Halls Crossing (Days 1 & 2)

Halls Crossing, UT, is located a couple of hours west of Blanding, on State Hwy 95. On September 16, 2021, I was tasked with delivering jet fuel to their regional airport. Unfortunately, Hwy 95 was washed out just west of Blanding, so I had to make a detour and come at the location from the west end of the highway, via Hanksville, UT.

The detour took the run from a 1.5 day trip to a 3 day trip through the badlands of southeastern Utah.

Here is some of the dashcam video from that trip:

Halls Crossing - Day 1

Halls Crossing - Day 2 (Part 1)

Halls Crossing - Day 2 (Part 2)

Major Upgrade

I finally purchased a GoPro Hero 8 Black camera and will be creating driving videos to post on YouTube. I’ve been working with my cell phone camera, but it wasn’t really doing a good job.

The videos will appear on this YouTube channel:

Tanker Dave's YouTube Channel!

Time Flies

Wow, I can’t believe how much time has gone by since my last post. It’s been crazy busy. Once you get into a routine, it’s just day after day. When I get home, I’m not really interested in working on the computer. I should post while I’m delivering, or stopped on break.

In the past few weeks, I’ve been to Flagstaff, Winslow, Page, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, Sierra Vista, Bullhead City, Marana, and Safford, as well as numerous local hangers and airports. I’ve even been back to Boulder City, NV a couple of times.

So far, it's been fun. And you get to see some cool stuff!

First Day at WTL

I survived my first day of training! We delivered a load of jet fuel from Phoenix to the Boulder City Municipal Airport.

And now I’m off for my “weekend.”

Phoenix to Boulder City

Counting Down

Well, my last day at my current cubical farm job is May 14. I start training at the new company on the 15th. Should be interesting.

Yesterday I went to the Kinder Morgan class in Phoenix so that I could get “carded” at the KM fuel terminal (tank farm) in Phoenix. Now I just need to load three times with a trainer so that I remember what I’m doing and then they will issue me a loading card.

It’s getting closer!

Tested times four

Yesterday morning started with a visit to the MVD office in Casa Grande so that both of my boys could get their learners permits. After that, I had to take four tests myself.

1. Drug Test – Waiting for the results, but sure I passed.

2. CDL Skills Test – Pre-Trip and Backing Skills – Passed

3. CDL Road Test – Passed

4. HazMat Endorsement – I could not take this until the background check was completed and I had received my CDL license. You can’t get the HazMat endorsement on a permit. – Passed

So, four down. Once the company gets the drug test results back, hopefully they offer me a position and I can start driving again. I am getting excited now!

The start of something new…hopefully.

Well, this afternoon I have an appointment set for my CDL Road Skills test out at the Goodyear MVD office. I’ve spent a few hours driving in circles and practicing my backing and shifting, so hopefully I remember enough to make it through this successfully.

My biggest concern is forgetting to point out something on the Pre-Trip.

And then when I pass that, I get to take my HazMat endorsement test. My fingerprint clearance has already come back from DHS.

Back behind the wheel?

Well, it had to happen. I had given up my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) back in 2015 because I did not think I would drive commercially again. I was a dispatcher for the company, and did not want to go through the hassle of renewal, etc. if I was not going to use it.

Fast Forward to 2021. I am tired of working in a call center and looking at going back to what I was good at. I am going to go back to driving. So, the first thing was to get a DOT Medical Exam completed and then apply for my CDL Permit (Taking multiple written tests). With those two hurdles behind me, now I need to start practicing for my Driving/Skills Tests. Once I pass those tests (in the presence of a MVD Inspector) I will get my CDL back and I can start driving again.

My plan is to stay local in the AZ area, hauling tankers. I’ll let you know how it goes.