Hazard Lights At Railroad Crossings

Where I work has a lot of differing opinions about what is and is not correct and being very new to this (only have my permit), I've been trying to weed through some of the opinion and get to the facts.

Which leads me to this question: Are HAZMAT tankers (JET-A specifically) required to use their hazard lights when they come to a stop at a railroad? I had one driver tell me that if you don't you can have your license pulled for 6 months and while I've been trying to google it nothing has come up.

Any of the pros on here have the real answer with evidence to back it up? Thank you in advance :)

Where I work has a lot of differing opinions about what is and is not correct and being very new to this (only have my permit), I've been trying to weed through some of the opinion and get to the facts.

Which leads me to this question: Are HAZMAT tankers (JET-A specifically) required to use their hazard lights when they come to a stop at a railroad? I had one driver tell me that if you don't you can have your license pulled for 6 months and while I've been trying to google it nothing has come up.

Any of the pros on here have the real answer with evidence to back it up? Thank you in advance :)

absolutely Jet A Fuel for planes ah yeah and you stop about 50 ft before the tracks roll down windows turn off all noise makers and listen for train make sure you also have your 4 way flashers on when coast is clear keeping your windows down all noise makers off gradually proceed to go over tracks do not shift over tracks get up to the speed limit and then you can go about your business fines are different in alot of states and if DOT catches you yeah you probably will get your license yanked

Also if you have only a permit you should not be driving with a Hazmat you only get a Hazmat when you apply and send in fingerprints and and pass your final road test not to mention written test at the DMV its a Homeland Security Background check and that would be my evidence since I got a Hazmat cost about $160 I hope your not driving without one and your hauling Jet A fuel you get caught you can kiss your permit goodbye and get a hefty fine and probably lose your chance at getting your license for quite sometime dont mean to be so harsh but tell your company you might save them some money

I believe any hazmat load, you stop at R/R crossing, toss 4 ways on listen for any sound of train, and then proceed on.

Also if you have only a permit you should not be driving with a Hazmat you only get a Hazmat when you apply and send in fingerprints and and pass your final road test not to mention written test at the DMV its a Homeland Security Background check and that would be my evidence since I got a Hazmat cost about $160 I hope your not driving without one and your hauling Jet A fuel you get caught you can kiss your permit goodbye and get a hefty fine and probably lose your chance at getting your license for quite sometime dont mean to be so harsh but tell your company you might save them some money

Thank you for the quick response. No, I'm not driving any HAZMAT vehicles personally yet, just a flatbed with air brakes. Like I said, I've heard people say that hazard lights need to be on, but I haven't been able to find anywhere that actually says I have to do it. Doesn't cost me anything to throw the switch, I was just wondering if it was actually required.

I believe any hazmat load, you stop at R/R crossing, toss 4 ways on listen for any sound of train, and then proceed on.

Thank you for the quick reply David

Hazard lights are to warn traffic behind you, that you are coming to a stop (thereby CREATING a hazard yourself). HM loads and Passenger (bus) both seem to be required to do this.

Wisconsin, Texas and other states I've taken a cursory look at - call for a 60 day suspension for railroad grade violations. Wisconsin mentions something of the order of 3 YEARS if you're carrying HM in a CMV.

Interestingly enough - the "hazard lights requirement", is NOT actually spelled out in FMCSA 392.10, which is the regulation regarding railroad crossings.

So -I honestly couldn't say if the hazard lights are truly a LEGAL REQUIREMENT - none of the states I've look at actually had it IN THE STATUTE (and it isn't spelled out specifically in 392.10.

On the other hand, every bus and placarded vehicle I've seen at a RR X-ing DOES IT (hazards), it was taught to do it at the county CDL school I attended - so I would treat it as GOSPEL ANYWAY (whether or not you can be cited for it).

Here's an interesting booklet from Operation Lifesaver on Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Training for Professional Truck Drivers, that covers CMV Railroad Crossings - which also doesn't mention hazard lights.

Help this helps, though my research and the lack of statutes/regs specifically mentioning hazard lights lead me to believe it's not part of any regulation/law - but I'd advise using them anyway in the case of placarded HM loads and Passenger Buses.

Regards,

Rick

Hazard lights are to warn traffic behind you, that you are coming to a stop (thereby CREATING a hazard yourself). HM loads and Passenger (bus) both seem to be required to do this.

Wisconsin, Texas and other states I've taken a cursory look at - call for a 60 day suspension for railroad grade violations. Wisconsin mentions something of the order of 3 YEARS if you're carrying HM in a CMV.

Interestingly enough - the "hazard lights requirement", is NOT actually spelled out in FMCSA 392.10, which is the regulation regarding railroad crossings.

So -I honestly couldn't say if the hazard lights are truly a LEGAL REQUIREMENT - none of the states I've look at actually had it IN THE STATUTE (and it isn't spelled out specifically in 392.10.

On the other hand, every bus and placarded vehicle I've seen at a RR X-ing DOES IT (hazards), it was taught to do it at the county CDL school I attended - so I would treat it as GOSPEL ANYWAY (whether or not you can be cited for it).

Here's an interesting booklet from Operation Lifesaver on Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Training for Professional Truck Drivers, that covers CMV Railroad Crossings - which also doesn't mention hazard lights.

Help this helps, though my research and the lack of statutes/regs specifically mentioning hazard lights lead me to believe it's not part of any regulation/law - but I'd advise using them anyway in the case of placarded HM loads and Passenger Buses.

Regards,

Rick

Thank you Rick, that was very insightful

I just finished (yesterday) my class with Swift & got my CDL - no hazmat or other endorsement just now. The Swift road instructor told us to do the full routine (4-way, windows, no shifting) at RR crossings all the time. On my Mississippi DMV test I needed to cross the tracks two times, so I did the procedure two times with the DMV inspector on board. At least he did not question what I was doing.

If nothing else, you could file this as "Best Practice".

Also if you have only a permit you should not be driving with a Hazmat you only get a Hazmat when you apply and send in fingerprints and and pass your final road test not to mention written test at the DMV its a Homeland Security Background check and that would be my evidence since I got a Hazmat cost about $160 I hope your not driving without one and your hauling Jet A fuel you get caught you can kiss your permit goodbye and get a hefty fine and probably lose your chance at getting your license for quite sometime dont mean to be so harsh but tell your company you might save them some money

Thank you for the quick response. No, I'm not driving any HAZMAT vehicles personally yet, just a flatbed with air brakes. Like I said, I've heard people say that hazard lights need to be on, but I haven't been able to find anywhere that actually says I have to do it. Doesn't cost me anything to throw the switch, I was just wondering if it was actually required.

In the training program offered by this site. It has all the details for hasmat loads. I would suggest studying it. It will only help give you the right info. Operate as if you are in the strictest state at all times. It will only help you be safer. Other drivers info may be wrong, its not always their intent to be wrong. Information just get twisted. One of my highschool teachers taught us this by telling the first person in the class the homework assignment. When it got to the end it was way off. He didn't warn the class on what he was doing. It started as a 500 word essay on a historical figure of your choice. It ended by being a 600 word essay with historical significants. As being the last one to hear this.....my simple thought was WTF!? Still remember that to this day as how information can get twisted without someones intention to twist it.