This new job of mine entails driving a 80,000lb taker full of syrup. I have been driving trucks since 1975 (yep ! .. I'm old) But only the last month driving these. I never realised just how much skill is involved in such tasks, I always hated other tanker drivers for going so damm slow on bends and starting off or slowing down too early, holding everyone up

Now I know why ! ....... The tank I drive is a smoothe bore (no baffles) so as I pull away all the liquid goes to the back and pulls the truck toward reverse, even though I want to go foreward. When I turn a corner I have to drive at least 5 MPH under the safe speed because when I want to turn a corner the liquid wants to keep going straight, when I have to stop the liquid wants to keep going........... in fact it takes twice the time and effort to get going and twice the effort to stop !
Next time you see a tanker truck comming and think about pulling out in front of it ...... THINK AGAIN !
Next time you see one keeping a long gap between the truck and the vehicle in front there's a good reason, think again before you pull in that gap.

Sounds like a sticky situation. Thanks for the info though - from now on I shall give wide berth to tankers. I don't fancy death by syrup.

Patrick - I've missed you!

Your new job sounds fab, scarey and very responsible.

Thanks for the tips

HI pat,

That is really useful information, thanks for posting it. It is the sort of thing nobody would tell you, even you after driving for so long have only just found out through experiencing it. I am always wary of trucks on the highway, being a new driver, so that info seems really valid. Hence thanks a lot and have a bit of karma mate. Keep on trucking. Me and Mrs Sod always enjoy your tales.

If at all possible on the interstate i try to drive as if I'm the trucker, when I'm around trucks. I realize that a truck can not stop on a dime, nor manuever in and out like a motorcycle Therefore I do not pass them and then pull right in front of them and when I know there's a merge coming up, I get over so that if the truck is in the slow lane they can get over into the middle lane. After all in a pissing contest between me in a Corolla and them in a Kenworth I will lose.

Way back when, just after I passed my UK Class 1 I got an agency job one day. They wanted me to go to some farm down near Farnham and the farmer wanted me to take his 13 ton 4 wheeler tanker down to Portsmouth, he was then going to pick me up and bring me back in his car. About 2 hours work for a days pay. he told me it was full of liquid (cant remember what) and he was waffling on about it had no "baffles". Now, I was a greenhorn back then and thought he was telling me that the exhaust was going to be loud, with no baffles in the mufflers. Didn't know the first thing about tankers then.

So off I go with a fresh flask of coffee and an unwrapped Yorkie bar. About 5 minutes later I came hurtling towards a roundabout and started braking.......well to cut a long story short as I came to a virtually stop from about 45 mph right on the roundabout suddenly the "Wash" hit. Like a sledgehammer in the back and was so strong it caught me completely by suprise and ended up bumping me 3 times and pushing me right onto the middle of the grass roundabout.

I took it abit easier after that and soon learnt something about tankers, smooth bores, baffles and bloody wash.

and packing an extra pair of underwear.

I go Commando.

Aye, a reason why I avoid the buggers, they are evil....and something completely random, but a milk spill around water is considered a toxic spill.

Oh, the other day, a truck loaded with cars came barrelling down beside me and came within inches of wiping me out, the dumb pluck...he was trying to get into the middle lane and avoid the changing light, shame all the cars in that lane had already stopped and I had to pull away on to the curb.

Wow, Pat, I'll give you plenty of room at my rear

wow, never thought of it being that difficult! i see ur enjoying ur job!!

There are so many things that could be said.

Mmmmmmmmm, syrup!

So many possibile lines.... so little time.

ohhh i say sarah