subject: What Tanker Trucks Carry [print this page] What Tanker Trucks Carry
A tanker truck is a large truck that carries liquid loads such as gasoline, jet fuel, oil and other dangerous chemicals. Tanker trucks tend to be extremely large and may have internal divisions in the tank so they can carry even more liquid cargo. A collision between a tanker truck and a passenger vehicle will typically result in serious personal injury and/or death. More often than not, though, tanker trucks tip over and no other vehicles will be involved in the tanker truck accident. When a tanker truck crashes and the contents spill out onto the roadway, people nearby can be exposed to hazardous chemicals and fumes, and evacuation of the area may become necessary. An experienced truck accident lawyer can advise you of your rights following an accident with a tanker truck.
Typically, tanker trucks carry approximately 3,000 gallons of liquid, but some larger tanker trucks carry up to 9,000 gallons. One example of these large tanker trucks are the ones you've seen at your local gas station filling the underground tanks.
Small tanker trucks that carry less than 3,000 gallons are usually used to deliver light cargo within the driver's community. A common example of a small tanker truck is the type used by septic service companies. These trucks are used to vacuum out septic tanks and then the tanker truck delivers the septic material to a waste collection site. Oftentimes, tanker trucks carry a highly flammable load so a collision with a tanker truck can cause an immediate and deadly explosion.
Rollover accidents are actually a very common type of tanker truck accident. Because the tanker truck's load is liquid, it shifts with the motion of the truck and the grade of the highway. If a truck driver fails to slow down sufficiently when turning or exiting a highway, the force of the liquid can actually push the trailer over onto its side. Additionally, exceptionally curvy or bumpy roads will naturally cause the load to shift and can thus result in a rollover accident.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucks with hazardous material are 50% more likely to spill their cargo than trucks carrying a non-hazardous load. Finally, rollover accidents are three times more likely to result in serious injury or death when a tanker truck is involved.
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