The Tanker at the Railroad Crossing
You are driving a cargo tank truck loaded with 6,000 gallons of UN1170 Ethanol, 3, PG II, on a two-lane road at 2:15 a.m. The route crosses a railroad track with no gates and a flashing red light that has just begun to flash. Your trailer is 53 feet long and the crossing has a slight hump. You are 12 hours into your shift, and you have 90 minutes of driving time left before you hit your 11-hour limit. A car behind you is tailgating and honking. You know the load is flammable and that a tanker can be a rolling bomb if it stalls on the tracks.
1. Walk through the decisions you must make at this crossing, including whether you may proceed, stop, or back up.
Read the worked answer
The flashing red light means stop. You must stop at least 15 feet but not more than 50 feet from the nearest rail, and you must not proceed until you can do so safely. Before crossing, check both directions, roll down the window to listen, and look for a second train. Because you are driving a cargo tank with a long trailer and the crossing has a hump, you must consider high-centering: if the trailer frame or the tank's undercarriage could contact the rails, you need to choose a path that keeps clearance or wait for assistance. You may not back up across the crossing, and you should not stop on the tracks for any reason. If the light is flashing and a train is approaching, stay stopped. If the light is flashing but no train is visible and the crossing is clear, you may proceed only after confirming it is safe; a flashing light is a stop signal, not a suggestion. The tailgating car is not a reason to hurry; if anything, it is a reason to wave the driver around or wait until the car backs off. Your hours-of-service status does not override the crossing rule: you cannot rush a railroad crossing to save driving time.
2. What should you do if the truck stalls on the tracks with the load aboard?
Read the worked answer
Get out and get away from the vehicle immediately, moving at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks and toward the approaching train's direction so you are not struck by debris. Call 911 and give the location, the crossing identifier, and the fact that you have a flammable liquid cargo tank on the tracks. Do not re-enter the truck to try to restart it if a train is coming; life safety comes first. If there is time and no train is visible, you may attempt to restart and move off the tracks, but only if you can do so without delay. Once clear, do not move the vehicle far; stop and secure the scene, set out warning devices if you have them, and keep people away. Notify your carrier and the shipper. Because the cargo is ethanol, a fire involving the tank could produce a large pool fire and a possible BLEVE if the tank is exposed to flame; responders need to know the product, the quantity, and the tank type. Your job is to give them that information from a safe distance, not to fight the fire.