging about it.


CEO is probably the easiest job in the world. Just a figurehead who shows up at his office once or twice a month when he's not on a "business trip" in Tahiti. Once a year he might have to give a speech (written by a ten dollar an hour temp) at the annual Millionaires Club meeting, surrounded by prostitutes in a country where the age of consent is 13, ...

At least, that's how union members describe them.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Every once in a while, if I'm extremely bored in a doctor's office or something I'll pick up a "Forbes" or some other boring magazine since that's the only kind of crap they ever have, ...

I've read articles about companies wanting press about their new CEO. It'll be a lawnmower factory, saying their new CEO will bring years of experience to the company and blah blah blah "into the future" and blah blah blah. Then it'll say the new CEO's last job was at a food processing facility or a chain of restaurants.

So their new CEO has zero experience with the lawnmower factory industry, .. and they're bragging about it.


CEO is probably the easiest job in the world. Just a figurehead who shows up at his office once or twice a month when he's not on a "business trip" in Tahiti. Once a year he might have to give a speech (written by a ten dollar an hour temp) at the annual Millionaires Club meeting, surrounded by prostitutes in a country where the age of consent is 13, ...

At least, that's how union members describe them.

How so right you are.Then they get advice from what they call the little people and they take credit for it.

 

[marcusk]

Makes me wonder how the boss even got that position not knowing anything about trucking.

he is not the boss but the owner . From what I understand knows people in trucking and at CTS so decided to learn to drive and bought a couple trucks .

 

[marcusk]

Every once in a while, if I'm extremely bored in a doctor's office or something I'll pick up a "Forbes" or some other boring magazine since that's the only kind of crap they ever have, ...

I've read articles about companies wanting press about their new CEO. It'll be a lawnmower factory, saying their new CEO will bring years of experience to the company and blah blah blah "into the future" and blah blah blah. Then it'll say the new CEO's last job was at a food processing facility or a chain of restaurants.

So their new CEO has zero experience with the lawnmower factory industry, .. and they're bragging about it.


CEO is probably the easiest job in the world. Just a figurehead who shows up at his office once or twice a month when he's not on a "business trip" in Tahiti. Once a year he might have to give a speech (written by a ten dollar an hour temp) at the annual Millionaires Club meeting, surrounded by prostitutes in a country where the age of consent is 13, ...

At least, that's how union members describe them.

Then they get wealthy and make their buddies wealthy and then resign when the bankruptcy is coming .

 

[bulker]

Since, myself and 2xr are the only two tanker yankers on the forum that I know of I will cover the basics of the pneumatic tank and 2xr can do the liquid if he wants too.

Keep in mind...I have not pulled a Food grade/Plastic pneumatic tanker so maybe these tips apply and maybe not.

Pneumatic tanks - loads/unloads with the use of a blower either on your trailer or mounted on the truck, and is PTO driven for the truck. If mounted on the trailer it will have it's own power station usually another diesel engine.

Ok, we start off with some pictures of the different pneumatic tanks available.

The type I pull is a cement tank it weighs less so you can haul more product.


It loads usually from the top. They can however be setup to load from the back end through the product discharge pipe. When loading from the top, you are instructed to pull under a chute. Open your dome lid/s from the safety rack or use the side ladder to get on top of your tank. Make sure the chute is in the middle of your truck when going under it. The operator/loader will either tell you on the CB, or over a speaker located outside the truck, or he will sound a buzzer or flash a light when you need to stop directly under the chute.
Usually you are located on a scale when loading. We have a air gauge inside our trucks that tells us approximately when we are fully loaded. This is used when no scale is on the loading site.
When a scale is used the loader will take your light weight or empty weight including you, before he begins loading. He/she will set this weight in a computer and then ask you what/how much you want. He/she sets this weight in the computer.
My light weight full of fuel is usually 26,600 lbs I ask for 80,000 lbs this gives me my net weight of 53,400 lbs. This is what I have inside my tank when loaded. Or 26.70 Tons of product, this is how I get paid.

When loaded you will be instructed to pull out to the saftey rack to close your dome lid/s. This is a crucial part when closing your dome lid/s make sure you clean around the top of the (hole) on the edges where yhe dome lid gasket goes. If this is not cleaned it will leak. Close the dome lid, there are usually 6 latches place on the edges of the dome lid and step down on them to secure them in place. If this is missed the tank will leak.

Get your paperwork from the scale office and have a safe trip to your destination for unloading.

When you arrive at the consignee check in with them. Even if you have been there a 1000 times before. Always check in, they will instruct you to where to unload at.
Usually it is a cement plant, but we do more than plants. Just make sure you check in.

After checking in, maneuver your truck and trailer in close to the silo, try to keep the truck and trailer as straight as possible (not required) just makes it easier if you want to sit in the truck for minute to keep an eye on the pressure gauges through your mirror.

Get out and make sure of the pipe that you were instructed to hook up too. After you locate the pipe, make sure the high level light/and or alarm for the silo is not sounding off or flashing. If it is the silo is too full to hold your load.

If everything is ok, then you take out your product hose located in the hose tube of your trailer. Inspect the gaskets located on both ends of the hose, if they are worn replace them.

Hook up one end to the discharge pipe of your trailer, hook the other end to the pipe you were instructed to unload in.
Make sure the ears on both ends of the hose are in the lock position so the hose cannot come off.

Walk back towards the front of your trailer, hook the hot air tube to your blower on your truck. Make sure a gasket is in both ends of the tube. Shut off the line air valve make sure your aerator valves are open. Make sure your blow down valve is closed.

Line air valve - this is what pushes the product up the pipe you are unloading into.

Aerator Valve - this will fluff the product inside the tank and force it out the discharge valve at the bottom of each hopper.

Blow down valve - This valve is to let the air pressure off the tank really fast, this is left open when finished unloading.

Hot air tube - connects the blower to the tank. There is a reason it is called a hot air tube, it gets extremely hot from the air going through it so fast.

Ok after you get the hot air tube connected, climb back into your truck. Engage the transmission then put it back in neutral leaving your clutch depressed this will stop the transmission from spinning and allow you to place the PTO in gear without raking the gears. Let the clutch back out easy, with the truck in neutral.

You will here your blower start up. Set the RPMs up on your truck to around 900 this is not much more than an idle. You will hear the blower get faster and louder.

Get out of the truck and walk to where your tank pressure gauge and your line pressure gauge is located. Watch the tank pressure gauge to make sure it is building pressure. When this gets close to 10 or more lbs. quickly open your line pressure valve watch your gauge if it climbs and will not fall back to near 0 then the line is plugged somewhere. If it falls back to 0 then close the valve back and continue to build the pressure. When tank pressure reads 15 lbs open your line air valve slightly you will hear air flowing through the line. Then walk back to your discharge valve located on the bottom of each hopper. Open this product valve slowly, keep watch on your line air pressure gauge if the product is flowing evenly then open it wide open. Quickly make sure your discharge hose is not leaking at the trailer or pipe you are unloading into. If it is, find some water (I carry a gallon jug full of water in my truck just for this) pour over the leak, and it will seal it.

Keep an eye on both pressure gauges if they start to fall then your hopper is going empty. If the line air pressure stays constant, and your tank pressure begins climbing then your are stopped up. I am not going to cover the proper way to unplug a product line today.

When pressure has dropped for all three hoppers the the tank is empty. Shut the blower down to an idle, unhook the hot air tube..note the tube is extremely hot wear heavy gloves when handling this.

Let the blower continue to run at an idle this will cool it down and extend the life of it.

Walk towards your blow down valve and slowly open it. You must bleed the remaining pressure if any off the tank before disconnecting the product hose. When tank pressure is at 0 it is safe to unhook. Replace the pipe cover on your trailer and the pipe of the customer. Return the hose to your hose tube. Walk back up to the truck turn your blower off and replace the cap on the blower, and you are done. Have a safe trip to your next shipper.

Depending on the product and the height of the silo and how full the silo is and if you have a good trailer and blower. 26.70 ton can be unloaded in about 40 minutes.


I will add more on different things probably in different threads as I think of them. If you have any questions on loading/unloading a pneumatic tank all you have to do is ask away. I will try to answer it, if I can't I will point you in the right direction.

Hi,

I wanna know what kind of air compressors are usually used to build air pressure in the cement tank. Moreover what pressure is required to dispense the cement.

 

[marcusk]

I watched a very good video on loading unloading pneumatics on youtube .

 

[Gaia Purves]

If anyone needs help on the vacuum trailer in the pictures let me know. I worked for Chemical Leaman Tank Lines for a lot of years before they closed the doors. We used those trailers to load plastic pellets out of rail cars. They look a lot more complicated than what they are.

I'm new to this site, but it looks like I might get some valuable info. here. I just purchased a vacuum/pressure tanker, for hauling liquids, and I am trying to get in in shape for use. It has a new challenger blower on it, but the vacuum relief valve, as well as the pressure relief valve both leak, and are in need of replacement. I have looked all over this trailer, and I find no data regarding vac or pressure limits on it. There is a data plate that reflects spring capacity, axle capacity, tire size and inflation, etc, but no data regarding the tank itself. The two valves that need replacing, also have no data. The tank was made in 09 by CT Fabrications, in Kansas. They have since gone out of business. I have searched the net for the last two days, and I find no data on this trailer. Can anyone on here help me? Has anyone here ever had any experience with a unit like this? The model of the trailer is 130VR, and the vin is 4C9AA2239A158050.
Thanks in advance! Doc

 

[Tazz]

No specifics on that model but those crude tankers operate low pressure. I would get with an existing manufacturer and they should get you some ideas for replacement parts.

 

[Garysscamaro]

Having to unload Alumina Powder. Running Vac Tank without Airiators.. Best way to get product off?

 

[Greg gardner]

Anyone know how to solder pennys in melt plugs on your blower

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

Anyone know how to solder pennys in melt plugs on your blower

Nope, I can’t help you with that

 

[Fageol]

Thanks for this information. If I was to go back out OTR, I think pulling a tank is what I would want to do.

If I was planning on buying a truck again, this would clearly be the area I would go into. I have a friend that drives for Quality Carriers, and know the revenue they make on their hauls. Not to mention, I love how they do their runs. They make a trip out somewhere to deliver, then they deadhead back to the home terminal 99% of the time. He will take a trip from hear in Arkansas, out to Los Angeles sometimes even, and come back empty. No waiting around for a backhaul, and the loads pay well enough that they can easily afford to do this.

Back in the late 1960s when I ran tanks cross country for CF, Quality (I assume the same company) seemed to be a good lash-up. I seem to recall that we had our tank washed out there and they were good people -- with all the environmental stuff these days, that's likely all changed. In those days CF's competitors, Ruan, Drum, Younger Brothers, and Matlack seemed to be always on the road in the Midwest and East but not much on the Pacific Coast, except when Matlack bought out CFs tanks. I thought that the Drum trucks were the prettiest plus it specialized in hauling booze which I thought was cool although I hauled tequila and Kahlua for Ringsby years before working for CF. The Younger Brothers logo (with the "Y" shaped like a spur) was the coolest logo.

I don't recall a hazmat endorsement in the 1960s. But if they existed, I guess I had one to haul out of the St. Albans, Nitro, S. Charleston area.

Hauling hazmat, other than gas diesel, propane, and anhydrous, tends to get you into some interesting places. And in those places one can gain an insight into industrial processes and commerce. I recall running hazmat in tanks as more interesting and less messy than heavy haul where speed and route restrictions were a pain and since 2013 when I quit full-time truckin', they likely continue to be a pain. But I'm guessing that bureaucrats have affected the hazmat tanker game also.

 

[Bruce man]

Slide hammers on stuck stinger, max loading plastic granules 48k to 60k, your feed on slide hammer and hook, instead of just hand hammering. Proper way is to shut down PTO befor buried in