Ohio CDL Tanker Test cheat sheet

Pre-trip items unique to tankers: tank shell and heads for dents, cracks, or leaks; baffles and bulkheads; manhole covers and gaskets; vents and pressure/vacuum relief valves; internal valves or emergency shutoffs; grounding/bonding straps; spill dikes and placards.

A tank leaking, cracked, or with a damaged manhole cover or gasket is out of service; do not move the vehicle until repaired or unloaded safely.

Every cargo tank must carry the placards required by its cargo; check that placards match the shipped material and that they are legible, upright, and on all four sides as required.

Cargo tanks must have a stop valve (internal or external) at the discharge outlet that closes automatically if the handle is released, or is protected against damage in a rollover, per 49 CFR 178.345-11.

Pressure-relief devices must be unobstructed and of the correct type for the cargo; a vent clogged by product residue or ice can rupture a tank during loading or heat expansion.

Test the emergency shutoff and confirm the internal valve closes fully before loading; a valve that will not seat lets product drain into the line when the pump stops.

Check tire condition and loading: liquid loads raise the center of gravity, so underinflation or uneven loading compounds rollover risk.

Bonding and grounding must be connected before loading flammable liquids and kept connected until loading is finished; the ground connection is made first and broken last.

Inspect the spill containment and the area under the tank after loading; product pooled on the tank top or in the frame is a fire and slip hazard and signals a leak.

Tank vehicles carry a high center of gravity; the rollover threshold is lower than for a comparable dry van, so posted ramp and curve speeds must be treated as maximums, not targets.

Outward forces in a curve are proportional to speed squared divided by curve radius (F = mv^2/r); doubling speed quadruples the sideways force.

Take curves and turns slightly slower than the posted advisory speed; do not brake hard in a curve because weight transfer to the front tires can trigger a rollover.

Stopping distance for a loaded tanker is longer than for an empty one, and the surge effect means brakes must be applied earlier and more gradually.

Start braking early and brake smoothly; hard braking sends liquid forward, which can push the vehicle and increase stopping distance or cause a jackknife.

On downgrades, select a gear low enough that the engine and retarder hold speed; use the brakes only to trim speed, not to control the descent continuously.

Allow extra following distance: a tanker needs more room to stop, and a sudden stop by the vehicle ahead gives no time to manage surge.

High winds affect tankers more than dry vans because of the large, smooth side area; reduce speed and be ready for crosswind push on bridges and open stretches.

A tank vehicle's roll stability is reduced when partly loaded; the liquid's free surface moves the center of gravity, so a partial load can be less stable than a full one.

Surge is the front-to-back movement of liquid in a partly filled tank; it is worst in a smooth-bore tank and least in a tank divided by baffles or bulkheads.

Baffles are perforated dividers that slow front-to-back flow; bulkheads are solid dividers that separate compartments and can carry structural loads.

A smooth-bore tank with a partial load produces the strongest surge; a full tank or an empty tank surges least because the liquid has little room to move.

Forward surge on braking adds force to the front of the tank and can push the tractor; the driver feels a shove that may cause loss of steering control.

Side-to-side surge in a partly loaded tank shifts weight onto the outside tires during a turn, raising rollover risk beyond that of a rigid load.

Baffles do not eliminate surge; they reduce it. A baffled tank still requires smooth braking and reduced curve speed.

A damaged baffle or bulkhead can let liquid slam from one end to the other, producing violent surge; inspect baffles and bulkheads for cracks and loose fasteners.

Compartmented tanks let you carry multiple products; each compartment must be loaded within its own capacity, and crossovers or valves between compartments must be closed unless intended.

Because surge force grows with the mass and speed of the moving liquid, a partly loaded large tank can generate more surge force than a small one at the same fill level.

Before loading, verify the cargo matches the shipping paper, confirm the tank and its last cargo are compatible, and check that required placards are available.

Know the outage (ullage) rule: tanks are not filled to the brim; leave the expansion space the regulations and the shipper require so liquid can expand with heat without overflowing.

Load and unload with the vehicle parking brake set, wheels chocked where required, and the engine off unless the pump is powered by the engine; never leave the transfer unattended.

Connect bonding and grounding before opening hatches or starting transfer of flammable liquids; keep the connection until all transfer and venting is complete.

Open hatches and vents slowly and stand upwind; tanks can hold pressure or vacuum, and opening a hatch on a tank under pressure can release vapor or liquid suddenly.

When unloading, verify the receiving tank has room and the valves and lines are correctly aligned; a misaligned valve can overfill a tank or release product to the ground.

After unloading, drain lines and hoses, close and secure all valves and hatches, and check that no product remains in the hose or on the tank top before moving.

Some cargoes require special handling: heated cargoes need temperature checks, food-grade cargoes need a clean tank and dedicated equipment, and corrosive or toxic cargoes require the specified PPE and respiratory protection.

A tank that previously carried a different product must be cleaned and purged as required before loading a cargo that could react with the residue; incompatible residue can cause a violent reaction.