Railroad crossings

So, the answer is You shouldn't change gears.

No regulations state that you can't change gears.

This is in answer to the OP's question.

It is not about taking a drivers exam.

It is not about haz-mat freight.

And does Not cover the laws in North Korea!!!!

 

Not sure about it being law anywhere but the safe thing to do is to not shift on tracks. Having said that, there are many, many instances where it would be impractical and unsafe to stay in 2nd or 3rd while crossing tracks and "not shifting" at crossings is something I dont practice although I did when I first started out. I would also like to see the law for WA state, but not bad enough that I will go search for it.

 

CA law prohibits shifting on RR tracks. You fail on your test, and yes, there are tracks for the test.

We had a driver that was ticketed for such. The RR crossing was at an intersection and he was getting on his way, and shifted right over the tracks in normal fashion, just getting up to speed. CHP nailed him for it. Don't know how much the fine was.

 

I asked my instructor what he wanted me to do, since in Stockton, CA some of those 4-lane intersections can be quite long and from takeoff in low gear would take forever to cross. His response was to get us through safely and quickly, whatever I needed to do to get that done. I shifted and lost no points. Had I missed or stalled, would have been my own dang fault haha.

 

Same law as the hand guns, I guess.

I have NOT been able to find the LAW......

Have you ?????

 

Ok, "trucker 101" posted this on another thread a little bit ago, and I ripped it below, from him. It's basically if you are Hazmat you must stop and NOT SHIFT as you cross tracks. If not Hazmat, you don't have to stop. We're supposed to learn this stuff in CDL school.


Link, read it all here.


...392.10 Railroad grade crossings; stopping required.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the driver of a commercial motor vehicle specified in paragraphs (1) through (6) of this section shall not cross a railroad track or tracks at grade unless he/she first: Stops the commercial motor vehicle within 50 feet of, and not closer than 15 feet to, the tracks; thereafter listens and looks in each direction along the tracks for an approaching train; and ascertains that no train is approaching. When it is safe to do so, the driver may drive the commercial motor vehicle across the tracks in a gear that permits the commercial motor vehicle to complete the crossing without a change of gears. The driver must not shift gears while crossing the tracks.

{Cut Cut Cut}

(b) A stop need not be made at:

(b)(1) A streetcar crossing, or railroad tracks used exclusively for industrial switching purposes, within a business district, as defined in §390.5 of this chapter,

(b)(2) A railroad grade crossing when a police officer or crossing flagman directs traffic to proceed,

(b)(3) A railroad grade crossing controlled by a functioning highway traffic signal transmitting a green indication which, under local law, permits the commercial motor vehicle to proceed across the railroad tracks without slowing or stopping.

(b)(4) An abandoned railroad grade crossing which is marked with a sign indicating that the rail line is abandoned,

(b)(5) An industrial or spur line railroad grade crossing marked with a sign reading "Exempt." Such "Exempt" signs shall be erected only by or with the consent of the appropriate State or local authority

 

I have different regs I guess...........

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=392.10

 

Same regs...read down to (B)

§ 392.10Railroad grade crossings; stopping required.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the driver of a commercial motor vehicle specified in paragraphs (a) (1) through (6) of this section shall not cross a railroad track or tracks at grade unless he/she first: Stops the commercial motor vehicle within 50 feet of, and not closer than 15 feet to, the tracks; thereafter listens and looks in each direction along the tracks for an approaching train; and ascertains that no train is approaching. When it is safe to do so, the driver may drive the commercial motor vehicle across the tracks in a gear that permits the commercial motor vehicle to complete the crossing without a change of gears. The driver must not shift gears while crossing the tracks.
(1) Every bus transporting passengers,
(2) Every commercial motor vehicle transporting any quantity of a Division 2.3 chlorine.
(3) Every commercial motor vehicle which, in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Transportation, is required to be marked or placarded with one of the following classifications:
(i) Division 1.1
(ii) Division 1.2, or Division 1.3
(iii) Division 2.3 Poison gas
(iv) Division 4.3
(v) Class 7
(vi) Class 3 Flammable
(vii) Division 5.1
(viii) Division 2.2
(ix) Division 2.3 Chlorine
(x) Division 6.1 Poison
(xi) Division 2.2 Oxygen
(xii) Division 2.1
(xiii) Class 3 Combustible liquid
(xiv) Division 4.1
(xv) Division 5.1
(xvi) Division 5.2
(xvii) Class 8
(xviii) Division 1.4
(4) Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, used for the transportation of any hazardous material as defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation, Parts 107 through 180 of this title.
(5) Every cargo tank motor vehicle transporting a commodity which at the time of loading has a temperature above its flashpoint as determined by §173.120 of this title.
(6) Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, transporting any commodity under exemption in accordance with the provisions of subpart B of part 107 of this title.
(b) A stop need not be made at:
(1) A streetcar crossing, or railroad tracks used exclusively for industrial switching purposes, within a business district, as defined in §390.5 of this chapter.
(2) A railroad grade crossing when a police officer or crossing flagman directs traffic to proceed,
(3) A railroad grade crossing controlled by a functioning highway traffic signal transmitting a green indication which, under local law, permits the commercial motor vehicle to proceed across the railroad tracks without slowing or stopping.
(4) An abandoned railroad grade crossing which is marked with a sign indicating that the rail line is abandoned,
(5) An industrial or spur line railroad grade crossing marked with a sign reading "Exempt." Such "Exempt" signs shall be erected only by or with the consent of the appropriate State or local authority.
(Sec. 12, 80 Stat. 931; 49 U.S.C. 1651 note; 49 U.S.C. 304, 1655; 49 CFR 1.48(b) and 301.60)
[33 FR 19732, Dec. 25, 1968, as amended at 35 FR 7801, May 21, 1970; 38 FR 1589, Jan. 16, 1973; 40 FR 44555, Sept. 29, 1975; 45 FR 46424, July 10, 1980; 47 FR 47837, Oct. 28, 1982; 59 FR 63924, Dec. 12, 1994; 60 FR 38746, 38747, July 28, 1995]

 

We are not dealing with B.

Just deal with A. .....1 thru 6

Which is hazmat or passengers.

Not asking about stopping, debating the shifting !!!!