highway-rail grade crossing training for professional truck drivers

Highway-Rail Grade CrossingTraining for Professional Truck Drivers

Presented by Operation Lifesaver

P R O V I D E D I N T H E I N T E R E S T O F S A F E T Y

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S T A Y A L I V E W H E N Y O U D R I V E

Table of ContentsProfessional Truck Driver’s Guide

1420 King Street,Suite 401Alexandria, Virginia22314-2750

T 1-800-537-6224P 703-739-0308F 703-519-8267W www.oli.org

Stay Alive When You Drive a DVD produced for Operation Lifesaver, Inc., by Big Picture

Printed materials designed by Marquis Graphic Design Associates

I N T R O D U C T I O N ........................................................................................................................ 1Target AudienceOperation LifesaverGoal of TrainingU.S. Rail Incident StatisticsVideo Notes

S I X S T E P S F O R T R U C K D R I V E R S A F E T Y ............................................................. 2Crossing a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

R E V I E W P R O C E D U R E S AT H I G H W AY- R A I L C R O S S I N G S .......................... 3Five Safety ProceduresBefore Resuming Travel

S I G N S A N D S I G N A L S AT H I G H W AY- R A I L G R A D E C R O S S I N G S ...............4-5Passive Signs at Railroad CrossingsSigns in Advance of Railroad CrossingsActive Signal Devices at Railroad Crossings

S P E C I A L P R O C E D U R E S ......................................................................................................... 6Police Officer or Flagman at the CrossingPlanning a Safe RouteStorage (Containment) AreasWatch Your Truck’s OverhangHazmat VehiclesPlan Ahead to Avoid an Emergency

R E A L I N C I D E N T S – L E S S O N S L E A R N E D ................................................................... 7Bourbonnais, ILPortage, INSan Francisco, CACrescent, IABrighton, IL

C O M M E R C I A L D R I V E R D I S Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S ........................................................ 8Specific RegulationsSafety Statistics

P R O F E S S I O N A L T R U C K D R I V E R S A F E T Y Q U I Z .................................................... 9

S T A Y A L I V E W H E N Y O U D R I V E 1

Introduction

TA R G E T A U D I E N C EOperation Lifesaver worked with our safety part-ners in the trucking industry to develop this train-ing video for professional drivers. This program isgeared to increase driver awareness of the poten-tial dangers at highway-rail grade crossings.Several situations that result in tragedy arereviewed to help drivers make decisions that couldsave their lives and the lives of others at highway-rail grade crossings.

O P E R AT I O N L I F E S AV E R , I N C .Stay Alive When You Drive, created forprofessional truck drivers, joins a number of train-ing videos developed by Operation Lifesaver Inc.(OLI). OLI is a non-profit, public education andsafety outreach program dedicated to endingcollisions, deaths and injuries at highway-railgrade crossings and along railroad rights-of-way.

A certified presenter is available for free to speakto driver training classes to reinforce these safetymaterials for truck drivers. Operation Lifesaverpresenters also give safety talks to communitygroups, school bus drivers, students and youngdrivers to raise awareness about railroad safety.Locate your state’s Operation Lifesaver coordina-tor online at www.oli.org.

G O A LOur goal is to assist drivers and driver trainers aswe work together to eliminate tragedies at thecrossings by explaining the potential dangers andhow to avoid them.

U . S . R A I L I N C I D E N T S TAT I S T I C SThe most recent vehicle-train and pedestrian-trainstatistics are available at the Operation Lifesaverwebsite:www.oli.org/statistics/statistics_overview.htm. This information comes from the Federal RailroadAdministration, which is mandated by Congress tocollect it from the railroads. The results can beofficially reported up to 90 days after a collision.

Stay Alive When You Drive,Professional Driver Training Video NotesStay Alive When You Drive, a training video developed by OperationLifesaver Inc., in cooperation with professional truck drivers and therailroad industry, provides important safety tips for drivers.

The video recognizes the enormous responsibilities faced byOperation Lifesaver’s partners who operate 18-wheel vehicles,extended vans and everything in between.

Divided into six scenarios, this 14-minute, fast-paced videoincludes several truck-train crashes that illustrate the high stakesdrivers face at crossings.

1. Stay Alive When You Drive – Introductiona Trains = 12 million pounds coming your wayb Illusion: trains are moving slowly.c It takes a mile or more to stop a train = 18 football fields.

2. Should You Stay or Should You Go?a 15 – 50 Rule tells you where to stop.b Watch for Advance warnings, pavement markings, crossbuck.c You make the judgment; make it well.

3. Double Visiona Real challenge: multiple tracksb Know the length of your trailer and cab.c Add 15 feet when estimating length.

4. Low Ridera Don’t get caught on a high profile/hump crossing.b Know your under clearance: between the bottom of truck

and rail.c Remember to raise your trailer jack/dolly legs before moving.d Forgetting to bring up trailer legs can hang up truck at crossing.

5. Crossroadsa To avoid a collision, follow signal of rail/police flagman.b If truck has a hazmat placard, it must stop at crossings.c Trains overhang the tracks by at least 3 feet on both sides.

6. If You’re Stuck on the Tracksa GET OUT of your vehicle.b Use the phone number from the Emergency Notification sign

at the railroad crossing to call to alert the railroad. If you don’thave the number, call local police or 911.

7 Born to Be Wilda In bad weather, the wind can mask the sounds of train horns.b Take extra care to look and listen for trains in a storm.c Oversized loads require extra planning and smooth crossings.

8 Conclusion – Let’s never cross paths!a You earn the title “Professional Driver” every day of the year.b Maintain your role in the nation’s transportation system by

following the safety tips in this training and yourorganization’s training materials.

L O O K , L I S T E N & L I V E2

Warning Signs & DevicesSix Steps for Truck Driver Safety

C R O S S I N G A H I G H W AY- R A I L G R A D E C R O S S I N G

STEP 1 Approach with Care

Prepare to Stop a Roll Down Window b Listen for a Train

a Open Windows and Doorsb Look Both Ways Carefullyc Look and Listen for the Train

a If necessary, Rock Back and Forth to see aroundpillars, posts, buildings, trees, etc.

STEP 2 Turn Off Radio and Fan

STEP 3 Look and Listen for Train STEP 4 Do a Double Take

STEP 5 Stop no closer than 15 feet fromthe crossing

STEP 6 GO! Cross with Care


F I V E S A F E T Y P R O C E D U R E S

■ When you see an AdvanceWarning sign, it alerts you to arailroad crossing ahead. It is timeto begin to slow your vehicle, soyou will be able to stop if a trainis approaching.

■ While slowing or stopped, look and listen care-fully in each direction for the sight and soundof a train.

■ Never shift on a railroad crossing to avoid therisk of stalling on the tracks.

■ Check for traffic around you before you startto move towards a crossing. Use a pull-outlane, if one is available. Turn on your flashers,if necessary to warn traffic that you are slow-ing down or stopping at the crossing.

■ Don’t start across until you know you can crossthe tracks completely without stopping.

B E F O R E R E S U M I N G T R AV E L

■ Take a quick look in both directions before youstart your rig across.

■ If there is a traffic signal or a stop sign acrossthe tracks, make certain traffic will not trapyou on the crossing.

■ Before you cross, plan to have 15 feet clear-ance between your ICC (rear) bumper of yourtruck and the farthest rail. This will preventyour truck’s overhang from getting hit.

■ If there are flashing lights and gates at thecrossing, stop when the lights start to flash.Wait until the lights stop flashing and thegates go completely up.

■ If there is no gate, but warning lights areflashing, you will be required to stop, thencan proceed when it is safe to do so.

■ If the warning lights at the crossing begin toflash after you have started across the trackswith your rig, keep going. Do not back up.

Review Procedures at Highway-Rail Crossings


Signs and Signals at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

PA S S I V E S I G N S AT R A I L R O A DC R O S S I N G SPassive signs (not electronic) and Active trafficcontrol devices (gates, lights, bells) are installedalong the roads near the railroad tracks to regulate,warn and guide traffic. They alert drivers to thepresence of railroad tracks and to the possibilityof an approaching train.

These signs and signal devices also provide asafety message and remind the driver of thelaws regarding highway-rail grade crossings.What follows is a list of various signs and devicesthat you will encounter.

1. The CROSSBUCK sign appears on the right-hand side, prior to the railroad tracks. It hastwo white boards with the words: RAILROADCROSSING. It marks the crossing and should beconsidered the same as a YIELD sign.

You will see crossings with different combina-tions of signage: a crossbuck with a stop signattached below, where you are required tostop. At some crossings you will see a crossbuckpaired with a yield sign. Trains then go, if it isclear. If the crossbuck appears alone here, youare required to check for trains and stop onlyif you see a train.

2. The MULTIPLE TRACK sign appears at thecrossing, underneath the crossbuck. When acrossing has more than one set of tracks, thissign indicates exactly how many tracksthere are.

3. The STOP and YIELD signs mean the same asthey do at highway intersections. A drivermust always stop at the STOP sign in advanceof the railroad track. If there is no stop sign atthe crossing, you must yield the right of way toa train.

4. The DO NOT STOP ON THE TRACKS signrequires the driver not to stop on the railroadtracks for any reason.

5. The TRACKS OUT OF SERVICE sign tells thedriver that trains no longer travel these tracks.It is not necessary to stop at these crossings.

6. The HIGH PROFILE/HIGH CENTER(hump) crossing sign indicates aspecial problem for low clearancevehicles, such as lowboy equipmenttrailers, car carriers and moving vans.

7. NO TRAIN HORN sign shall beinstalled at each highway-railgrade crossing where there is aFederal Railroad Administrationauthorization for trains to notsound a horn. The sign shall bemounted as a supplementalplacard below the Highway-RailGrade Crossing Advance Warning.

S I G N S I N A D VA N C E O F T H EC R O S S I N G1. Yellow circular ADVANCE

WARNING sign warns that theroad crosses the tracks ahead. Itreminds you to slow down, lookand listen for a train. Be preparedto stop if a train is approaching.

2. PAVEMENT MARKINGS (see next page)appear on paved roads near the yellow,circular Advance Warning sign alerts you thatthe road crosses railroad tracks ahead.

NOTRAINHORN


3. A STOP LINE may be painted across theapproach lane on paved roads and identifiesthe safe place to stop if a train is approaching.

4. When a train approaches, you are requiredto stop the truck before the crossbuck sign orsignal at the crossing. On gravel roads thereare no pavement markings or stop Lines. Thestop lines on each side of a single track gradecrossing are at least 35 feet apart. Do notstop within this area. Remember to apply theemergency or parking brakes while waiting atthe stop line, so your truck won’t move or beshoved into the path of the train.

5. The yellow diamond PARALLELTRACK sign identifies highway-railgrade crossings that appear imme-diately after you make either a rightor left turn.

6. LOW CLEARANCE is another issue to considerwhen going under bridges or the edges of abuilding near or above the crossing.

A C T I V E S I G N A L D E V I C E S ATR A I L R O A D C R O S S I N G SThese are electrically powered devices that warnof an approaching train. Know the regulations inthe states where you operate.

1. Flashing Red Lights—withor without bells—warn of anapproaching train. When thered lights are flashing, a train isapproaching. Stop and wait forthe train to pass, then proceedwhen it is clearly safe to do so.

2. Flashing Red Lights—with gates,bells and gates—warn that a trainis approaching. It is illegal to goaround lowered gates. Before crossing, wait untilthe gates are completelyup and the lights go out.


Special Procedures

P O L I C E O F F I C E R O R F L A G M A NAT T H E C R O S S I N GIf a uniformed law enforcement officer in contactwith the railroad or a flagman from the railroadis directing traffic at the crossing, follow theirdirections.

If there is no flagman, and you believe the signalsare malfunctioning, do not proceed. Look for aphone number on the Emergency Notificationsign at or near the crossing to report the situationto the railroad or contact local law enforcement.Then find another route.

P L A N N I N G A S A F E R O U T EWhen possible in planning your route, select aroute that contains the fewest highway-rail gradecrossings. When it is necessary to cross tracks,select the safest crossings—those that offer thebest sight distance (no obstructions to your clearline of vision down the tracks). Select crossingsthat offer you enough containment or storagearea for you to stop at a stop sign or stoplightdirectly across the tracks. Allow enough space foryour truck to fit on the other side without over-hang onto the tracks. Be especially careful atpassive crossings (those without gates, flashinglights, bells). At these crossings it will be up toyou to judge if a train is coming without theassistance of electronic equipment.

S T O R A G E A R E AIf it won’t fit, don’t commit. Each driver needs toknow the length of their truck, and the size of thearea across the tracks. This is called the storage orcontainment area.

When approaching a crossing with a traffic lightor stop sign on the far side, be sure there isenough room to proceed to avoid your truck fromhanging over the tracks. You must look aheadand use your judgment. If there is any doubtabout the storage space necessary to completelyclear the tracks, don’t start to cross. Remember,the train will be at least 3 feet wider than the railson both sides.

W AT C H Y O U R T R U C K ’ SO V E R H A N GKnow the length of your truck and allow for yourvehicle’s overhang. While the wheels of the truckmay have crossed both tracks, you might forgetthat your back end could still be hanging over thetracks. Many times a crash could be avoided if itweren’t for the last few feet. That’s why it’simportant to know the length of your truck andadd 15 feet for safety when figuring crossingdistances.

H A Z M AT V E H I C L E SIf drivers are transporting hazardous materials,they are required to stop at rail crossings. The lawspecifies a stopping point between 15 and 50 feetfrom the nearest rail. The class can discuss specificloads that require vehicles to stop.

P L A N A H E A D T O AV O I D A NE M E R G E N C YLearn the jurisdictions where you travel (whichcounty and the city street crossings), so that youwill know who to call if you get stuck or needassistance in a hurry. If your truck does gets stuckon a crossing, you need to take two actions:

1. Get out of your truck IMMEDIATELY. Thequicker you act, the more likely you’ll be ableto alert the railroad to avert a tragedy.

2. The Emergency Notification Sign you noted onyour review of the crossing contains a phonenumber to the railroad. Call it. Explain yourlocation, including the DOT number listed onthe sign. If there is no sign, call the localauthorities or 911.


Bourbonnais, Illinois - March 16, 1999An Amtrak train collides with a flatbed truckloaded with steel-reinforced rebar. Eleven peopledied. One-hundred-twenty-two were injured. Itis the worst truck-train crash in recent history.

The investigation of this incident continued longerthan usual because of the seriousness of the inci-dent. It revealed the driver had gone withoutsleep, which may have impaired his decision mak-ing ability. The driver may have misjudged thespeed of the train – 79 mph. You can avoid thismistake by waiting when you see a train. Whenpeople’s lives are in the balance, a few moments’wait is well worth the time.

Portage, Indiana – June 18, 1998A tractor-trailer with a set of doubles carrying steelcoils started through a multiple-track crossing at asteel mill. Halfway through, the gates lowered,trapping the truck. The driver thought there wasenough space between the tracks to avoid being hitby the train.

But the second trailer, carrying a 19-ton steel coilhung over the back set of railroad tracks. As afreight train passed in front of the truck, a light-rail commuter train approached on the backtracks. The collision slung the steel coil into thelead car of the light-rail train, killing three people.

This collision took place before 6 am. Somespeculated that the driver did not think that thecommuter rail service would be running that early.It’s safer to assume a train could always be rightaround the bend. Make sure. Because there weremultiple tracks, this would have been a difficultcrossing, no matter the time of day. If there aredifficult crossings on your route, talk with yoursafety manager to see if there is a better route or ifa discussion with the railroad and transit agencymight determine a better time to approach thecrossing. No one wants a repeat of Portage.

Crescent, Iowa – April 10, 2009A Nebraska man died of injuries suffered when thedump truck he was driving was hit by a train nearCrescent, Iowa. The driver was injured during thecollision as he tried to cross a highway-railroadgrade crossing. Officials said the railroad crossing

signals and traffic control devices were functioningat the time.

While it’s difficult to know exactly what happenedat the time of a crash, it is important to remainfocused on the road and safe driving habits—anytime you are behind the wheel.

San Francisco, California – March 16, 2009Eight people were injured when a San FranciscoMunicipal Railway train collided with an 18-wheeled truck in the city’s Dogpatch neighbor-hood. The crash happened around 3:20 pm whenthe truck turned left in front of the train.

This left-hand turn in front of a street-running train,generally a light rail vehicle, is a particular hazard inCalifornia, but a growing problem elsewhere. Nowcities around the country, in an attempt to reducetraffic, are developing light rail systems that havethis same problem. If you drive a route that leadsyou into these busy city centers (like Salt Lake City,Baltimore, Dallas, Portland) take note.

Brighton, Illinois – December 8, 2008Ten people were injured when a train hit atractor-trailer that blocked the tracks in southernIllinois. The driver left the vehicle when he heardthe train horn. The locomotive and four railcarsslipped off the rails, but remained upright.

It may be impossible to be a back-seat driver afterthe fact, but it is necessary for drivers to take amoment when coming up to a crossing to assesstraffic. Then it is important to judge the lengthof one’s vehicle and whether it is possible to getacross the tracks without being caught in themiddle with a train bearing down.

Real Incidents - Lessons Learned

A beer truck got high-centered on this crossing priorto the collision.


Professional truck drivers have an importantresponsibility to follow the rules at railroadcrossings. Penalties that will disqualify a commer-cial drivers license holder for 60 days for a firsttime conviction are in place. These penaltiesincrease with each additional violation.

So, if you are caught running a gate or notobeying the rules at the crossing, you could loseyour license, not to mention your life.

S P E C I F I C R E G U L AT I O N SA driver convicted of operating a commercialmotor vehicle (CMV) in violation of any of thesesix offenses at a highway- rail grade crossing mustbe disqualified for a specified period of time, notless than 60 days.

A. Violations

1. Drivers who are not required to always stop,if they fail to slow down and check that thetracks are clear of an approaching train.

2. Drivers who are not required to always stop,but fail to stop before reaching the crossing ifthe tracks are not clear.

3. Drivers who are always required to stop, butfail to stop before driving onto the crossing.

4. Drivers who fail to have sufficient space todrive completely through the crossingwithout stopping.

5. Drivers who fail to obey a traffic controldevice (lights and gates) or the directions ofan enforcement official at the crossing.

6. Drivers who fail to negotiate a crossingbecause of insufficient undercarriageclearance. (Getting stuck on a hump orhigh profile crossing).

B. Penalties

1. First violation—Driver disqualified for not lessthan 60 days.

2. Second violation—Driver disqualified for notless than 120 days during any 3-year periodfor separate incidents.

3. Third violation—Driver disqualified for notless than 1 year during any 3-year period forseparate incidents.

C. Special Penalties

Any employer who knowingly allows a disquali-fied driver to operate a Commercial Motor Vehiclemust be subject to a civil penalty of not more than$10,000.

S A F E T Y S TAT I S T I C S✔ Approximately every 3 hours a vehicle or a

pedestrian collide with a train in the UnitedStates.

✔ A motorist is 20 times more likely to die in acollision with a train than in a collision involv-ing another motor vehicle.

✔ In most years, more people die in collisionswith trains than in commercial airline crashes,according to National Safety Council statistics.

✔ Nearly 50 percent of crashes at public high-way-rail intersections occur where activewarning devices have been installed and areworking properly.

Commercial Driver Disqualifications


Professional Truck Driver Safety Quiz

Circle the most correct answer to each question.

1. What does a crossbuck sign mean?a. Stopb. Yieldc. One Wayd. Do not enter

2. What are some of the other signsyou might see at the crossing?a A crossbuck with a stop signb. A crossbuck with a yield signc. A Don’t Stop on Tracks sign d. All of the above.

3. An average freight train traveling 55 milesan hour takes a mile or more to stop.Which of these is equal in length to a mile?a. 18 football fieldsb. 15 city blocksc. 22 runs around a baseball diamondd. All of the above.

4. When you come up to a railroad crossing,how can you tell if you have enough roomto safely clear the crossing?a. There’s always enough room. Crossings are

designed that way.b. You have to get out of the truck and measure.c. Know your truck length plus add 15 feet

between your rear bumper and thefarthest rail.

d. Add 5 feet to the length of your cab & trailer.

5. Why is it hard to tell the speed of a trainapproaching the crossing?a. Trains can change speeds suddenly.b. An optical illusion makes the train seem

farther away and moving more slowly thanit actually is.

c. Train’s headlights don’t shine at the sametime.

d. Truck cabs are high off the ground.

6. How long is a truck driver who holds a CDLdisqualified from driving after a firstconviction (violating railroad crossing safetyregulations)?a. No less than 30 days.b. No less than 60 days.c. No less than 90 days.d. Six months.

7. What does this sign mean? a. The truck broke in two.b. The driver has an injured back.c. This is a high-profile,

high-centered crossing.d. Lightening struck the truck.

8. When approaching a railroad crossing witha crossbuck, but no gate or flashing lights,what should you do?a. Crank up the radiob. Speed upc. Slow down, look and listen for a train and

be prepared to stop.d. Hazmat vehicles should slowly go through

the crossing.

9. If you have begun to cross the tracks whenthe warning lights begin to flash at thecrossing, what should you do?a. Stopb. Back upc. Get out and lift the gate.d. Proceed across and clear the tracks.

10. Your truck gets stuck on the crossing. Whatsteps do you take?a. Stay in the cab.b. Try to find a tow truck to move your rig.c. Get out and away from the tracks fast. Call

the railroad or 911.d. Run down the track waving to an approach-

ing train.

11. Why do trucks get hung up on a railroadcrossing?a. Soil expands, which can make the crossing

higher.b. Spring thaw from rain and snow can raise

the crossing, while the ground sinks.c. Landing gear, truck jack or dolly legs are still

extended.d. Each of the above.

12. You’re stuck at a railroad crossing. Yousee the train coming and get out of yourvehicle. Why is it best to walk in thedirection of the train (if you see it), but at a45 degree angle away from the tracks?a. You will be out of the path of the debris.b. The impact will occur at the crossing, while

you walk in the opposite direction.c. It can take a mile for the average train to

stop, so the truck will be pushed down thetracks , away from the crossing.

d. All of the above.

13. When will a driver, who is required to havea commercial driver’s license, be disquali-fied from operating a commercial motorvehicle for 60 days?a. When a CDL driver fails to slow down and

check that the tracks are clear of anapproaching train.

b. When a driver, who is not required to stop,but seeing a train fails to stop before reach-ing the crossing.

c. When a driver is always required to stop (forexample with a truck carrying hazmat), failsto stop before reaching the crossing.

d. Each of the above.

Answer true or false to each statement bymarking a T or an F.

14. ___ Federal law prohibits masking of violationsinvolving rail crossings.

(Masking is using a defensive driving class toexpunge a traffic ticket or having the courtreduce or switch the ticket to a lesser violation.)

15. ___ Some trucks must always stop at railroadcrossings.

16. ___ A STOP sign at a highway-rail intersectionmeans the same thing as a STOP sign atany intersection.

17. ___ The number posted below a crossbuckshows how many tracks there are at thecrossing.

18. ___ When the gates stay down after a trainhas passed on a crossing with more thanone set of tracks, it can mean another trainis coming.

19. ___ If your truck stalls on the tracks, stay in thecab and keep trying to move your truck.

20. ___ If you can see a train, the train may not beable to stop in time to avoid a collision. Itcan take a mile or more to stop a train.

1420 King Street,Suite 401Alexandria, Virginia22314-2750

T 1-800-537-6224P 703-739-0308F 703-519-8267W www.oli.org

Stay Alive When You Drive, a video and DVD produced for Operation Lifesaver, Inc., by Big Picture

Printed materials designed by Marquis Graphic Design Associates

highway-rail grade crossing training for professional truck drivers

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