HazMat Railroad Crossing Question

My question is we drive late model Mack trucks with the intelligent Automatic transmissions, I remember (many years ago) when taking my original CDL driving test asking the facilitator what to do if I have an Automatic Transmission when crossing a RR, at the time he advised me to put the transmission in 'Manual' until I had finished crossing. I am trying to find if this is actual law or just his opinion.

The reason I ask is I hear my company is starting to disable the "performance" mode and "manual" feature in the name of fuel economy (I don't know if it will work, just piss drivers off) but I want to know if they can legally disable the manual function... I use it! We have a station with a very steep driveway and I must make a U-turn in said driveway, to do this safely with a loaded tanker I stop, drop the transmission into 1st gear, place it in manual and proceed. These new automatics have a tendency to shift irradically and lunge or lurch at odd times, I'd hate to roll a truck over because the transmission decided to shift in the middle of this dangerous U-Turn.

Any help pointing to the actual DOT law that I can then give to the company would be appreciated

 

Sorry to hear your company is thinking about denutting your trans even further.
Personally, I'm a hard core manual trans only, kinda guy.

I've seen nothing in the regs, even the guidance section, that would prevent the company from disabling the manual-mode on your automatic.
The regs state: The driver must not shift gears while crossing the tracks.
I think the keyword here is "driver". Since the actual shift is controlled by the trans, and not the driver, I think that leaves you at the mercy of your company's decisions.

Edit: I forgot to add, and to cover all bases,
The reg does say "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."

Technically, if the company eliminates the manual function, that won't allow you to be "in a gear that permits the commercial motor vehicle to complete the crossing without a change of gears". That (non)change of gears can't be guaranteed with any auto. But I think it's splitting hairs, and getting way too 'technical' to be any valid basis for your argument.

 

Stop look listen throw on Hazards. Leave in Drive and cross the dang tracks, Looking way too much into this.

 

It's good to hear some drivers actually follow the rules

 

I agree,
If he feels comfortable doing it this way without rolling his truck. Sure as heck wouldn't put my life in danger because of a 3 month veteran of desk jockey doesn't know. A Odd ball question.

I'd get with a bunch of folks at the company, no doubt about it and make them aware of the situation and concerns.

Interesting question and TTT

 

Cover your placards and blow through the tracks...😄😄😄

 

for real thats the only way to do it and you can smoke still lol

 

It's an interesting argument. It's not like a manual tranny is fool proof, and locking the tranny in gear would be the safest way to cross to ensure the auto tranny doesn't fail during a cross.

 

Great question!

 

I leave mine in drive and let it shift while crossing tracks. Way I see it, I'm not shifting, the truck is, DOT hasn't said anything to me about it.