Local Tanker Position Chemical Process Supply
CDL-A Local Chemical Tanker Driver – Baton Rouge, LA
Hiring Area: Baton Rouge Petrochemical Corridor • Terminal: Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge, LA Home Daily 2021–2025 Day Cabs
Local liquid-bulk chemical and process-supply runs between Baton Rouge industrial plants and terminals. Home daily. $1,500–$1,800 weekly on $31/hour plus overtime.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,500–$1,800
Estimated Annual: $83,200
Base Rate $31/hour
Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours
Sign-On Bonus $2,000 staged
Home Time Home Daily
Freight Liquid Bulk Chemical
Supports chemical and petrochemical customers in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Ascension and nearby industrial parishes with liquid bulk process materials.
- Perform pre-trip inspection of tractor, tanker, hoses and safety equipment.
- Verify product, BOL, seals and loading instructions before leaving the facility.
- Connect and disconnect approved tanker hoses and grounding equipment.
- Complete loading and unloading under plant-specific safety and PPE rules.
- Move scheduled chemical and process-supply loads between local facilities.
- Record ELD, delivery, loading and unloading information accurately.
- Report product discrepancies, equipment issues or HOS limits to dispatch at once.
Hourly pay covers both driving and plant time. Overtime starts after 40 hours. Sign-on is paid separately in stages and is not part of weekly gross.
Regular Rate $31/hour
Overtime 1.5× regular rate after 40 hours
Typical Weekly Gross $1,600
Normal Weekly Range $1,500–$1,800
Estimated Annual $83,200
Sign-On Bonus $2,000 ($500 at 30, 90, 180 and 365 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Home Time Home Daily
Operating Radius 50–100 air miles (Baton Rouge–Port Allen–Plaquemine–St. Gabriel–Geismar–Donaldsonville network)
Terminal Baton Rouge, LA
Weekly Miles 900–1,400
Typical Start Window 5:00–7:00 AM
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia day cabs (2021–2025) and Kenworth T680 day cabs (2021–2024)
Transmission Predominantly automated manual
Safety Technology Forward-facing dash camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on selected units
Trailers Stainless-steel DOT 407/412 liquid bulk tankers (approx. 2020–2025)
Assignment Assigned equipment with controlled slip-seating when operationally required
Trailers include product-specific hoses and fittings, grounding/bonding equipment, emergency shutoffs, placarding and vapor-recovery connections where applicable. ELD/HOS logging and electronic maintenance reporting are standard. Preventive maintenance is handled through the company program and approved vendors.
Work centers on liquid industrial chemicals, feedstocks, intermediates and selected petrochemical products moving between plants, terminals and manufacturing sites. Dispatch builds the day around plant production and tank availability.
- Baton Rouge → Port Allen: refinery and process-supply terminal movements.
- Baton Rouge → Plaquemine: chemical plant and industrial customer deliveries via I-10 and LA 1.
- Baton Rouge → St. Gabriel / Geismar: scheduled liquid-bulk moves for chemical and manufacturing customers.
- Geismar → Port Allen or Baton Rouge: return and transfer loads when equipment and product allow.
- Occasional extension to Donaldsonville or New Orleans when freight requirements justify the move.
- Most days involve a limited number of substantial plant-to-plant or plant-to-terminal movements rather than multi-stop retail work.
- Begin with pre-trip inspection and first load assignment from local dispatch.
- Gate check-in, safety briefing, rack positioning, grounding and hose connection follow at the plant.
- Monitor product transfer, complete paperwork and verify seals before departure.
- Dispatch typically sequences the next move before the current delivery is finished.
- Work is adjusted around plant schedules, loading windows, available compatible trailers and HOS.
- Return to the terminal or residence after the final assignment; no routine multi-day trips or 34-hour resets.
About the Carrier
This local operation supports chemical and industrial customers throughout the Baton Rouge–Plaquemine–Geismar corridor. Drivers work from a Baton Rouge-area terminal and handle scheduled liquid-bulk deliveries between plants, terminals and processing facilities. The focus stays on repeat industrial accounts, predictable short-haul lanes and strict plant safety procedures rather than general over-the-road freight. Equipment and trailer assignment follow product compatibility and customer requirements so that each transfer meets the receiving facility’s standards.
Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options for eligible full-time employees
Retirement 401(k) with company match according to plan terms
Paid Time Off Paid vacation after eligibility; paid company holidays
Training & Equipment Tanker and loading-rack orientation, HazMat training, company-provided PPE
Additional TWIC reimbursement when required for assigned accounts; safety recognition; terminal parking; paid orientation
- Valid CDL Class A with Tanker and HazMat endorsements
- 12 months CDL-A experience preferred; chemical or liquid bulk tanker experience strongly preferred
- Acceptable MVR with no disqualifying DUI/DWI or reckless-driving history
- Current DOT medical certification; ability to pass DOT drug and alcohol screening and Clearinghouse query
- Ability to climb tanker equipment, connect hoses and wear required industrial PPE
- TWIC preferred for drivers who may be assigned to port-related or restricted-access facilities
- Full loading racks or tanks not yet ready at chemical plants
- I-10 and I-110 congestion plus Mississippi River bridge traffic
- Interstate construction and peak morning or afternoon periods
- Thunderstorms or hurricane-related weather changes
- Temporary gate restrictions or additional paperwork requirements
1
Initial Call
Recruiter contact within one business day
2
Verification
CDL, MVR and employment history check
3
Safety Screening
DOT drug test and Clearinghouse query
4
Orientation
Paid local terminal training and equipment familiarization
Q: How long does a typical loading or unloading take? ▼
Most cycles run 45–120 minutes. Plant readiness, tank availability and paperwork can extend the time.
Q: Will I ever stay overnight? ▼
The operation is built for daily returns. Extended days can occur with plant delays or traffic, but routine overnight stays are not scheduled.
Q: How is trailer compatibility managed between products? ▼
Trailer assignment follows previous-product records, wash status and customer rules. Dispatch confirms compatibility before any reassignment.
Q: What happens if my assigned tractor needs major repair? ▼
Operations moves the driver to another compliant unit so a loaded trailer is not left unattended.
Q: Is there separate detention pay? ▼
No separate detention premium. Qualifying on-duty waiting time is paid through the hourly and overtime structure.
Q: How long does hiring usually take for local applicants? ▼
Most local candidates finish the process in approximately 3–7 business days when verifications return without delay.
Baton Rouge supports a steady CDL-A market with a strong specialized segment in tanker, chemical, petroleum and hazardous-material transportation. Both large national carriers and regional liquid-bulk operators regularly recruit experienced chemical-tanker drivers for the Baton Rouge–Geismar–Plaquemine area. Drivers who already understand loading racks, hose procedures, chemical PPE and plant rules have access to a narrower but consistently active set of openings. Specialized chemical-tanker rates generally sit above the broader local tractor-trailer median, reflecting the additional operational requirements of liquid bulk work. Demand remains relatively stable year-round because process manufacturing generates continuous material movements rather than sharp seasonal peaks.
The industrial corridor running from the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge complex through Port Allen, Plaquemine, St. Gabriel, Geismar and Donaldsonville ranks among the densest chemical and energy freight zones in the Gulf South. Process manufacturing and refining create ongoing demand for liquid bulk and industrial supply movements between plants, private docks, storage terminals and downstream facilities. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge provides ship, barge, truck and rail connections across East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupee and Ascension parishes. Key highways—I-10, I-110, I-12, LA 1, LA 30, LA 73, LA 75 and US 190—support short-haul plant-to-terminal runs. Freight density is high, yet individual loads frequently require extended time inside customer facilities because of controlled loading procedures and security protocols. Weather and river conditions can affect timing, but the underlying industrial base keeps material flowing throughout the year.