What would happen: DOT inspection with a leaking fuel tank
Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by icemerg, Apr 22, 2019.
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Some places definitely oos. Maybe call out the hazmat guys to contain and clean up the leaking, drain your tanks. May depend on how close you are to a shop that can fix it.
Dave_in_AZ, roshea, x1Heavy and 2 others Thank this. -
Get it fixed!! Hazmat containment and clean up can be EXPENSIVE
A drip in your opinion could be considered a SPILL in the DOT's opinion...icemerg Thanks this. -
You will have a VERY expensive Hazmat incident sufficient to bankrupt your company.
If you want to wake up your company bosses in the morning, tell em your fuel is leaking. You will be fixed as soon as possible. BEFORE someone calls it in on you and them.
Its also a OOS. If your fuel is leaking right now call your company and ask where to take the truck right away to get that taken care of. -
You got a lot of chutzbah going over a scale with a leaking fuel tank. I believe, according to today's tree huggering DOT officers, that's a sin worse than all, leaking fuel, right up there with the Exxon Valdiz spill,,,
Dave_in_AZ, mtoo, bzinger and 1 other person Thank this. -
You will be put out of service because of a fuel leak.
I cant remember what the code was back in the 70's & 80's when I was a fire fighter & I am sure the codes have changed since then but, IIRC I think it had to be like a five gallon spill before hazmat was called. At a drop every 4 seconds, it'll be a while before it turns into 5 gallon spill but, again, you'll be out of service until you can have a roadside service to come out & fix it.
Roadside service will need to bring a sack of oil dry to clean up the "less than" 5 gal spill.
Again, the codes could have changed since the 1980's, so I dont know what the codes are today. It could be one gallon for all I know. But a drip every 4 sec, for one hr, in my opinion wont get Haz-Mat on the scene. The main concern is run off & there wont be enough run off to be a qualifying hazard to call Haz-Mat.... per code. If someone knows or can find the answer on Google etc, please feel free to post.jammer910Z Thanks this. -
Short answer? It's a mandatory OOS. If found on an inspection.
Longer answer? Liquid fuels
396.3(a)(1) page 49 of the north american standard out-of-service criteria.
Reference for 393.3(a)(1) page 435 FMCS REG BOOK.
1. Parts and accessories shall be in safe and proper operating condition at all times, These include those specified in part 393 of this subchapter and any additional parts and accessories which may affect safety of operation, including but not limited to, frame and frame assemblies, suspension systems, axles and attaching parts, wheels and rims, and steering systems.
Real life results. Truck will end up out of service, if the repair guy you call can't fix it easily then you are looking at a fee for the fix it guy coming out, the hazmat company to drain the tanks. The tow fee to take the truck to the shop. Then the fee for the repairs.
It's not fun trust me. -
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Grumppy Thanks this.
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It may be true that a quart of oil will contaminate a 1/4 million gallons of water but if the truth is told, its so minute (miNUTE) that it wont ever make a difference.
Its just numbers to the very extreme meant to make their case, which in the end, don't really make a dimes worth of difference.
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