Tanker Emergency Procedures and Special Requirements
Domain 4 tests what you do in the first minutes of a leak, spill or fire, plus the special rules that apply only to tank vehicles: attendance, routing, tunnels and placarding.
Leak or spill
- Stop, shut off the engine, set the brake; do not smoke or create sparks.
- Stay upwind and uphill; keep others away; warn traffic.
- Call 911 and the shipper/emergency number; give the placard and UN number from the shipping papers.
- Do not try to repair a leaking loaded tank or drive on to the terminal.
- Never use flares near spilled flammable liquid.
Fire
- Small fire at the point of origin: extinguisher only if you can do it safely.
- Otherwise evacuate to the distance the Emergency Response Guidebook recommends and let trained responders work.
Special requirements
- Shipping papers within reach; placards match the product.
- Follow unloading attendance rules; never leave a loaded tank unattended in a public place.
- Obey tunnel, bridge and route restrictions for hazardous materials; plan the route before you load.
- Stop before railroad crossings and check both ways.
Worked example
At 55 mph you smell gasoline and see it running from under the trailer. Correct sequence: signal, pull as far off as possible, shut down, get out upwind, take the shipping papers, keep bystanders back, call 911 with UN 1203 and the placard, and do not attempt a repair. The reasoning: people first, then notification, then property.
Traps that cost marks
- Using flares to warn traffic near a spill.
- Staying with the truck instead of evacuating upwind.
- Assuming a small drip is safe to drive to a shop.