How old is to old of a tanker?

We had a tanker load of motor oil delivered a few weeks ago, just out of curiosity, I checked the data plate; 1973, spring ride, had new tires all around. Never would have known it was that old with out looking at the plate.

 

The trailer I'm pulling today is so old the manufacturer (Lubbock Mfg.) is no longer in business. And the trailer is 5 years older than I am.

 

I know Banning CA scales checks that certification, actually passed a level 1 with a 79 model tank loaded with corrosive material

 

That was who made all those old bottles I was thinking about. You see those refurbed and still running today.

 

Matlack would 're-build' older barrels with the current 'spec' for suspension, fenders, lights, etc. so looking across the lot full of trailers they blended in with the rest of the fleet.

Every time we trained a group of drivers for a startup location, I started them as a group walking around the yard examining the various trailers and items like specification plates before taking them to the oldest unit with it's tiny plate and MC 303 spec...

 

What is an MC 303?

 

History.

MC 303 was superseded by MC 306 which was later updated to DOT406 basically a fuel or solvent trailer without pressure capabilities.
MC 304 was superseded by MC 307 which was later updated to DOT 407, your general chem tailer with pressure capabilities.
MC 310 was superseded by MC 312 which was later updated to DOT 412, your high pressure acid wagons

Compared to the spec plate on current DOT specs the MC 303 was postage stamp sized

No 'specification' tank was outlawed, just stopped being an approved spec for current construction but you can still use them if they pass current inspection criteria.

 

I remember my boss talking probably 20 years ago when they got a new sulfuric acit trailer. 3500 gallon a Brenner. He was looking at the spec and it was a DOT412 instead of the MC312 that he was used to seeing. Panic ensued thinking he got the wrong trailer. He learned the spec had just been updated.

 

What I've noticed is compartment tanks seem stick around longer. Every tank company I've worked for don't think I've ever seen a newer compartment tank. Pulled some really old one that have been essentially rebuilt thru out the years