Are There Any OTR Tanker (food Grade Only) Companies / Positions That Do NOT Have A Team-driving Phase For A New CDL Holder?

Almost all training will involve some amount of team driving. It's not that big of a deal. Almost no one does it quite like Prime though for such an extended period of time.

We also don't recommend going straight into a food grade tanker job right after getting your CDL. Those tanks do not have baffles in them and they're extremely dangerous. Personally I don't feel anyone who is new to driving should attempt a liquid tanker job right off the bat.

See what I mean about overestimating your abilities? You got mad at me for saying that and yet you want to dive straight into one of the most dangerous jobs on the road straight out of school. So you shouldn't regret asking us that question. In fact, you should continue to ask questions and keep doing your research about surviving your first year on the road:

Surviving Your First Year On The Road

I pulled a chemical tanker for a year and a half. I totally agree with Brett a driver should have some driving experience under their belt first. A tanker is the most dangerous and unforgiving vehicle on the road. I pulled my share of haz mat, some pretty nasty stuff. But most loads were not haz mat. I worked for QC, they are one of the biggest strictly tanker outfits in the country. They req’d 2 years driving experience then a 1 week tank class, followed by 2 weeks OJT with a trainer. They did not team drive. It was still dispatched as a solo truck. I loved the job and if I was too go back OTR I would go back to tanks in a minute. It’s a thinking drivers type of load. Not difficult, but you gotta stay on your game.

See what I mean about overestimating your abilities? You got mad at me for saying that .........

I'm not sure what I typed that gave you the impression that I got mad? I asked a question, apparently poorly worded, and your post proceeded to make some incorrect assumptions about my expectations:

So you want someone to just hand you the keys to a food grade tanker and send you out there to figure it out on your own?

Apparently I rubbed you the wrong way somewhere, or you're having a bad day, or somewhere along the line something is being lost between my keyboard and your reading comprehension. I'm not mad, I'm not expecting a company to "just hand you the keys to a food grade tanker and send you out there", I'm just trying to determine if there is a company that might be a good fit for me and if my expectations are appropriate.

You may not recommend new CDL drivers to pursue tanker driving positions but companies like Schneider allows new drivers to apply / get hired into their OTR tanker fleet without having the team-driving training component, but it has a hazmat component that I'm not sure I'd be entirely comfortable with, so I was hoping to find out if there was a similar company without the hazmat component. I'd prefer a company that trains like Susan D's company does where I wouldn't have to handle hazmat issues. Is that wording my question better?

I think you are missing the point...read PJ's reply, all of it. Read all of Brett's most recent reply. Basically saying the same thing. I agree.

You are getting solid and truthful advice providing an answer to the question you neglected to ask, Focus on what really matters here.

I think you are missing the point...read PJ's reply, all of it. Read all of Brett's most recent reply. Basically saying the same thing. I agree.

You are getting solid and truthful advice providing an answer to the question you neglected to ask, Focus on what really matters here.

Oh, I very much do understand. You, Brett, PJ, and many others here think a CDL driver with less than 1 year of experience should NOT be driving tankers. Prime, Schneider, or any other company who hires drivers with less than 1 year experience (for tankers) is wrong to do so. You have all made that crystal clear. Thank you for answering the question I didn’t ask.

But as to the question I DID ask, either none of you know of any such company that meets the criteria I inquired about or you do not want to disclose them because you don’t agree with them. That’s fine. I feel like this is causing some consternation and that really is not my intent. I can search for an answer to my question elsewhere.

Consternation? Only for you.

I was shooting straight with you. Just remember something Prime and Schneider will lease you a truck with zero experience too.

Would you prefer we blow smoke up your a**?

Tanker companies usually require driving experience before they will consider an applicant. That is there requirements not anyone here. And that is because they understand the possible problems hiring brand new drivers. I don’t know about Prime but Schneider use to require at least 1 yr experience. A couple yrs ago they had alot of trouble in their tank division. I have known many of their drivers. We all used the same tank washes and would talk. Tanker drivers are kinda like a click in some ways. Oakley and Indian River are two of the biggest food grade companies. Checkout their websites and see what the min requirements are

Foodliner site

Foodliner is who came to mind and they ask for 2 years experience

I can search for an answer to my question elsewhere.

What you're really saying is that you'll go elsewhere if we won't tell you what you want to hear. I don't care if there's anyone that will train food grade tanker drivers straight out of school because no one coming out of school has any business driving a food grade tanker.

I do indeed think you should look for an answer elsewhere because we're here to teach and you're obviously not here to learn. I've had a saying for a long time - I'll tell you what I know, you do with it what you like. I've told you a new driver has no business driving a food grade tanker and so have several others. If you want to pursue that path in spite of our advice then you can do that but we're not going to help you go down a path we believe is unsafe or imprudent.

Apparently I rubbed you the wrong way somewhere, or you're having a bad day, or somewhere along the line something is being lost between my keyboard and your reading comprehension

The problem isn't with my reading comprehension. The problem is with your reading comprehension. I've told you what rubs me the wrong way - when someone thinks they know more than they do or that they have more talent than they actually do. That arrogance gets people killed in this industry. Seeing people put themselves and others in danger definitely rubs me the wrong way.

The question was, "Which food grade tanker company trains new drivers using solo dispatch?"

The answer is, "You have no business driving a food grade tanker as a new driver."

That seems really clear to me. And no, I'm not having a bad day at all. I never have bad days. I simply don't sugarcoat my advice. I give it to you straight. If I think you're making a mistake I'm going to tell you so. If I think you're being arrogant I'm going to tell you so. I firmly believe that a person needs good information in order to make good decisions so I'm giving you good information. If you think I don't like you or I'm a bad guy because I won't tell you what you want to hear then you're misunderstanding my intentions. I'm not here to please you, I'm here to help you. I'm trying to be a nice guy about it but the message doesn't seem to be getting across.

Another is Dean's and they also want 2 yrs