Within the trucking industry there are many different types of truck drivers needed for all types of trucks. Right now the most needed truck drivers are those able and qualified to drive tank trucks. Tank trucks are vehicles used to transport liquid and gaseous cargo over roads and highways. Their storage tanks may be detachable from the truck itself or they may be permanent. Driving a tank truck require more training than diving a regular truck.

Back a few years ago more than 5000 tank trucks were parked because tank truck fleets could not find enough qualified drivers. It is estimated that a minimum of 50 000 tank truck drivers will be needed within the next 6 years just to keep up with current levels of driver attrition in the tank truck industry. The shortage of drivers may even become larger if new changes that are proposed are adopted as written.

One of the main reasons for the shortage of tank truck drivers is due to retirement. Many of the best drivers are aging out of the industry and there are several factors contributing to it being difficult to recruit new tank truck drivers. Some of the factors as with all trucking is the fact that a driver has to spend too much time away from home, truckers often feel that their delivery schedules are unrealistic. In times of low unemployment people feel that they have plenty of options with fewer headaches.

At one point tank truck drivers walked away from their jobs because they felt their wages was not adequately compensated for the amount of skills and knowledge it took to operate such a rig in a safe, professional manner. Drivers also felt that their working conditions were unacceptable, with unnecessary delays at pick up or delivery points. There was also no flexibility in trip scheduling and some felt they were being “worked to death”.

Although many of theses issues are being dealt with but there are still some requirements which prevent many from seeking tank truck driver jobs. Most tank truck companies has set a minimum age limit for drivers to 23-25 years old and in addition to this many fleets require 3 to 5 years of truck driving experience before hiring someone to drive a tank truck. By this time most truck drivers have found the place and company they want to stay with, their pay is good and they have some years of seniority within the company.

For people with some years of trucking experience that perhaps walked away from the trucking industry and now want to get back in, tank truck jobs are plentiful and although there is always room for improvement, the tank truck industry are doing what they can in order to improve working conditions for their truck drivers.