DO: Answer the following questions.
- Look at the following illustrations of what happens to liquid cargo as you travel the highways. Study them. Then answer the questions that follow.
a. What happens to liquid in a partially full tanker when you travel?
b. Would the same thing happen if the tanker were full? Why or why not?
c. Which would be easier to haul, the full or the partially full tanker? Explain.
d. How would baffles in the tanker reduce danger during travel?
e. What might a driver of a partially full tanker do to lessen danger while driving?
- Look at the following illustration of beef. This kind of load is called swinging beef. It can't be tied down because the tie-downs would bruise the beef so badly that it couldn't be used once it reached its destination. Answer the questions that follow.
a. What will the beef do when you turn a corner?
b. What will the beef do when you slow down?
c. What will the beef do when you accelerate?
d. What might happen when you are carrying the load over icy pavement?
e. What steps can a driver take to lessen the dangers caused by swinging beef?
- Imagine yourself the driver of a difficult load. It might be difficult because it will be hard to tie-down (like boats, bathtubs or window frames). Or it might be difficult because of surging or swinging (like swinging beef). Describe your load in the space below. Tell how you would lessen the dangers of spillage or accident. For example, what type of tie-down would you use? What driving skills would you use or special precautions would you take to lessen danger? Draw a picture if it will help either to show your load or to illustrate the safety steps you should take.
STUDY PURPOSE: This exercise is provided to draw your attention to PROJECT /the causes of accidents. It will give you experience in analyzing #2 two accidents to see what caused them and help you think about / how they could have been avoided.
DO: The Supervisor's Investigation Report (Figure 22-4 in the Trucking Handbook) is made out at the scene of the accident if possible by the company's accident investigator. If the accident investigator cannot make it out at the actual scene of the accident, she or he will make it out later at the office or terminal. He or she will also suggest a remedy to prevent another similar accident from occurring in the future.
Assume that you are a company accident investigator. Snap out two copies of the Supervisor's Investigation Report which appears in Part IV of this workbook.
Complete an investigation report on each of the accidents described in STUDY PROJECT #1. You will have to guess at the extent of property damage. What damages to the rig would you imagine, considering the driver's description of the accident? What dollar figure would you assign to damages? Decide which things to put down under unsafe conditions and which things to put down under unsafe acts.
Doing this exercise will help you take a close look at truck safety. Be sure to fill in the section marked "Remedy." What would you do to avoid such occurrences in the future if you were the investigator? Would you suspend the driver? Would you have the rig repaired? Would you issue new safety guidelines to all drivers? Be realistic and practical. What would you do?