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CDL · Outage and Loading

What is outage, and why must tanks not be loaded completely full of liquid?

Correct answer

Outage is the empty space left in a tank to allow the liquid room to expand as temperature rises

  1. A Outage is the empty space left in a tank to allow the liquid room to expand as temperature rises
  2. B Outage is the total weight of the cargo
  3. C Outage means the tank is out of service
  4. D Outage is the time a tank can be left unattended

Why this is the answer

Outage is the deliberate empty space left in a liquid tank so the cargo has room to expand. Liquids expand as they warm, and a tank filled completely could rupture or leak as temperature rises during the trip. Different liquids expand by different amounts, so the required outage varies with the product. The driver must know the outage requirement for the specific cargo and not overfill. Outage is one of three things — outage, weight limits, and the density of the liquid — that determine how much of a tank can be filled.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual 8.3.1 Outage

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