The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), along with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently released a rollover prevention video for drivers of cargo tanks. Several industry partner organizations also aided in the development of the material including the American Trucking Associations (ATA). This training video alerts drivers to various elements of rollover prevention. To watch the video, follow the link above.
Four main sections are highlighted in the video: vehicle design, load effects, highway factors and driver factors. The vehicle design section serves as a reminder of operating a vehicle with a high center of gravity. Load effects covers how liquid cargo shifts, sloshes and surges depending on the movements of the tanker. Highway factors include weather, road conditions, time of day and how to research the planned route ahead of time. Driver factors outline driver fatigue, physical and mental distractions, unsafe behaviors and hours of service regulations. There is also an important section dedicated to vehicle maintenance. This section stresses the absolute necessity of a pre-trip inspection of the truck and trailer before departure.
This training video comes at a time when other rollover prevention news was being released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA recently revealed a study proving the merits of stability control systems in preventing rollovers in tractor trailers. In the article, it states that approximately 3500 rollovers could be prevented and 106 lives saved annually. It also states specifically that an average of 1265 cargo tanks rollover annually. Estimated costs of retrofitting a tank truck is around $1200
