Ive seen a job advertised on the Jobcentre website looking for vacuum tankers, quite tempted to phone up and apply for it… 
How easy is it to operate a vacuum tanker, and presumably because its mainly human waste I wouldnt need an ADR?
So basically it sounds a zb job… 
it’s a regular job , bit crap 
but people will always need to go so fairly recession proof
my dad drives a vacuum tanker on the whiffy stuff and i used to go with him regular and i found it pretty easy to operate after watching it being done a few times, i think it also depends on how crap the tanker you have is ( no pun intended ), but all in all its pretty simple.
on my dads all you do is get out connect the pipe, start the vacuum tanker (push a button on his) and open the inlet and watch the [zb] rise on a sight glass until its full then you shut the inlet turn off the vacuum (another button) and disconnect pipe.
whale.co.uk/Home.aspx This company makes vacuum tanks may help you
spholding.co.uk the co. my dad works for may show you sort of stuff you could be doing
Simples HTH
sam
( no stars allowed ) jd
DAF95XF:
Ive seen a job advertised on the Jobcentre website looking for vacuum tankers, quite tempted to phone up and apply for it…
How easy is it to operate a vacuum tanker, and presumably because its mainly human waste I wouldnt need an ADR?
So basically it sounds a zb job…
Hi Stu, Those tankers a fairly expensive pieces of kit, so the employer would want to know that you’re correctly trained to operate it safely. I’d imagine there’d be a period of training for you with a senior driver before you’re passed fit to fly. This is quite common in the tanker game regardless of what you’ll carry, so I’d go for the job if you’ve got the chance. 
ADR not required.
If you fancy moving onto petrol/chemical tanks at a later date, this could well be your way into tankers for some genuine experience. After a while, you could do your ADR privately and apply elsewhere for a better paying (and not so smelly) tanker job… maybe.
I was doing plenty of that for agency. Off course I was not trained, so I was only driving, then they were telling me “it will take 2 hours” or so, so I was taking my book with me and was sitting in nearby cafe or just in the cab
As far as I noticed, in this company there were always two guys: one was only to drive and one was only to operate the toy, altough sometimes driver was asked to assist like “give me this pipe, please” or this type of help.
Generally speaking - easy job, and we weren’t doing stinky jobs (or I am just so happy) but in most cases things like blocked drains etc.
The vans are quite fun to drive (it was something like that:
) and altough engine was very poor, it has good turning cycle and when it was half loaded, the liquid in the tank was rocking all the lorry after braking or accelerating.
Also, it’s registered as a plant, so no tacho hassle.
And dont leave your gloves in the cab poooooooooooo.
dieseldave:
Hi Stu, Those tankers a fairly expensive pieces of kit, so the employer would want to know that you’re correctly trained to operate it safely. I’d imagine there’d be a period of training for you with a senior driver before you’re passed fit to fly. This is quite common in the tanker game regardless of what you’ll carry, so I’d go for the job if you’ve got the chance.ADR not required.
If you fancy moving onto petrol/chemical tanks at a later date, this could well be your way into tankers for some genuine experience. After a while, you could do your ADR privately and apply elsewhere for a better paying (and not so smelly) tanker job… maybe.
I might try and call them tomorrow, though no doubt the job’ll be gone… 
The job advert states must be able to drive 18t trucks (my licence says I can ), I dont care what I drive or what it carries as long as Im out there driving a truck which has been my lifelong ambition, just using the buses as a stepping stone…
I never thought of the tanker driving experience… 
DAF95XF:
dieseldave:
If you fancy moving onto petrol/chemical tanks at a later date, this could well be your way into tankers for some genuine experience. After a while, you could do your ADR privately and apply elsewhere for a better paying (and not so smelly) tanker job… maybe.I might try and call them tomorrow, though no doubt the job’ll be gone…
The job advert states must be able to drive 18t trucks (my licence says I can
I never thought of the tanker driving experience…
There’s usually more than one way to skin a cat, so I’d suggest you treat this as just another steping-stone.
Having said that, a vac tank is a skill in its own right.
dieseldave:
There’s usually more than one way to skin a cat, so I’d suggest you treat this as just another steping-stone.Having said that, a vac tank is a skill in its own right.
Well I left a message on their answerphone last night and to my astonishment they called me back with details of where to send my CV to (Im not good at talking to answerphones) 
By sheer coincidence my dad has just emailed me back my CV after tweaking it for me…
DAF95XF:
dieseldave:
There’s usually more than one way to skin a cat, so I’d suggest you treat this as just another steping-stone.Having said that, a vac tank is a skill in its own right.
Well I left a message on their answerphone last night and to my astonishment they called me back with details of where to send my CV to (Im not good at talking to answerphones)
By sheer coincidence my dad has just emailed me back my CV after tweaking it for me…
That is one thing parents are very good for My mum made my shoddy cv into a work of art.
Good luck with the application hope you get something from it
garnerlives:
That is one thing parents are very good forGood luck with the application hope you get something from it
I emailed my dad the one I made up, and he looked at it and said it was crap, so made “slight” improvements to it
Im not going to hold my breath (pun not intended 
) as I would imagine that there are far more experienced drivers than me going for it though…
You’ve got to think POSITIVE mate, that the way you’ve gotta be about things, I’ve learn that from my newark friends. If you think good things will come to you, they will, even if it takes a while.
I did the effluent job for 18 months on behalf of Anglian water. Its not a bad job. Operating a Vac tank ain’t that difficult but many learn the hard way. You’ll soon larn how not to get the brown stuff on you. If you have a weak stomach, forget it. On the plus side, yr immune system will build up to the point that you think yr un touchable. Don’t forget to have yr jabs.
You will learn when to wear your gloves and when to take them off, sadly many tanker drivers do not know this.
Forget the comparison between fuel and food tankers, if you get a vacuum in them the boss will ask you to empty your cab and fairly quickly
MR VAIN:
I did the effluent job for 18 months on behalf of Anglian water. Its not a bad job. Operating a Vac tank ain’t that difficult but many learn the hard way. You’ll soon larn how not to get the brown stuff on you. If you have a weak stomach, forget it. On the plus side, yr immune system will build up to the point that you think yr un touchable. Don’t forget to have yr jabs.
Sounds a good job though, the few vacuum tankers Ive seen actually working (as opposed to just passing in the other direction) have got in some tight spots…!!!
Jabs - strange as this may seem, Ive got 3 tattoos (and thinking of getting another one) I actually dont like needles…
Wheel Nut:
You will learn when to wear your gloves and when to take them off, sadly many tanker drivers do not know this.Forget the comparison between fuel and food tankers, if you get a vacuum in them the boss will ask you to empty your cab and fairly quickly
Can just imagine that, “boss Ive just blown the milk tanker up”
DAF95XF:
Wheel Nut:
You will learn when to wear your gloves and when to take them off, sadly many tanker drivers do not know this.Forget the comparison between fuel and food tankers, if you get a vacuum in them the boss will ask you to empty your cab and fairly quickly
Can just imagine that, “boss Ive just blown the milk tanker up”
Ahh, now then Stu, I think Mr Wheel Nut means an implosion, rather than an explosion.
An implosion looks a bit like this, the tank usually being unrepairable:
If you do that to a food/chemical tanker, I reckon you’ll be invited into the boss’ office to be slippered, then given your P45.
Implosion, explosion similar kinda things…
I emailed them my cv last night, so fingers, legs and eyes crossed something good comes out of this…
Implosion, explosion similar kinda things…
I emailed them my cv last night, so fingers, legs and eyes crossed something good comes out of this…