Looking to start your career in an elite driving position or upgrade to more specialized work?
Become a tanker truck driver today, enjoying bigger money, hands-on work and advanced training that’ll put you a step above the rest.
Use this step-by-step guide to help you prepare for life as a tanker driver.
3 steps on how to become a tanker driver
1. Review and meet the requirements to become a truck driver.
Before you can focus your attention on tanker driving jobs specifically, you need to make sure you know how to become a truck driver generally and meet the basic requirements, which include:
- Obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- Attend truck driving school, typically.
- Be at least 21 years old for interstate driving.
- Pass a drug and alcohol test, and undergo a physical.
2. Review and meet the specific tanker driving requirements.
Tanker driving involves several specific requirements due to the nature of the day-to-day tasks. While it may vary by specific type of driving job (e.g. hauling chemicals vs. hauling water), these are some things you may want to do:
- Get a Tanker endorsement, which can be done at the DMV at the same time as your CDL with a separate written test and small fee, or added later. This is often a requirement before hiring on.
- Consider getting a HazMat endorsement. While two-thirds of Schneider loads are non-hazardous, for example, we frequently require drivers to start pursuing this endorsement after joining Schneider’s Tanker division — which we can help you pay for.
- Prepare for longer training due to the specialized nature of the work. For example, Schneider’s Tanker orientation is just under 3 weeks for experienced drivers and 5 weeks for inexperienced drivers.
3. Find a tanker driving job.
Tanker driving jobs generally pay more due to the unique nature of the work. There are a huge variety to choose from, including at least the following at Schneider, which recently celebrated 50 years of Tanker jobs:
- Regional – drive closer to home.
- Over-the-Road – hauling liquids long haul.
- Dedicated – one specific customer, each with specific benefits.
- Intermodal – tanks that go on the road and the rail (a Schneider innovation).
The best way to understand if a tanker driving job is right for you is to review specific job postings and descriptions.
Questions on how to become a tanker driver?
Schneider recruiters recently hosted a live Q&A about tanker driving. In addition to covering many of the above items in more detail, they also discussed:
- Non-HazMat jobs.
- Pay package details.
- Facial hair considerations with respirators.
- Physical components of the job, including climbing on the catwalk.
- Tanker orientation safety protocols.
Watch the replay:
