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CDL · Driving Tank Vehicles

What is the most dangerous handling characteristic of a tank vehicle?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

High center of gravity combined with liquid surge inside the tank

  1. A Difficulty reversing
  2. B High center of gravity combined with liquid surge inside the tank
  3. C High fuel consumption
  4. D Slow acceleration

Why this is the answer

Tank vehicles have a high center of gravity (the tank itself sits high above the chassis and the liquid further raises the center) and the liquid inside shifts during acceleration, braking, and turning. The combination is exceptionally prone to rollovers. Drivers must reduce speed dramatically in curves (often 5-15 mph below posted curve advisories), slow before turns rather than during, accelerate gently from stops, and avoid sudden steering. Tanker rollovers happen routinely on highway exit ramps where drivers underestimate the curve. Liquid surge can also push the vehicle through a stop sign even after the driver hits the brakes. The defensive principle: slow down, smooth inputs, expect the unexpected from the cargo.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual 8.2.1 High Center of Gravity

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About this topic: Driving Tank Vehicles

Driving a tank vehicle means managing a high centre of gravity and a shifting load: slow for curves well below the posted speed, brake early and smoothly, and never make sudden steering changes. These questions cover the handling rules for liquid loads. This is one of 21 Tanker questions on driving tank vehicles, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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