I've Opened Up A Whole Can Of... Pickles. Want Opinions Re: Tanker Endorsement

Ok, I have a very juicy question. I posted it on a particular fb group and over 100 posts later, they're still arguing about it. Anywho, here goes:

I have a load of pickles which are packed in liquid. They are in eighty 50 gallon barrels. So 4,000 gallons of Flamm packed pickles :-) at a weight of 40,400 lbs.

Does this need a tanker endorsement to legally pull?

Want to hear everyone's theory on this.. particularly tanker drivers.

It seems you do not need a tanker endorsement for that. From the CDL manual:

A tank endorsement is required for any commercial vehicle that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials in a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or chassis.

You do not have any tanks larger than 119 gallons, so no, you don't need a tanker endorsement for that.

That's also what my safety department said lol. I am still however being bombarded (on FB) in both comments and messenger and now they're still arguing over it, saying because it's measured in gallons and over 1k gallons, etc etc

Just gotta love it.

It seems you do not need a tanker endorsement for that. From the CDL manual:

A tank endorsement is required for any commercial vehicle that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials in a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or chassis.

You do not have any tanks larger than 119 gallons, so no, you don't need a tanker endorsement for that.

If it said OR an aggregate capacity, you could make the argument they are temporarily attached. But I would agree with Brett, no endorsement needed

It actually does say something about combined, but I think due to the smaller barrels (under 119), that the combined thing doesn't apply.

I've got tanker endorsement, but since I only extremely rarely use it in a dry van and don't pull a tanker, I always double check if in doubt.

Good question susan, and Brett is correct. The individual containers under 119 are fine. It was changed a few years ago when some companies started hauling 250 gallon totes in van trailers. DOT had a fit over it. The companies argued it was a van not a tanker, and all of a sudden the rule changed.

The individual containers under 119 are fine

Yeah, they had to set a minimum container size and an aggregate amount or it might not make sense to require a tanker endorsement. For instance, you wouldn't want to require someone to have a tanker endorsement if they're only hauling 130 gallons of a liquid in one 150 gallon tote. That's not nearly enough liquid to require a tanker endorsement.

On the other hand, if they didn't set a minimum container size then someone hauling only 1,000 gallons of chicken soup (probably 10,000 pounds or so) in 12 ounce cans would need a tanker endorsement. The liquid doesn't move enough in such small containers to require a tanker endorsement.

So the combination of minimum container size and aggregate gallons will allow them to require a tanker endorsement when necessary without being overly restrictive and requiring it too often.

I am still however being bombarded (on FB) in both comments and messenger and now they're still arguing over it

But I thought only highly knowledgeable people offering the God's honest truth, insightful wisdom, and civil debates were allowed on Facebook?

Gotta love "Women In Trucking". Nuff said, right?

Yeah, what Brett said.

A ‘women in trucking’ FB group, still haven’t come to a consensus, 100 posts later? Come clean, Susan... is it really 4 or 5 ladies who have changed their minds 20-25 times?

:)

Gotta love "Women In Trucking". Nuff said, right?

hahahhah one of the reasons I deleted my FB account was the incessant bantering. Don't name them or they will come here!!!

I tried to tell them that I'm right and they are sexist to tell me I'm wrong...cause you know...in today's society all women are honest, intelligent, hardworking angels and can never be wrong. Unless you disagree with the mantra for the day....then you are a sexist racist homophobic transphobic antisemetic bigot.