New York CDL Tanker cheat sheet

Pre-trip on a tanker adds these to the standard inspection: tank shell and heads for dents, cracks, or leaks; baffles or bulkheads; manholes and gaskets; vents and pressure/vacuum relief valves; discharge valves and piping; grounding/bonding cable and clamps.

A cargo tank must be marked with its specification (for example MC 306, DOT 406, MC 307, MC 312, DOT 407, DOT 412) and the marking must match the cargo being hauled; the specification plate also shows design pressure, external design pressure, water capacity, and maximum allowable working pressure.

The tank test/inspection date is stamped on the specification plate; the driver is responsible for verifying the test date has not expired before loading.

Every cargo tank must have a stop valve (internal or external) on each discharge outlet that closes automatically if the valve is sheared off, and the valve must be accessible for the driver to close from outside the tank.

Cargo tank vents must be unobstructed and the correct type for the product; a plugged vent can cause the tank to rupture from thermal expansion or vacuum collapse during unloading.

Tank insulation, heating coils, and jackets are part of the pre-trip: check for damage, and confirm the product's required temperature range before accepting a load.

A tanker's center of gravity is higher than a comparable dry van's; the pre-trip must include tire condition and pressure on all axles because a soft tire on a tanker amplifies rollover risk.

The emergency kit for a tanker includes the shipping paper, emergency response information, a fire extinguisher rated for the cargo, and spill-control materials appropriate to the product.

The posted curve speed advisory is calculated for a passenger car, not a loaded tanker; a loaded tanker should be driven well below the advisory, and the higher the center of gravity, the lower the safe speed.

Liquid surge (front-to-back and side-to-side) makes a partly filled tank the most dangerous: a smooth bore tank without baffles, half full, can generate surge forces that push the vehicle into a rollover or a jackknife.

Outward forces in a curve are proportional to speed squared divided by radius (a = v^2 / r); doubling speed quadruples the sideways force on the liquid and the vehicle.

A tanker needs a longer stopping distance than a dry van loaded to the same gross weight; smooth bore liquid keeps moving forward when the brakes are applied, and the effect is worst at partial fill.

Start braking earlier and brake smoothly and progressively; a hard stab at the brakes on a smooth bore tank sends the liquid forward, unloads the rear axle, and can cause a jackknife.

Because liquid shifts, a tanker can lose traction on the drive axles during acceleration and on upgrades; use a gear low enough to avoid shifting on the grade.

Do not use engine braking or abrupt downshifts on a smooth bore tank on a slippery surface; the deceleration sends the liquid forward and can break rear-wheel traction.

On a tanker, the posted bridge height and weight limits must be checked against the loaded weight; the liquid's movement also raises the effective load on the suspension during a turn.

Before loading, verify the tank is the correct specification and is empty of any incompatible previous product; a tank that last held a flammable liquid must not be loaded with an oxidizer without a documented cleaning.

The maximum filling limit for a liquid cargo tank is 98 percent of the tank's water capacity at 60 degrees F (49 CFR 173.24b); the remaining space is expansion room, and overfilling can cause the tank to overflow or rupture as the product warms.

Bond the tank to the loading rack and ground the rack before connecting the loading arm or hose; bonding equalizes static charge between the tank and the source, grounding drains it to earth.

Keep the bonding/grounding connection in place until the loading or unloading operation is complete and the hose is disconnected; breaking it early can spark.

Loading a flammable liquid: shut off the engine, set the parking brake, no smoking, and no use of a phone or other spark source within the transfer area.

Unloading with the vehicle's own pump requires the engine running; the driver must be at the controls, and the truck must be chocked or the parking brake set so the vehicle cannot roll.

When unloading, open the vapor valve or vent as required by the system; a closed vapor path or plugged vent can overpressure the tank or collapse it under vacuum.

After unloading, close all valves, drain the hose before disconnecting, cap the outlets, and check the tank and piping for leaks before moving the vehicle.

A CDL with a tank vehicle (N) endorsement is required to drive a tank vehicle; a hazardous materials (H) endorsement is required to haul placarded quantities of hazmat, and both require the knowledge tests and the TSA security threat assessment for H.

Placards are required for 1,001 pounds or more aggregate gross weight of a Table 2 hazmat in one vehicle, for any quantity of a Table 1 material, and for any amount of a hazmat requiring placarding by the shipping paper.

The shipping paper must be within the driver's reach, and the emergency response telephone number must be on the shipping paper; the driver must also carry emergency response information for the product.

A tank vehicle carrying a hazardous material must stop before crossing a railroad grade crossing, unless the crossing is exempted; the driver must look and listen and not rely on the gate.

The hazardous materials endorsement requires the driver to pass the TSA security threat assessment before the endorsement can be issued or renewed, and the driver must notify the state of a change of address within 30 days.

A cargo tank carrying a Division 2.1 flammable gas or a Division 3 flammable liquid must not be left unattended on a public street unless the vehicle is attended by a qualified person or is secured against unauthorized movement.

The driver of a placarded vehicle must not smoke or carry a lit smoking device within 25 feet of the vehicle, and must not park within 5 feet of a fire source.

For a spill or leak, the driver must protect the scene, notify the carrier and the emergency response number, and keep the shipping paper available for responders; the driver must not attempt a cleanup beyond the training and equipment on hand.

Tank specification marking must match the product: MC 306/DOT 406 for flammable liquids, MC 307/DOT 407 for low-pressure chemicals, MC 312/DOT 412 for corrosives, MC 331 for high-pressure gases.

The specification plate shows the tank's design pressure, water capacity, maximum allowable working pressure, and the date of the last test; an expired test date means the tank cannot be loaded.

Each discharge outlet needs a stop valve that closes automatically if sheared, plus a remote closure the driver can reach from outside the tank.

Vents and pressure/vacuum relief valves must be the correct type, unobstructed, and functional; a blocked vent can rupture or collapse the tank.

Inspect baffles and bulkheads through the manhole where accessible; missing or damaged baffles turn a smooth bore tank into a surge hazard.

The emergency kit must contain the shipping paper, emergency response information, a fire extinguisher, and spill-control material suited to the cargo.

Check all tires and the suspension at every pre-trip; a tanker's high center of gravity makes a soft tire a rollover risk.

The grounding/bonding cable and clamps must be intact and the clamps clean enough to make good metal-to-metal contact.

Curve advisory speeds are set for cars; a loaded tanker must slow well below the advisory, and the higher the center of gravity, the lower the safe speed.

Surge forces grow with the square of speed (a = v^2 / r), so doubling speed quadruples the sideways force on the liquid.

A partly filled smooth bore tank is the most dangerous configuration because the liquid can move freely front-to-back and side-to-side.

Brake early and progressively; a hard stop sends liquid forward, unloads the rear axle, and can cause a jackknife.

Avoid abrupt downshifts and engine braking on a smooth bore tank, especially on slippery pavement.

A tanker needs a longer stopping distance than a dry van at the same gross weight because the liquid keeps moving when the brakes are applied.

Use a gear low enough to climb a grade without shifting, because a shift on a grade can let the liquid surge and the vehicle roll back.

Check bridge height and weight limits against the loaded weight before routing the trip.

Maximum filling limit for a liquid cargo tank is 98 percent of water capacity at 60 degrees F (49 CFR 173.24b); the rest is expansion room.

Confirm the tank specification matches the product and that the previous product is compatible or the tank has been cleaned.

Bond the tank to the loading rack and ground the rack before connecting the hose; keep the connection until the transfer is finished and the hose is disconnected.

Shut off the engine, set the parking brake, and prohibit smoking and spark sources in the transfer area during loading of a flammable liquid.

During unloading with the vehicle's own pump the engine runs; the driver must stay at the controls and the vehicle must be chocked or the brake set.

Open the vapor valve or vent as the system requires; a closed vapor path or plugged vent can overpressure or collapse the tank.

After unloading, close all valves, drain the hose before disconnecting, cap the outlets, and check for leaks before moving.

Do not overfill; overfilling leaves no expansion room and can cause overflow or rupture as the product warms.

The tank vehicle (N) endorsement is required to drive a tank vehicle; the hazardous materials (H) endorsement is required to haul placarded hazmat and requires a TSA security threat assessment.

Placards are required for 1,001 pounds or more aggregate gross weight of a Table 2 hazmat, for any quantity of a Table 1 material, and for any amount requiring placards by the shipping paper.

The shipping paper must be within the driver's reach and must show the emergency response telephone number; emergency response information must also be carried.

A tank vehicle carrying hazmat must stop before crossing a railroad grade crossing unless the crossing is exempted; look and listen, do not rely on the gate.

The H endorsement requires passing the TSA security threat assessment before issuance or renewal, and the driver must report a change of address to the state within 30 days.

A placarded tank vehicle must not be left unattended on a public street unless attended by a qualified person or secured against unauthorized movement.

No smoking or lit smoking device within 25 feet of a placarded vehicle, and no parking within 5 feet of a fire source.

For a spill, protect the scene, notify the carrier and the emergency response number, and keep the shipping paper available for responders.