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CDL · Emergencies

If you discover a leak from your cargo tank, what should you do?

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

Stop driving with a leaking tank — do not continue except to reach a safe place to stop — and follow the proper procedures, including notifying authorities for hazardous cargo, because continuing can spread the spill and create serious danger

  1. A Speed up to empty the tank faster
  2. B Stop driving with a leaking tank — do not continue except to reach a safe place to stop — and follow the proper procedures, including notifying authorities for hazardous cargo, because continuing can spread the spill and create serious danger
  3. C Ignore small leaks
  4. D Continue to the destination and report it there

Why this is the answer

A leaking cargo tank is a serious emergency. The manual instructs drivers not to continue driving with a leak any farther than necessary to reach a safe stopping place. Continuing spreads the spill along the roadway, increases fire or environmental risk, and may release a large volume of product. For hazardous materials, the driver must follow the response information on the shipping papers and emergency response guide, keep the public away, and notify the proper authorities. Identifying the cargo and having the correct paperwork allows responders to handle the substance correctly.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual 8.4.1 Leaks

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About this topic: Emergencies

Blowouts, brake failures, off-road excursions, and skids are rare but high-stakes. Practiced responses prevent panic reactions that can turn a recoverable situation into a fatal one. This is one of 9 Tanker questions on emergencies, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our CDL exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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