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CDL · Outage and Loading

Why might a tank be only partially filled even when there is room for more liquid by volume?

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

Because a dense liquid can reach the legal weight limit before the tank is full by volume, so you cannot fill the whole tank without overloading

  1. A Because a dense liquid can reach the legal weight limit before the tank is full by volume, so you cannot fill the whole tank without overloading
  2. B Tanks are never filled more than halfway by law
  3. C Because partial loads reduce surge
  4. D Drivers prefer lighter loads for comfort

Why this is the answer

How much liquid you can legally carry depends on the liquid's weight (density) as well as the tank's volume and the required outage. A very dense product — many chemicals, for example — will reach the maximum legal axle and gross weight long before the tank is physically full. In that case the tank is loaded only partway by volume to stay within weight limits. This is why a driver must understand the cargo's density and the vehicle's weight ratings, not just the tank's capacity. Loading by volume alone can easily put the vehicle over weight.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual 8.3.3 Weight and Density

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About this topic: Outage and Loading

Outage is the space left in a tank so the liquid can expand as it warms; loading questions ask how much to leave, why it depends on the product, and how weight limits can be reached before the tank is full. This is one of 11 Tanker questions on outage and loading, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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