There are a lot of rules in our industry, and sometimes those rules are as clear as mud. That seems to be the case with a revised tanker definition passed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in 2011. The Feds changed the definition of a tanker or tank vehicle as one designed to transport liquids or gasses in tanks that are either permanently or temporarily attached to the chassis and are rated at more than 119 gallons or aggregated to 1,000 gallons or more.
This means that drivers of a flatbeds or vans hauling Intermediate Bulk Containers (or totes) totaling more than 1,000 gallons now need an endorsement. The rule applies, for example, to many petroleum and chemical distributors that haul 275 gallon and larger tote tanks. Drivers may need a TANK “N” endorsement if hauling 1,000 combined gallons or more.
Although the definition was changed in 2011 (and hotly debated in 2012-2013), states had until July 2014 to adopt the new definition. Almost a year after its official adoption, our carrier sales reps, who talk to dozens of carriers per day, are learning that many are not aware of this “new” requirement.
The good news is that drivers who do not currently have the Tanker Endorsement on their licenses can add the endorsement when renewing their CDL’s. Our VP, Mary Nicholas, took the practice test online and passed it easily. At Matchmaker, we have made the Tanker Endorsement question part of our regular due diligence, documenting which carriers have this designation and educating others on how they can be compliant.
Navigating murky tanker rules can feel like unpleasant business, but it’s not nearly as tough as the job that tanker drivers of a different sort endure. Sewage tanker drivers are no strangers to nasty business. I guess it’s why the folks in the septic tank cleaning industry use so much humor to get through the day. Here are a few photos that remind us of the old saying: “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.” If only they’d stop changing the rules….
Potty on this weekend,
~Bob
