I have enjoyed reading through this thread as a retired driver whose only experience of tankers was 18months on a farm milk tanker a bog standard Leyland Clydesdale 9300 litres and no baffles and it was drummed into you when you started before emptying always open the lids or you will have something resembling a burst football.
Anyway always admired the look of some of the powder tanks and the different types but to have the operating of them explained in detail has been fascinating and I am sure the OP has now got a few less worries about starting on them. Eddie.
Wheel Nut:
Here is another powder tanker. Mac Bulliment was also quite a specialist in building and operating those 30’ bulker trailers and I am not sure whether this DAF was on the fleet when I worked for him. But I do remember the lorry.
I remember Mac Bulliment and he’s trucks I worked for Verbrugge and we had a couple of his trucks on contract
I really fancy moving into bulk powder tanker work. I sent my CV and a nice email off to a certain cement bulk powder company. I received a nice email back saying they have nothing at the moment but they will keep me on file for the next six months and will contact me if a vacancy arises.
Sounds promising 
Abbey Logistics screaming for powder men at the moment.Worth a call.
Centauri:
I really fancy moving into bulk powder tanker work. I sent my CV and a nice email off to a certain cement bulk powder company. I received a nice email back saying they have nothing at the moment but they will keep me on file for the next six months and will contact me if a vacancy arises.
Sounds promising
Don’t wish to cause any disappointment but if cement co. is Cemex I found that they took all new drivers on through agency first, at least that was how it worked at Snodland depot.
Mr Physick:
Abbey Logistics screaming for powder men at the moment.Worth a call.
[/quote ]
thanks for the suggestion though sadly Abbey logistics don’t operate in the north east of England where I live.
wing-nut:
Centauri:
I really fancy moving into bulk powder tanker work. I sent my CV and a nice email off to a certain cement bulk powder company. I received a nice email back saying they have nothing at the moment but they will keep me on file for the next six months and will contact me if a vacancy arises.
Sounds promisingDon’t wish to cause any disappointment but if cement co. is Cemex I found that they took all new drivers on through agency first, at least that was how it worked at Snodland depot.
No not that one, the company I’m referring to is Hanson.
Used to see a lot of there men every week, good money,easy work, as long as you can put up with the ott h+s bull they do. More cameras on the trucks than the bbc have got, do this,do that, and if you get somewhere and a tip tank is blowing,enjoy the wait.
It’s the same with Bertschi. You have to stay at controls wearing hard hat goggles, overalls and boots. I love tanker driving wouldn’t change it.
dowahdiddyman:
Used to see a lot of there men every week, good money,easy work, as long as you can put up with the ott h+s bull they do. More cameras on the trucks than the bbc have got, do this,do that, and if you get somewhere and a tip tank is blowing,enjoy the wait.
Hmm it does seem that no job is perfect long waiting times is something all us truck drivers get to enjoy 
Centauri:
Mr Physick:
Abbey Logistics screaming for powder men at the moment.Worth a call.
[/quote ]
thanks for the suggestion though sadly Abbey logistics don’t operate in the north east of England where I live.
Sadly for me, they DO operate out of the High Peak. Thus me ending a nineteen year association, on the 20th of Feb, with the quarry they are contracted to. 
I understand some will love them & there ways but I can hand on heart state, I’ve never dealt with (not through my choice) a more despicable company. Oh well, onwards & upwards. Looking forward to the new chapter, just around the corner 
Anyway back the question. As people have already said take your time & remember, panic & haste can lead to serious physical injury, ie loss of sight. My one piece of advice after 27 years of powder work, would be. Learn & understand the science of what discharging a tank involves. I’ve seen many drivers in my time, that can blow a tank but don’t understand the forces at work, when they block & are undoing clips, with two bar of pressure in the tank/pipes. They know open this valve, tweak this handle, shut that valve but not the physics involved. I’ve have, on more than one occasion, stopped drivers removing clips, discharging at the side of me, when they’ve blocked, not only for their own well being but mainly my own. There’s nothing to fear…when you know what to fear.
turpo:
Centauri:
Mr Physick:
Abbey Logistics screaming for powder men at the moment.Worth a call.
[/quote ]
thanks for the suggestion though sadly Abbey logistics don’t operate in the north east of England where I live.Sadly for me, they DO operate out of the High Peak. Thus me ending a nineteen year association, on the 20th of Feb, with the quarry they are contracted to.
Anyway back the question. As people have already said take your time & remember, panic & haste can lead to serious physical injury, ie loss of sight. My one piece of advice after 27 years of powder work, would be. Learn & understand the science of what discharging a tank involves. I’ve seen many drivers in my time, that can blow a tank but don’t understand the forces at work, when they block & are undoing clips, with two bar of pressure in the tank/pipes. They know open this valve, tweak this handle, shut that valve but not the physics involved. I’ve have, on more than one occasion, stopped drivers removing clips, discharging at the side of me, when they’ve blocked, not only for their own well being but mainly my own. There’s nothing to fear…when you know what to fear.
L’hoist?
Used to be a Turners place and became Abbey a few years back.
waynedl:
turpo:
Centauri:
Mr Physick:
Abbey Logistics screaming for powder men at the moment.Worth a call.
[/quote ]
thanks for the suggestion though sadly Abbey logistics don’t operate in the north east of England where I live.Sadly for me, they DO operate out of the High Peak. Thus me ending a nineteen year association, on the 20th of Feb, with the quarry they are contracted to.
Anyway back the question. As people have already said take your time & remember, panic & haste can lead to serious physical injury, ie loss of sight. My one piece of advice after 27 years of powder work, would be. Learn & understand the science of what discharging a tank involves. I’ve seen many drivers in my time, that can blow a tank but don’t understand the forces at work, when they block & are undoing clips, with two bar of pressure in the tank/pipes. They know open this valve, tweak this handle, shut that valve but not the physics involved. I’ve have, on more than one occasion, stopped drivers removing clips, discharging at the side of me, when they’ve blocked, not only for their own well being but mainly my own. There’s nothing to fear…when you know what to fear.
L’hoist?
Used to be a Turners place and became Abbey a few years back.
Yeah Wayne, Lhoist. If you go back through my 19 years, it used to be a Peakstone/Lhoist place. Then as you say Turners & now this shower.
turpo:
Yeah Wayne, Lhoist. If you go back through my 19 years, it used to be a Peakstone/Lhoist place. Then as you say Turners & now this shower.
Good guess eh? I used to take containers there daily, I was on for Turners OOCL, not the best of places but the staff were decent.
No idea what it was like on tankers.
My mate has left containers to go working for Abbey Road Tanks out of Trafford Park and he says it’s great
you get plenty of blow jobs 
Easiest load you’ll ever have to carry, no strapping, moving, sloshing about, wind resistance, slipping in transit & you can get under most low bridges with a tanker. 95% of the places we go to load or tip, there’s hardly any waiting.
And none of that “ill see you after dinner drive”[emoji8]
pressure in product out
Pretty much as it says…what is powder tanker work all about…and yes, i gather it is the collection/delivery of powder in a tanker…but really looking for some experiences from those in the know!
Done it for the last 12 years, what you want to know?