Valero bought out chevron which was parent company of Texaco. Wincanton have the contract for them. All Certas class one drivers that are taken on now seem to be agency.
What about shell? Does anyone know much about them?
Do tanker drivers do many nights out? Surely it’s about 2 loads a day then home if you don’t live miles away?
Bulldog164:
What about shell? Does anyone know much about them?
Do tanker drivers do many nights out?
Shell is run by Hoyer, very/too strict from what I’ve heard, not sure how long it’ll last because I heard if someone leaves on that contract they aren’t being replaced, instead they are ‘recruiting’ (allegedly) onto ‘white fleet’ (hence the ads in the services you see). Only company I’ve heard of that does nights out for fuel tankers is turners/BWOC.
Our (LPG) artic barrel/primary drivers regularly night out, flitting between refineries & depots all week. No need to check the vessel gauge to see if there’s been a re-plen overnight, an empty office fridge says it all. 
nickb67:
Our (LPG) artic barrel/primary drivers regularly night out, flitting between refineries & depots all week. No need to check the vessel gauge to see if there’s been a re-plen overnight, an empty office fridge says it all.
I see some FloGas lads parked up most nights.
Shell are also hauled by sucklings which I believe are based in avonmouth
Bulldog164:
What about shell? Does anyone know much about them?
Do tanker drivers do many nights out? Surely it’s about 2 loads a day then home if you don’t live miles away?
When I was on the fuel tankers our artic drivers done about on average 5-10 drops a day inc reloads
I have worked with Mitchell & Webber (Scorrier, near Redruth on Class 1)…ok, but a bit dull. Now with William C Hockin…nights out (only £10.25 p/h flat rate)…ok but long week all over southern England. The days of the fuel tanker boys earning 40,000 + are LONG gone.
My one huge word of advice is…don’t be tempted by Certas (Plymouth…working out of Vallero Terminal) …quite good pay. Absolutely awful management (no driving experience, routing is done up country, chased all day every day) and drivers are the most unhappy band of brothers!! Go through drivers very fast and those that can move on, do so at the first opportunity!! Possibly different at other depots…but at Plymouth…Be prepared for backbiting and snidey managers!!!
CERTAS… Horrible company to drive for (from the Plymouth, Vallero depot anyway)…Management have NO 'people skills, No ‘driving experience’ and routing is done by computer at head office (so no local knowledge). Those that have been there longest get the easiest jobs (bigger trucks) whilst ‘beginners’ always seem to be in the small trucks doing the most tricky drops (not allowed Sat Nav or Mirror Guards). Big 'investigations (written) if you break a mirror, tracked (too fast there…too slow there), virtually impossible workload to do safely and professionally (their by words are…'Faster…but Safer). They phone you with extra drops (sometimes because the office has forgotten them). ALWAYS the drivers fault. Very fast turnover of drivers …Says something■■?
I’d be interested to know what type of salary (and for how many hours) one could expect in class 1 fuel tanker work.
ezydriver:
I’d be interested to know what type of salary (and for how many hours) one could expect in class 1 fuel tanker work.
Ive heard of £40k+ basic at DHL up to 12hrs a day 4/4 shift pattern:lol:
It’s all big money, that’s why it’s so hard to get into:lol:
Typically you can earn approx £10.50 p/h …so including any possible nights out, working a 60 hours week etc, you can earn a little over £30,000. Remember you now need your ADR, CPC and PDP (Petroleum Drivers Passport) to be allowed to load at terminals. It’s ok work but very strict H&S (obviously) and possible to make huge mistakes (wrong product in wrong hole etc)…so, an element of danger and stress!!
That money is the absolute bottom end. Hoyer start at 17ph on petrolog. Noberts and DHL pay very good aswell. A lot of guys working for the big guys dont night out and wont work for less than 15 ph.
Start at £17 ph? What does it go up to then?
Bulldog164:
Start at £17 ph? What does it go up to then?
Hoyer Shell contract 17.93
Bloody hell thats better. I spoke to a driver of another company, £10.25 ph.
Those big guys jobs are dead mans shoes so I’ve heard. No chance for me
Might be a silly question but do you need to live close to a terminal? Most drivers I speak to live in or near Southampton or Plymouth ect
There are terminals everywhere. I ca guarantee there is one reasonable distance from you.
Up until about 6 months ago I found attaining a PDP difficult, if not impossible. I made several inquiries with several training companies, and was either ignored, or told the course wasn’t available. I’m not sure how easy it has become in the last 6 months because I’ve found a decent job and gave up my search, but it was an eye opener. The ADR was not too much of a problem, but the PDP? I simply couldn’t get it as an individual, self-funding outsider. I’m not convinced that too many firms would take on a driver who couldn’t enter terminals.
In all fairness it should be the employers responsibility. To get your pdp. You need to be inducted in said refinery. Then someone needs to watch you load AND unload a delivery. As well as a bunch of questions. You can’t do it unless your already inducted at refinery and have a tanker and an amount to load and a place to deliver it.