CDL Tanker Test Guide

What every manual says

Two things set a tank vehicle apart: its high center of gravity and the liquid surging inside it.

1. High Center of Gravity

   A tanker’s high center of gravity makes it top-heavy and easy to roll over; tests show tankers can turn over at posted curve speeds, so take highway and ramp curves well below the posted speeds.

   CA · p. 8-2

2. Baffled Tanks

   Baffled tanks have bulkheads with holes that let liquid flow through; baffles help control forward-and-back surge, but side-to-side surge can still happen and cause a rollover.

   CA · p. 8-2

3. Un-baffled Tanks

   Un-baffled ("smooth bore") tankers have nothing inside to slow the liquid, so forward-and-back surge is very strong; they usually carry food products like milk, since sanitation rules forbid baffles (hard to clean). Be extremely cautious driving them, especially starting and stopping.

   CA · p. 8-2

4. How Much to Load?

   How much to load depends on how much the liquid will expand in transit, its weight and legal weight limits; a full tank of a dense liquid, such as some acids, may exceed weight limits, so heavy liquids often only partly fill a tank.

   CA · p. 8-2

5. Controlling Surge

   Because of the high center of gravity and surge, start, slow down, stop, turn and change lanes very smoothly.

   CA · p. 8-3

6. Curves

   In a tanker, slow down before curves, then accelerate slightly through them; the posted speed may be too fast for a tank vehicle.

   CA · p. 8-3

7. Skids

   Don’t over-steer, over-accelerate or over-brake, or the vehicle may skid; on tank trailers, a skid of the drive or trailer wheels may cause a jackknife, so act to restore traction whenever a skid starts.

   CA · p. 8-3

8. Inspecting Tank Vehicles

   Tank vehicles come in many types and sizes, so check the vehicle's operator manual to know how to inspect yours; inspect the tanker before loading, unloading or driving it, to be sure it is safe to carry the liquid or gas and safe to drive.

   CA · p. 8-1

Every state's manual: Tank Vehicles

Each links its tank vehicles practice test. Federal CDL rules: endorsement N and the others.

• AlabamaSection 8 · p. 103–104
• AlaskaSection 8 · p. 106–107
• ArizonaSection 8 · p. 105–106
• ArkansasSection 8 · p. 100–101
• CaliforniaSection 8 · p. 139–141
• ColoradoSection 8 · p. 88–89
• ConnecticutSection 8 · p. 101–102
• DelawareSection 8 · p. 107–108
• FloridaSection 8 · p. 107–108
• GeorgiaSection 8 · p. 190–194
• HawaiiSection 8 · p. 109–110
• IdahoSection 8 · p. 100–102
• IllinoisSection 8 · p. 98–100
• IndianaSection 8 · p. 101–102
• IowaSection 8 · p. 105–107
• KansasSection 8 · p. 100–101
• KentuckySection 8 · p. 110–111
• LouisianaSection 8 · p. 121–124
• MaineSection 8 · p. 103–104
• MarylandSection 8 · p. 209–213
• MassachusettsSection 8 · p. 126–128
• MichiganSection 8 · p. 113–114
• MinnesotaSection 8 · p. 147–148
• MississippiSection 8 · p. 100–101
• MissouriSection 8 · p. 97–98
• MontanaSection 8 · p. 108–110
• NebraskaSection 8 · p. 112–113
• NevadaSection 8 · p. 108–109
• New HampshireSection 8 · p. 100–101
• New JerseySection 8 · p. 101–102
• New MexicoSection 8 · p. 103–104
• New YorkSection 8 · p. 124–127
• North CarolinaSection 8 · p. 103–105
• North DakotaSection 8 · p. 101–102
• OhioSection 8 · p. 95–96
• OklahomaSection 8 · p. 100–101
• OregonSection 8 · p. 103–104
• PennsylvaniaSection 8 · p. 131–133
• Rhode IslandSection 8 · p. 96–98
• South CarolinaSection 8 · p. 115–116
• South DakotaSection 8 · p. 123–124
• TennesseeSection 8 · p. 105–106
• TexasSection 8 · p. 109–111
• UtahSection 8 · p. 105–106
• VermontSection 8 · p. 113–114
• VirginiaSection 8 · p. 100–101
• WashingtonSection 8 · p. 107–108
• West VirginiaSection 8 · p. 138–139
• WisconsinSection 8 · p. 145–148
• WyomingSection 8 · p. 99–101