Hazmat and Railroad crossing question?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TruckerDreams, Nov 14, 2016.

  1. TruckerDreams

    TruckerDreams Bobtail Member

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    Sep 3, 2015
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    Hi guys, I am studying to get my Hazmat endorsement and I needed some clarification on something related to carrying Placarded Hazmat over railroad crossings. I have read 49 CFR 392.10 (copied below) and I needed help understanding it. I understand I don't need to stop at tracks controlled by traffic lights with a green light (example a control device with red, yellow, green light) but what about a normal railroad gate such as below that only exhibits red flashing lights, is this a situation that I need to turn on my hazards and come to a complete stop?


    "§ 392.10 Railroad grade crossings; stopping required.
    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the driver of a commercial motor vehiclespecified in paragraphs (a) (1) through (6) of this section shall not cross a railroad track or tracks at grade unless he/she first: Stops the commercial motor vehicle within 50 feet of, and not closer than 15 feet to, the tracks; thereafter listens and looks in each direction along the tracks for an approaching train; and ascertains that no train is approaching. When it is safe to do so, the driver may drive the commercial motor vehicle across the tracks in a gear that permits the commercial motor vehicle to complete the crossing without a change of gears. The driver must not shift gears while crossing the tracks.

    (1) Every bus transporting passengers,

    (2) Every commercial motor vehicle transporting any quantity of a Division 2.3 chlorine.

    (3) Every commercial motor vehicle which, in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Transportation, is required to be marked or placarded with one of the following classifications:

    (i) Division 1.1

    (ii) Division 1.2, or Division 1.3

    (iii) Division 2.3 Poison gas

    (iv) Division 4.3

    (v) Class 7

    (vi) Class 3 Flammable

    (vii) Division 5.1

    (viii) Division 2.2

    (ix) Division 2.3 Chlorine

    (x) Division 6.1 Poison

    (xi) Division 2.2 Oxygen

    (xii) Division 2.1

    (xiii) Class 3 Combustible liquid

    (xiv) Division 4.1

    (xv) Division 5.1

    (xvi) Division 5.2

    (xvii) Class 8

    (xviii) Division 1.4

    (4) Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, used for the transportation of any hazardous material as defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation, parts 107 through 180 of this title.

    (5) Every cargo tank motor vehicle transporting a commodity which at the time of loading has a temperature above its flashpoint as determined by § 173.120 of this title.

    (6) Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, transporting any commodity under exemption in accordance with the provisions of subpart B of part 107 of this title.

    (b) A stop need not be made at:

    (1) A streetcar crossing, or railroad tracks used exclusively for industrial switching purposes, within a business district, as defined in § 390.5 of this chapter.

    (2) A railroad grade crossing when a police officer or crossing flagman directs traffic to proceed,

    (3) A railroad grade crossing controlled by a functioning highway traffic signal transmitting a green indication which, under local law, permits the commercial motor vehicle to proceed across the railroad tracks without slowing or stopping.

    (4) An abandoned railroad grade crossing which is marked with a sign indicating that the rail line is abandoned,

    (5) An industrial or spur line railroad grade crossing marked with a sign reading “Exempt.” Such “Exempt” signs shall be erected only by or with the consent of the appropriate State or local authority." railroad.jpg
     
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  3. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    Real world - if it's a rail crossing with the ding dong lights , with or without barriers - and you're placarded with ANYTHING -

    Hazards, stop, window down, look, proceed if clear.

    Only exemption - marked 'EXEMPT'.

    You'll never hear of a citation issued for a RR Xing that you stopped for if you didn't have to stop for it.

    Hope that helps.
     
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  4. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    And... NEVER hang your trailer on the railroad track you are crossing waiting on a light. Never never never.

    When hear that bell going and the gates coming down you #### well STOP and aSTAY.

    ALWAYS stop at the track and check both ways at least 20 seconds. Remember a train coming at 80 track speed will get to you in 30 seconds or less after they trip the gate signal device down track. You do not have that much time to get clear. Hazmat? Check your evac zones for certain materials and you see that a entire southern town of 10,000 will be told to get out and hustle if your load got slammed by a train because you flubbed the crossing and....

    And always remember while crossing, should your engine stall, you jam that tranny into low gear, and stand on the starter button and physically drag it all off the rails. Then worry about kicking her over.
     
  5. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    Side comment - congratulations on studying and asking these questions.

    You'd be surprised at the amount of DUMB accidents that occur between our competition and the motoring public, let alone 'professional drivers'.

    There's many a soul in a theoretical afterlife that repeats daily, whilst being roasted on a fiery spit -

    "Wish I'd studied that section on rail crossings "
     
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  6. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    And get out and RUN Forrest RUN, if plans A and B fail :(
     
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  7. Steel Tiger

    Steel Tiger Road Train Member

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    Orlando, FL
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    Unless you're in an automatic, then you're screwed.
     
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  8. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    Ive wondered about the autos. There was a procedure that I practiced on the fords where the engine was shut off while moving forward in drive and then restarted in nuetral back to drive.

    I am sorry I never tried that out in a automatic truck. It should work. Autos are nice, despite my constant picking at them. But I'll go out with a manual in the hand.
     
  9. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    The industrial parts of L.A. are bad for the crossing near a red light or stop sign. The trains that go through that part of town are higher speed commuter rails. I almost got nailed by one. Some of the intersections have the RR crossing at peculiar distances from the stop sign or traffic light so if you don't know a commuter train is likely every few minutes you could be in for a big surprise.
     
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  10. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    Baltimore, MD
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    @blairandgretchen summed it up nicely. Beyond that, I'd say you have it covered. If you're showing placards, you must stop at any crossing not paved over or marked exempt.

    All true, except for one thing I would disagree on. Freight trains don't run that fast, at least not around these parts. Passenger trains do, but those never directly cross a public road on grade. The road always goes over via a bridge.
     
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  11. Singlescrew

    Singlescrew Light Load Member

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    Dec 28, 2015
    Twin Cities
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    If your placarded (or not) don't shift while crossing them either. That will be an auto fail during road test. Or at least in MN it is.

    Funny story: To get to one of my shippers it's in an old part of town and there is a rr Xing with a stop sign around 40 foot past on a truck route. So either you have to blow the stop sign or stop for the sign and have your trailer on the tracks...I'd love to meet the engineer that set that one up.
     
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