Regional Tanker Position HazMat Chemical

CDL-A Regional Chemical Bulk Tank Driver

Hiring Area: Fort Worth / DFW • Terminal: Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth, TX Regional 2021–2024 Tractors

Haul non-food-grade liquid bulk chemicals on regional Texas lanes out of Fort Worth. Weekly pay $1,550–$1,900 with typical gross around $1,700 ($88,400 annual). Home most weeks; typically 1–3 nights out depending on dispatch.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,550–$1,900
Estimated Annual: $88,400
Sign-On Bonus $2,000
Home Time Home most weeks; 1–3 nights out
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 2,100–2,400
Freight Type Liquid Bulk Chemicals

Position Overview

Scheduled chemical bulk tanker work serving industrial plants, distributors and terminals across North and East Texas from a Fort Worth base.

  • Operate a Class A chemical bulk tanker on regional Texas routes from the Fort Worth/DFW base.
  • Transport non-food-grade liquid chemicals between manufacturing plants, distributors and approved terminals.
  • Verify product, shipping papers and trailer compatibility before loading.
  • Follow customer PPE, grounding, bonding, hose-connection and transfer procedures.
  • Inspect valves, hoses, seals, placards and tank equipment before departure and after unloading.
  • Manage delivery appointments, detention time, BOL/POD documentation and dispatch communication.
  • Stop loading or unloading and notify the appropriate contact immediately if a leak, pressure issue or equipment problem develops.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Mileage pay forms the core of weekly earnings, with load activity pay and qualifying detention added when applicable. Weekly totals vary with dispatched miles, number of loads, facility delays and available regional freight.

Weekly Range $1,550–$1,900
Typical Weekly Gross $1,700
Mileage Rate $0.68 / mile
Activity Pay $50 per qualifying chemical load
Detention $35 / hour after 2 hours of qualifying detention
Sign-On Bonus $2,000 paid in four installments
Payroll Friday weekly

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home most weeks; typically 1–3 nights out depending on dispatch
Operating Area Texas regional lanes + adjoining markets
Terminal Fort Worth / DFW base
Weekly Miles 2,100–2,400 paid
Typical Start 5:00–7:00 AM Fort Worth
Loads per Week 2–4 bulk chemical loads

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia & Kenworth T680
Model Years Primarily 2021–2024
Transmission Automated manual; equipment mix varies by tractor
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane departure, adaptive cruise on equipped units
Cab Features Sleeper, ELD, forward-facing dash camera
Assignment Assigned when available; slip-seat used as needed for maintenance

Trailers are DOT-compliant chemical-compatible bulk tanks equipped according to the products and customer facilities served. Typical equipment includes product-specific hoses, grounding/bonding equipment, required placards and emergency-response gear. Preventive maintenance is scheduled through the company; roadside support is coordinated by dispatch.

Real Routes

Products vary by customer and lane and may include non-food-grade industrial liquids handled under customer-specific loading, unloading and compatibility procedures. Dispatch sequences loads around available compatible freight rather than fixed daily routes.

  • DFW-area industrial plants, distributors and terminals
  • Houston-area chemical and manufacturing facilities via I-45
  • Central Texas lanes including Waco
  • East Texas deliveries toward Tyler and Longview
  • West Texas movements toward Abilene when freight requires
  • Primary corridors: I-35W, I-20, I-30, I-45, US-287
  • Next load determined by product compatibility and washout needs

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Load information is usually available the prior evening or early the same morning.
  • Pre-trip covers tractor, tanker, valves, hoses, placards and product suitability.
  • Gate check-in, safety briefing and PPE confirmation precede rack positioning.
  • Loading typically takes 30–90 minutes once the unit is on the rack and authorized.
  • Delivery appointments drive the day; HOS and traffic are managed around them.
  • After unloading, dispatch assigns the next compatible reload or return movement.
  • Loaded tankers overnight only at approved truck stops or customer-authorized yards.

About the Carrier

Industrial liquid chemical freight between manufacturing plants, distributors and regional terminals depends on specialized bulk tanker capacity that respects product compatibility and customer rack rules. This regional operation concentrates on scheduled Texas movements rather than long-haul OTR or local fuel delivery. Freight originates in the Fort Worth industrial base and reaches Houston-area facilities, East Texas plants and central Texas customers. Compatibility checks, washout planning and appointment windows shape each week’s dispatch. Maintenance coordination, roadside support and required chemical-site PPE keep the focus on safe product handling across the established North and East Texas network.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental, vision
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Time Off PTO accrual after eligibility + paid holidays
Training & PPE Paid orientation, required chemical-site PPE
Support Maintenance coordination and roadside assistance

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL with current Tanker and HazMat endorsements
  • At least 12 months of verifiable tractor-trailer experience; tanker or bulk-liquid experience strongly preferred
  • Acceptable MVR and ability to pass DOT physical and drug/alcohol screening
  • Ability to wear required PPE and work safely around hoses, valves and loading equipment
  • Recent CDL graduates are not the target candidate for this chemical position

Operational Delays

  • DFW peak-period traffic on major corridors
  • Construction on I-35W, I-20, I-30 and I-45
  • Plant rack congestion or production schedule changes
  • Weather affecting facility access or highway speeds
  • Tanker washout or compatibility preparation before the next load

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Qualification, experience and pay discussion
2
Verification
CDL, MVR, employment history, Clearinghouse
3
Safety Review
Record and tanker/HazMat experience check
4
Orientation
Paid training, equipment orientation, first load assignment

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does loading usually take? ▼
Most racks finish in 30–90 minutes once the unit is positioned and authorized. Congestion or production delays can extend the wait.
Q: Are tankers washed between every load? ▼
Compatibility and previous cargo determine whether a washout is required before the next assignment.
Q: Where can a loaded chemical trailer park overnight? ▼
Only approved truck stops or customer-authorized yards. Unauthorized locations are not permitted.
Q: Does every week include a Houston run? ▼
No. Dispatch builds sequences around available compatible loads, appointments and HOS.
Q: Is slip-seating common? ▼
Assigned tractors are preferred. Slip-seat is used mainly during maintenance or temporary fleet availability issues.
Q: When does detention pay start? ▼
Qualifying detention is paid at $35 per hour after two hours of customer-controlled waiting.
Q: How soon after orientation is the first load assigned? ▼
After orientation, required paperwork and equipment training are completed, the driver is assigned a first load based on the operating schedule.

CDL Job Market — Fort Worth / DFW

DFW supports a broad mix of local, regional and specialized CDL-A work because distribution centers, manufacturing plants, intermodal facilities and industrial suppliers operate across Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, Grand Prairie and the surrounding freight network. Dry van, reefer, fuel and LTL openings appear regularly. Chemical and bulk tanker positions form a narrower segment; employers typically require Tanker and HazMat endorsements plus prior liquid experience. Drivers with clean records and bulk experience can move between carriers without leaving the metro. Specialized HazMat work generally pays above ordinary dry-van or basic local tanker rates because of the added product-handling responsibility and customer-site procedures.

Location & Freight Market — Fort Worth

Fort Worth anchors the western side of the DFW freight complex. AllianceTexas concentrates large-scale distribution, manufacturing, intermodal and air-cargo activity with direct access to I-35W. Chemical and industrial suppliers, manufacturing plants and bulk terminals around Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, Grand Prairie and Mansfield generate regular liquid movements. The strongest regional connection runs south on I-45 toward Houston’s petrochemical base (roughly 230–250 miles depending on the specific facilities). East Texas lanes reach Tyler and Longview; central and west Texas highways support Waco and Abilene traffic. The combination of highway access and industrial concentration supports recurring bulk-liquid freight, although weekly volume depends on plant production schedules, customer appointments and available compatible loads.

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