Tank Truck & Hazardous Materials UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Q. What information must be provided by the commercial - Name, applicable suffix, and any other name used previously
vehicle - Current residential address and previous residential address(es) for the
driver in order to receive a hazardous materials preceding 7 years
endorsement? - Date of birth
- Citizenship
- Social Security Number
- Height, weight, hair and eye color
- Immigration status and date of naturalization, if a naturalized citizen
- Gender
- Alien registration number, if applicable
- City, state and country of birth
- Current employer information
- State of application, CDL number, and type of endorsement held
- Certification - signed and dated
- Statement that he/she (driver) has a continuing obligation to
disclose to the state within 24 hours if he/she is convicted of a
disqualifying crime
- Privacy Act Notice - certified and dated
- Statement certifying the truth of the information provided dated
Statement acknowledging that TSA may notify his/her employer and provide
threat assessment information
,Q. When must drivers surrender their hazardous materials A. An individual must surrender his/her HME if he/she is one of the
endorsements? following:
1. An alien (unless a lawful permanent resident)
2. An individual who has renounced his/her U.S. citizenship
3. An individual who is wanted or under indictment for certain
felonies
4. An individual convicted in civilian or military court for certain
felonies
5. An individual who has been found to be mentally defective or
committed to a mental institution
6. An individual who is considered to pose a security threat based
on a review of various databases
Q. What do the markings V, I, P, L, K, and T stand for? A. The markings - V, I, P, L, K, and T - indicate what tests and
inspections must be performed on a cargo tank. The tests include
"V" for visual test: "I" for internal visual test; "P" for pressure
test; "L" for lining test; "K" for leakage test; and, "T" for
thickness test. The markings will indicate the date that the test or inspection was
performed. All tanks will not necessarily require all
tests and inspections. If EPA Method 27 is used for leakage testing,
the tank must be marked K-EPA Method 27.
Q. What special check must be made by the driver A. By law, the shipper is required to check shipping papers for the
hauling HM to ascertain what class(es) is/are in the load to determine
hazardous materials? whether or not placards are needed. However, drivers should also
check shipping papers to determine whether or not the vehicle
displays the proper placards on the front, rear and both sides. The
driver must also segregate incompatible types of HM from each
other inside the trailer.
Q. What is the purpose of a nitrogen blanket in a trailer? A. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless gas that does not support
combustion. Applying a cover of nitrogen gas (nitrogen blanket)
over the surface of a flammable or combustible product is ideal for
pressure-unloading flammable or combustible materials, especially
those with a low flash point. Nitrogen also is used to prevent product
contamination from air or moisture.
Q. What is the danger associated with nitrogen blankets? A. Nitrogen displaces oxygen; therefore, brief exposure to a
concentrated atmosphere of nitrogen can render someone
unconscious almost instantly. Nitrogen cannot be seen or smelled.
It can only be detected by testing.
Q. What type of product hazard classes must be A. Products considered to be flammable and combustible must be
grounded while grounded while being loaded and unloaded.
loading and unloading?
Q. What is the "remote control" on a cargo tank? A. The remote control on a cargo tank is a secondary control to close
the internal valves. It is an emergency device located remotely
from the normal control handles used to operate the internal
valves.
, Q. Internal valves on cargo tanks are used for what A. A cargo tank's internal valves are self-closing shut-off valves used
purpose? in normal unloading operations and are designed and operated to
close automatically to prevent the accidental release of product.
Q. Why are cargo tanks equipped with "overturn A. Overturn protection protects the cargo tank's valves and manhole
protection"? covers from damage in the event of overturn so as to minimize or
totally prevent cargo loss.
Q. What is the purpose of "fusible links"? A. Fusible links or elements are heat-activated devices installed
in the cable lines, or tubing (in the case of hydraulically or air-
controlled internal valves) of tank trailers. They are designed
to melt at a temperature no greater than 121° C (250° F) in case
of fire and, when melted, trigger the internal valves to close
automatically.
Q. What is a "shear section" on a flammable liquid tank A. A shear section is a specially machined section of the outlet
truck? piping. It has a slight groove cut in the pipe within 4 inches of the
tank shell. Its purpose is to ensure that, in the event of damage to
the piping in a collision, the pipe will break at the shear section
which is outside the tank shell, thus minimizing the possibility of
damage to the tank shell and internal valve.
Q. What is the difference between a "baffle" and a A. A baffle and a bulkhead are both internal tank sections almost
"bulkhead"? always perpendicular to the long axis of the tank. The difference
is that bulkheads are liquid tight while baffles have openings
generally at the top and bottom. Bulkheads, therefore, divide the
tank into separate compartments while baffles do not. Baffles help reduce
product surge.
Q. What is "outage" and why is it important? A. "Outage" is the volume of the tank which is not filled when the
tank is loaded. For flammable liquids, it is generally from 1% to
3% of the total volume. Outage is important in order to prevent
spillage and tank rupture. Generally, and especially during warm weather, tanks
are filled with liquids which are cooler than the air
temperature. Most liquids to some degree heat-up and expand
during transportation. If there is no outage or inadequate outage
when the liquid warms and expands, the liquid spills through the
vents. It is also possible with inadequate outage for the liquid to
spill through the vents if the vehicle is proceeding on a grade, or
stops and starts suddenly. In the case of inoperative or inadequate
vents, improper outage may result in a tank which may rupture due
to expansion.
Q. May the tractor engine be kept running while loading A. A tractor engine may only be kept running during the loading or
or unloading of a tank truck if the engine is required to run a
unloading a tank truck? pump, and then only if care is taken to avoid ignition of fumes.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Q. What information must be provided by the commercial - Name, applicable suffix, and any other name used previously
vehicle - Current residential address and previous residential address(es) for the
driver in order to receive a hazardous materials preceding 7 years
endorsement? - Date of birth
- Citizenship
- Social Security Number
- Height, weight, hair and eye color
- Immigration status and date of naturalization, if a naturalized citizen
- Gender
- Alien registration number, if applicable
- City, state and country of birth
- Current employer information
- State of application, CDL number, and type of endorsement held
- Certification - signed and dated
- Statement that he/she (driver) has a continuing obligation to
disclose to the state within 24 hours if he/she is convicted of a
disqualifying crime
- Privacy Act Notice - certified and dated
- Statement certifying the truth of the information provided dated
Statement acknowledging that TSA may notify his/her employer and provide
threat assessment information
,Q. When must drivers surrender their hazardous materials A. An individual must surrender his/her HME if he/she is one of the
endorsements? following:
1. An alien (unless a lawful permanent resident)
2. An individual who has renounced his/her U.S. citizenship
3. An individual who is wanted or under indictment for certain
felonies
4. An individual convicted in civilian or military court for certain
felonies
5. An individual who has been found to be mentally defective or
committed to a mental institution
6. An individual who is considered to pose a security threat based
on a review of various databases
Q. What do the markings V, I, P, L, K, and T stand for? A. The markings - V, I, P, L, K, and T - indicate what tests and
inspections must be performed on a cargo tank. The tests include
"V" for visual test: "I" for internal visual test; "P" for pressure
test; "L" for lining test; "K" for leakage test; and, "T" for
thickness test. The markings will indicate the date that the test or inspection was
performed. All tanks will not necessarily require all
tests and inspections. If EPA Method 27 is used for leakage testing,
the tank must be marked K-EPA Method 27.
Q. What special check must be made by the driver A. By law, the shipper is required to check shipping papers for the
hauling HM to ascertain what class(es) is/are in the load to determine
hazardous materials? whether or not placards are needed. However, drivers should also
check shipping papers to determine whether or not the vehicle
displays the proper placards on the front, rear and both sides. The
driver must also segregate incompatible types of HM from each
other inside the trailer.
Q. What is the purpose of a nitrogen blanket in a trailer? A. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless gas that does not support
combustion. Applying a cover of nitrogen gas (nitrogen blanket)
over the surface of a flammable or combustible product is ideal for
pressure-unloading flammable or combustible materials, especially
those with a low flash point. Nitrogen also is used to prevent product
contamination from air or moisture.
Q. What is the danger associated with nitrogen blankets? A. Nitrogen displaces oxygen; therefore, brief exposure to a
concentrated atmosphere of nitrogen can render someone
unconscious almost instantly. Nitrogen cannot be seen or smelled.
It can only be detected by testing.
Q. What type of product hazard classes must be A. Products considered to be flammable and combustible must be
grounded while grounded while being loaded and unloaded.
loading and unloading?
Q. What is the "remote control" on a cargo tank? A. The remote control on a cargo tank is a secondary control to close
the internal valves. It is an emergency device located remotely
from the normal control handles used to operate the internal
valves.
, Q. Internal valves on cargo tanks are used for what A. A cargo tank's internal valves are self-closing shut-off valves used
purpose? in normal unloading operations and are designed and operated to
close automatically to prevent the accidental release of product.
Q. Why are cargo tanks equipped with "overturn A. Overturn protection protects the cargo tank's valves and manhole
protection"? covers from damage in the event of overturn so as to minimize or
totally prevent cargo loss.
Q. What is the purpose of "fusible links"? A. Fusible links or elements are heat-activated devices installed
in the cable lines, or tubing (in the case of hydraulically or air-
controlled internal valves) of tank trailers. They are designed
to melt at a temperature no greater than 121° C (250° F) in case
of fire and, when melted, trigger the internal valves to close
automatically.
Q. What is a "shear section" on a flammable liquid tank A. A shear section is a specially machined section of the outlet
truck? piping. It has a slight groove cut in the pipe within 4 inches of the
tank shell. Its purpose is to ensure that, in the event of damage to
the piping in a collision, the pipe will break at the shear section
which is outside the tank shell, thus minimizing the possibility of
damage to the tank shell and internal valve.
Q. What is the difference between a "baffle" and a A. A baffle and a bulkhead are both internal tank sections almost
"bulkhead"? always perpendicular to the long axis of the tank. The difference
is that bulkheads are liquid tight while baffles have openings
generally at the top and bottom. Bulkheads, therefore, divide the
tank into separate compartments while baffles do not. Baffles help reduce
product surge.
Q. What is "outage" and why is it important? A. "Outage" is the volume of the tank which is not filled when the
tank is loaded. For flammable liquids, it is generally from 1% to
3% of the total volume. Outage is important in order to prevent
spillage and tank rupture. Generally, and especially during warm weather, tanks
are filled with liquids which are cooler than the air
temperature. Most liquids to some degree heat-up and expand
during transportation. If there is no outage or inadequate outage
when the liquid warms and expands, the liquid spills through the
vents. It is also possible with inadequate outage for the liquid to
spill through the vents if the vehicle is proceeding on a grade, or
stops and starts suddenly. In the case of inoperative or inadequate
vents, improper outage may result in a tank which may rupture due
to expansion.
Q. May the tractor engine be kept running while loading A. A tractor engine may only be kept running during the loading or
or unloading of a tank truck if the engine is required to run a
unloading a tank truck? pump, and then only if care is taken to avoid ignition of fumes.
