What must be inspected on a tank vehicle that is not part of a standard pre-trip inspection?

Tank vehicles have inspection items beyond the standard pre-trip: the tank body itself (looking for dents, cracks, signs of leakage, weld integrity); manhole covers (properly closed and sealed); vents (clear and operating to prevent vacuum or overpressure during temperature changes); emergency shutoff valves (working properly); loading/unloading hoses and connections (no damage, no contamination); and the placarding/marking required for the cargo. A leak in a tank vehicle can release thousands of gallons quickly, so the integrity of every fitting matters. Drivers should also check the bonding/grounding cables and any specialized equipment like vapor recovery hoses for petroleum products.