Ride along for a day in the truck as a propane delivery driver. We are in PA on this hot June day in 2020 working to deliver propane to keep customer's generators running after a huge storm knocked out power 4 days earlier.
I just recently got my class B cdl, and hazmat endorsement. I'm having a difficult time finding someone to hire a rookie, but I keep trying! I'm 62 years old, I think my age is hurting me, but damn it Bobby, I can drive this rig! Propane and propane accessories! Great video, nice Peterbilt, too. Wish me luck!
great video! thanks for taking the time to make this and show your day! I'm getting ready to start delivering propane next week as a part time job and i thought this was very helpful. Nice job!
I really like the design on your meter box, how the delivery nozzle is holstered inside the box. Sure would be nice for keeping the valve/nozzle dry and thawed out after a freezing rain or heavy snow! I am a delivery driver for Southern States Cooperative in east KY. My truck is a ‘16 Peterbilt 337 with a 3200 gal tank. Been delivering for 6 years. I enjoyed watching your video, stay safe out there bud!🤘
Thanks! I’ve never used another type of meter box personally - but I’ve seen many trucks where the nozzle is not enclosed. This does make a lot more sense to me this way!
@@justinalex1952 on tanks/cylinders the fill valve can get stuck open or are unable to seat. The back check is there to leave behind in case this happens. I've had this happen without a back check on and it's no fun. Full tank pressure vapor coming out of the fill valve.
Just found this video and would like to say, well done. I am a Propane truck driver out here in AZ and I swear, the placement of some of these tanks makes me think the service techs are doing this on purpose to us Bobtail bulk drivers! The driveways you showed in this video are ridiculous! I drive a Hino 338 with a 3000gal tank, and as nimble as that thing is, I'd still be scared to back it down that tight driveway! One wrong move and you've got an AVI. Anyhow, thank you sir for this fun video.
As a school bus driver for the past 20 years, and now venturing on to propane delivery... agreed! But those mirrors! I wish in driving school, everyone was taught about mirrors! I am enjoying this vid and excited for my new venture...driving the vehicle is the easy part :)
Thanks for making this. If I get my class B I got the job thanks to a family member. Looks like a great career in my opinion. Stay safe and God bless 🇺🇸
This was a really good video! Thanks for taking us for a ride along! I just graduated cdl school in April and haven't had any luck finding work. I have automatic restrictions. I'm in the process of getting my hazmat and tanker endorsements. I'm a 50 year old big guy too. I hope that isn't why I'm not getting any bites. Everybody is telling me I need experience and manual. But where in PA are you located? I'm outside of Philly.
Thank you so much for this upload, I'm considering applying to a company in my county. This information is nice to have, since I don't know anyone in this industry.👊🏽
@23:51min Sir, I have perused your video because I'm about to be a new hire/trainee for a Propane company deliver driving 🚗, that deer sighting was what made the 🌎 whole video 📹 worthwhile to me!
I just found your channel and enjoyed how you went through the process step by step. I was curious if the hose is very heavy and hard to pull back to the customer tank. Thanks for the content I look forward to possibly getting my CDL soon.
Sorry for the delay here. I usually wear either Under Armor or 5.11 tactical boots most of the time - unless the weather is bad, then I wear a more traditional work boot.
How your job is going. I got into the fueling business, but it's slow. I expected 12 hour days more like 10 or fewer hours, thinking of going to propane what u recommended
Good video sir.. The thing I hate about my bobtail is the hose reel motor freezing up in the winter! Sometimes it takes me 20 to 30 minutes to get in to move.. Any suggestions? Do you encounter this as well?
Thanks for the comment! Honestly that is not some thing I believe I’ve experienced. I’ve had the meter door freeze shut in significant freezing rain. But I don’t think the reel has ever been an issue. Stay safe!
@@davemoulton2971 well, I've been driving bobtail now for close to 3 years. And I've seen every electrical hose reel motor replaced on all our trucks at least twice.. every single one freezes from moisture getting into the motor and causes them to fail.
30 mins to fill the bobtail? Yikes. And next bobtail build spec a remote control for the PTO & throttle, will save lots of unneeded wear & tear. Good video!
Thanks for the video very helpful I just recently started driving for a company and during training I see that we back up into every driveway that we deliver to sometimes it's a long steep hills with curves or long steep hills going down with curves not too comfortable with doing that just wondering if you have to back down or back up any steep driveways yourself ? And if so what would be some good steps when backing down a steep driveway
Yes. It is usually much safer to back in then to back out into traffic blind. I find the trucks are pretty capable to do what you need to do. The only issue I have ever had with a steep driveway was on a pretty icy day. Even with the differential locked I could not get enough traction for some reason going forward (I guess with all the weight at the back of the truck) - so I had to turn around and back out. It seemed to work better pulling the truck up the driveway in reverse, than trying to push it up forward.
so I just got my class A cdl with hazmat and tankers. would you think this would be a good start for my trucking career? I know it's a class B position but there are plenty of propane companies in my area for local work instead of otr.
I’ve had a class A for 20 years...and have never driven a ‘class A’ truck for work actually. I think (personally) that you should get into a part of the industry that you will actually enjoy. That is the way I did it.
I've been driving OTR dry van for 4 years. Kind of want to do something else local. I'm assuming you need your hazmat endorsement to do this (which I don't have). Do you also need tanker endorsement?
Yes - that is correct. You do need a tank, and hazmat endorsement. In my opinion, both are easy to get - written test only...no road test. I got all of my endorsements just by reading the manual, then going to test!
Is there a reason why your truck is pink like is it for breast cancer awareness? I used to work for Ferrellgas honestly I kinda miss it thinking about getting back into the propane industry
I deliver in Maine, most of the underground here are owned by the company. If customer switches providers the new company will buy the tank from previous company.
I only worked part-time / on call. I believe the full time guys are probably in the $70,000-80,000/year pretty easily with overtime. Maybe even higher if it is a real busy winter. The pull 70+ hours a week during the busiest months I think.
I am sure there is some risk - but the risk is certainly almost 100% dictated by your personal safety, attitude and attention. Be aware of what you are hauling...and do it the right way!
Yeah I'm a bobtail driver. Biggest piece of advice I can give you is always drive safe and always be aware of your surroundings. There are many safety relief valves and things that make the risk of explosion very low
No requirement to have your remote, on you? I see you left it in the truck. We are required to have it on us, in case we have to hit the emergency stop button on it. Seems like a chill route though.
Oh wow - if I did not have it on me it was an oversight for sure. I was always pretty OCD about having it on my belt as soon as I first got into the truck….
Usually 12-20 depending ... A lot of our stops have a pretty good travel distance between them. If we are in a trailer park, or something close it can be 30 or more stops in just that one small area.
Nice video. Out of curiosity, is there a requirement for a remote emergency shutdown? How to stop the system when being away from the truck in case of something bad happens?
Yes there is. You are required to carry a remote emergency switch on you. I often carried it in my pocket instead of clipping it to my belt…always a fear of ;what if I trip and it falls off my belt and I can’t reach it!”
Hi. Depended on the day and how much travel there was between stops. Also depended on the size of the tanks at each stop. 10-20 per day. 5000-10000 gallons in a day sometimes depending on all those factors. On days that were strictly commercial stops there were a lot fewer stops, but a lot more product delivered.
I actually found it relaxing to be honest. Of course, it is more difficult on really bad weather days. But I certainly enjoy being on my own, enjoying some music and the nice weather and scenery!
I actually used this body cam for the entire thing - it was a spur of the moment idea to record it, and I had it in the car... www.amazon.com/CammPro-Portable-Waterproof-Body-Worn-Enforcement/dp/B07MVMYRZK
@@lems18902 Thank you sir, looks like a nice unit. Gonna order me one. You video has helped me make the decision to switch from Petroleum tanker to Propane. Thanks again for the valuable resource (videos).
It depends a lot on where you work, and your experience I think. In this area, it seems $20/25/hour is a reasonable staring rate. But there is a LOT of overtime in the busier seasons so it adds up.
I haven't done this in several years now. This was my side job at the time - and paid around $25/hour. Since I was part time I was basically able to make my own scheduled....worked as much or as little as I wanted. The majority of my stops were commercial as well, so I was able to do late nights after the kids went to bed - pretty much could go in 24 hours a day when it was convenient. It was the best!
I LOVE it. I actually only drive for these guys as a fill in - as needed. It is not my primary job. I actually only do it because I really enjoy it - I find it relaxing, and just simply love trucks. The company I work for is busy all year with a lot of fleet and commercial accounts. So the winter is most residential (and certainly busier) but the summer is still full time for work for everyone there with landscapers, bus fleets, contractors, etc.
@@lems18902 hey thanks for the response. I’m glad to hear it! I start Monday and they told me it was full time year round so I’m excited. I had to quit driving a concrete mixer truck because It was extremely seasonal. I need full time work
@@ericb1876 I’m in New York, make $23 an hour, hours in winter are 50-65 a week. Hours in summer spring fall 40. Work for a medium size family owned company 130 employees. Usually Monday-Friday 7am-3:30pm, winter Monday-Saturday 7am-6pm or later
Letting the pump just roll on in bypass isn't too hard on it? We usually just hit the pump once we're ready to start the fill. Not trying to nitpick your ways, just seems a little strange compared to how I was taught. Pump on, brother
@@lems18902 hey man after I left a comment on the video, I got me a job working for superior propane.. I deliver to all the farms around my way best job I’ve ever had. Only issue is I came in as a seasonal driver or flex should I say
There is a “maximum liquid level indicator” - a lot of people call it a bleeder. Propane is a liquid, so when the tank is not full and you open that valve it is just gas escaping. When the level of the liquid reaches that valve, then a stream of liquid propane comes out, so you know it’s “full” - it is typically around the 80% mark or so. Gauges can fail, a maximum liquid level indicator really can’t...
It was breast cancer awareness. They have one propane and one oil truck that are Komen for the Cure trucks. I believe they donate a certain number of cents for every gallon that is delivered by those truck to Komen - which adds up FAST!
The company I work for has a few pink trucks for breast cancer awareness. They donate $0.01 per gallon delivered out of those trucks to breast cancer awareness. And that adds up FAST! This is by far my favorite truck of the fleet as my own wife is a breast cancer survivor. I drive it every chance I get. (The rest of the trucks are yellow).
