How Can You Become a New Tanker Driver & Fuel Tanker Licence Holder ?

Whether you are looking for ways to maximize your earning potential or just starting your driving career, the best way to achieve these goals is to qualify as a tanker driver by obtaining your ADR licence. We will tell you what an ADR licence is and how you can get one.

ADR Licence

ADR stands for Accord Dangerous Routier. People who qualify for this licence can drive tankers of all sizes. These tankers usually carry liquids such as milk, petrol or other hazardous materials. To obtain an Adr license you must be at least 18 years old and have 2 or more years of truck driving experience and hold a valid and current CPC card.

There are several ways to obtain an Adr license

The first is to train with qualified people and learn the ropes along the way. You must hold a standard Cat 2 Hgv license to opt for this process.

The second is getting training from scratch. You only need a Cat B license for this.

Dangerous Goods Driver’s Licence

As mentioned above, tankers usually contain risky and dangerous goods. Hazardous goods are substances and objects that are considered to pose an acute risk to people, property and the environment. You need a dangerous goods driver’s license if you want to transport goods such as containers with a volume of over 500 litres, or

if there is more than 500 kilograms in one container.

The exception is IBCs with a total capacity of up to 3,000 litres, as long as they are not filled or emptied in the vehicle.

A Dangerous Goods Driver’s License can be issued by any state or territory and is recognized throughout Australia.

Fuel tanker drivers

As a Fuel Tanker Licence holder, you transport gas or other petroleum products. You fulfill your duties using a special vehicle for transporting flammable liquids. Your duties depend on the nature of your work. Some fuel tanker drivers take their liquid cargo to service stations or commercial service stations. In these positions, you pump the gas into the holding tanks. You also supervise the filling of fuel into your tank. You must follow exact safety procedures during loading, transport and unloading. You document each delivery and use gauges to calculate and record the amount of fuel delivered to each destination.

The qualifications you need to become a tanker driver include driving skills and a licence with relevant endorsements. To operate a fuel tanker, you need a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (Class A CDL). You get this authorization by training at a vocational school or driving school for trucks and passing a written and practical test. You also need a hazardous material certificate. In most states, you must pass a medical exam to prove you are fit to drive. If you supervise loading and unloading, you need additional safety training.

Tasks of a Tanker Driver

• Fills the cistern as needed from the main supply tanks or from a series of tanks if collecting milk
• Drives the vehicle from the loading to the unloading point
• Connects hose couplings and operates truck pump to fill or discharge cargo
• Ensures all safety and security procedures are followed
• Performs regular inspections of the vehicle, holding tank and couplings
• Maintains all documentation requirements for a specific load type.

Getting approved to drive a tanker sure seems like a lot of work, but the rewards are worth it. The average salary for a Class 2 HGV driver hovers around £27,000, and a tanker driver’s salary is said to be £45,000, which is about $25.76 per hour in dollars. There are many vacancies for this job and for those who have the ambition and desire to do it, specialized tanker driving offers access to an intriguing and lucrative new career.