FMSCA must alter its definition of 'tank vehicle,' according to truckers

Land Line magazine recently reported the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is pushing legislators to redefine the term "tank vehicle" because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration changed the definition in a recently updated set of industry rules which could affect many members of the trucking industry.

The current law suggests that all drivers would need specialized training to take on certain loads, even if they are not deemed harmful by any means, said the magazine.

"Right now, with FMCSA’s definition, you’re going to capture the vast majority of drivers in the industry where they have to get a tanker endorsement on their CDL," said Joe Rajkovacz, director of regulatory affairs for the OOIDA. "You never know when a load is going to pop up and what sort of drivers are going to be in the area for it. This definition is ridiculous."

While all professional truck drivers have CDL training, many would need to go through unnecessary training as a result of the current definition of a tank vehicle, critics of the FMSCA state.

Multiple trucking companies and organizations are in opposition to the definition put forward by the FMCSA, including the National Tank Truck Carriers and the American Trucking Associations, which believe the definition creates too much complexity in the trucking industry.

FMSCA must alter its definition of 'tank vehicle,' according to truckers

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012