A tanker driver is told to take a highway exit ramp marked with a 40 mph advisory speed. What speed is appropriate for a loaded tanker?

Exit ramp speed for tankers: Highway exit and entrance ramp advisory speeds are calculated for typical PASSENGER VEHICLES — they do not account for the high center of gravity and liquid surge of a loaded tanker.

Safe speed: Well below the posted advisory (a 40 mph ramp may require a loaded tanker to enter at 25-30 mph or less).

Ramps are a leading rollover location: The combination of a curve (ramp), deceleration, and a high-center-of-gravity load with surge causes many tanker rollovers; slow down BEFORE the ramp curve.

Surge: Decelerating on the ramp causes forward surge; the curve causes lateral surge — together they strain stability.

Driver guidance: Reduce speed on the straight approach before the ramp; take the ramp slowly and steadily; don't brake hard in the curve; accelerate gently when straightening out.

Rollover threshold: A loaded tanker can roll at ramp speeds a car handles with ease; many rollover crashes happen on ramps where drivers followed the posted advisory speed; for tankers, the posted speed is a maximum for cars, not a target for the tanker — always go slower.