NTSB Urges Changes to Cargo Tankers

The National Transportation Safety Board told federal regulators they can reduce the number of cargo tanker rollovers if they mandated roll stability technology and improved cargotank design.

“The NTSB concludes that although a rollover prevention program will not eliminate all rollovers due to driver errors, it can be effective for identifying ways for cargo tank motor vehicle drivers and management to work collaboratively to prevent rollover accidents,” the board wrotein aSept. 2 letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Cargo tank trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating higher than 10,000 pounds should be required to be retrofitted with stability control systems, NTSB said.

NTSB votedon the recommendations at a meeting in July.