Tank engineers update recommended practices

Engineers from North America’s leading tank trailer manufacturers reviewed the status of federal regulations and updated a recommended practice and a technical bulletin during this year’s TTMA convention.

Here are the major topics of discussion:

•  The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has officially revoked its proposed wetline regulation. Had the proposal been implemented, it would have had an adverse impact of tank truck operators.

•  A supplement notice of proposed rulemaking is expected soon on the ASME Section XII adoption rule, HM-241

•  John Freiler, TTMA’s engineering manager, reported on the work the Engineering Committee has been doing concerning the PRD upgrades and communications with the Department of Transportation.

The following new publications were presented to the Tank Conference’s executive committee for revision approval and eventually passed on to the Board for final review. They were:

•  TB 127 — Out of Print MC-300 Construction Regulations 178.340-343

General discussion included:

•  Recent developments with the Cargo Tank Risk Management Committee.

•  A possible technical bulletin outlining best practices for sampling and another for nitrogen safety were discussed and approved.

•  John Conley spoke about the book he’s working on for TTMA on the history of the trailer industry. He encouraged members to get in touch with him with any contributions.

Serving as chairman of the Tank Conference the past year has been John Cannon of Wabash National. His term as chairman was complete at the end with this year’s convention. Now serving as chairman is Tom Anderson of LBT. Peter Weis of Polar Tank Trailer was selected as the new vice-chairman. Both are serving a term that will end after the 2018 convention.

The next meeting of the Tank Conference’s Engineering Committee is scheduled for July 26 in Alexandria, VA and will feature a joint tank Industry/government session. This will be followed by FET and products liability meetings the next day and then the regular Engineering Committee and joint Industry/Government meetings on the 28th. ♦