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3.4.3.1 Driver Contact Information

FMCSA records driver name and contact information in MCMIS but does not make this information available to the public. Therefore, driver contact information is not used

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for risk analysis. GES records driver’s zip code that allows driver performance to be evaluated based on geographic region.

3.4.3.2 Driver’s License

MCMIS also records the driver’s license number, but this information is not available to the public. While the whole license number may not be necessary or available, in a

database constructed for risk assessment it may be useful to record license class. Therefore, adverse effects of drivers operating cargo tank motor vehicles without the proper license could be offset. TIFA records the non-commercial license state and type.

3.4.3.3 License Status

In addition to the license information itself, TIFA records include information concerning the status of the license, compliance (whether it is appropriate for the type of vehicle driven), endorsements, and previous convictions including: license restrictions, number of previous crashes, and number of previous suspensions/revocations, driving while intoxicated convictions, speeding convictions, and other harmful moving violations

convictions. The dates of the first and last crash/suspension/conviction are also recorded.

3.4.3.4 Employer

While GES records include employer information for the driver of each vehicle, HMIRS and MCMIS record carrier information for the hazardous material cargo tank truck involved in the crash. TIFA records include both employer information for the driver of each vehicle and a description of the operating authority (e.g. private, for hire). The inclusion of these fields in a database designed for risk analysis enables the degree of risk associated with each carrier to be determined. In terms of package performance, employer information can be used to correlate maintenance practices.

3.4.3.5 Driver Description

TIFA records include driver height and weight. This enables field of vision and other factors within the vehicle to be approximated.

3.4.3.6 On Duty

Whether the cargo tank was attended or not would enable the analysis of parked cargo tank motor vehicles in a crash scenario. Any spills occurring when the cargo tank is

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unattended would likely be larger than spills occurring when the employee is near the tank because emergency shut-off valves could not be activated in a timely fashion.

3.4.3.7 Occupants

GES and TIFA records the number of occupants (including driver) per vehicle. The presence of individuals other than the driver in a hazardous material cargo tank motor vehicle may indicate driver distraction. On the other hand, the presence of a passenger may increase driver alertness particularly when traversing long distances.

3.4.3.8 Alcohol Involvement

GES, TIFA, and the RSI-AAR TCAD record the involvement of alcohol in the crash. GES also records whether the driver was drinking in the vehicle. Both GES and MCMIS record whether violations were charged as well as the severity of those charges.

3.4.3.9 Driver Condition

In addition to alcohol, driver performance can be influenced by the presence of drugs or other factors such as physical/mental impairment. GES records both driver presence and driver physical/mental impairment, and MCMIS records driver condition. TIFA records include an indication of the general driver condition if it is a contributing factor to the crash and any violations charged.

3.4.3.10 External Factors

Factors external to the vehicle can also influence driver performance; therefore, GES records what, if anything, obscured the driver’s vision or distracted the driver.

3.4.3.11 Driver Input

TIFA and GES record the driver’s action in the event of a crash. This field may vary from the action taken by the vehicle if equipment fails. GES also records the object a driver tried to avoid.

3.4.3.12 Hours Worked

The presence of this field in a motor carrier crash database is important because fatigue can also lead to poor driver performance. The current maximum number of hours motor carrier employees can work is 10 hours per day.

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Pre-crash vehicle descriptors may include the manufacturer of a vehicle and vehicle identification and specification. Each database reviewed has a slightly different structure. GES records characteristics for each vehicle involved in a crash independently, while HMIRS and FMCSA contain one record per crash. Because railroad tank cars operate in trains rather than as single vehicles, the RSI-AAR TCAD records each tank car involved individually in a separate table that can be linked to the accident information table.

3.4.4.1 Mode of Transport

PHMSA records information for multiple modes (highway, rail, air, and water) so HMIRS requires a field identifying the mode in which the incident occurred.

3.4.4.2 Vehicle Identification

Vehicles in the GES database are recorded both by vehicle identification number (VIN), if available, and by a number assigned in the police accident record. MCMIS not only records vehicle identification number, but also contains fields for vehicle license number and state. TIFA records include VIN, truck fuel code, weight code, series, and length. The RSI- AAR TCAD records every tank car’s unique reporting mark and number.

3.4.4.3 Vehicle Use

Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and vehicles with non-emergency special uses such as hearses and farm equipment are identified in a GES accident report. MCMIS provides a field identifying whether the vehicle carries passengers or cargo. Furthermore, GES records if a trailer was being towed behind the vehicle at the time of the crash, and GES, HMIRS, and MCMIS record what type of cargo trailer was being towed.

3.4.4.4 Vehicle Description

GES, MCMIS and TIFA focus on the performance of motor vehicles and therefore include descriptions of the motor vehicle. In the case of hazardous materials highway transportation, the vehicle described is the tractor or chassis. GES includes variables such as vehicle make and model, body type, number of axles, and model year. The MCMIS database records the number of axles, vehicle configuration as well as a rough categorization of the gross rated weight. TIFA records the unit type (whether in-transport, not in transport within the traffic way, not-in-transport outside the traffic way, or construction or utility

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motor vehicle), vehicle make, model, body type, model year, cab style, whether the vehicle has trailing units, the vehicle’s configuration, straight truck body style (if applicable), power unit make and year, the number of power unit axles, a rough categorization of the gross rated weight. Additionally, the presence of accident prevention measures is recorded. These include headway detection/forward crash warning, side/object detection, lane departure warning, rollover warning, electronic stability control, power unit tracking, trailer tracking, and speed limiter devices.

3.4.4.5 Cargo Tank Designs

TIFA records basic descriptions of the cargo body type, style, the number of axles on the trailer, and the vehicle configuration (e.g. straight truck and full trailer). Since HMIRS focuses on the performance of cargo tanks, its records include designs for the hazardous material cargo tank involved. Related data fields include:

 Material of construction.  Head type.

 Package capacity.

 Quantity of hazardous material in the package.  Number of containers in the shipment.

 Design pressure.  Shell thickness.  Head thickness.  Service pressure.

 Valve or device type (if failed).  Manufacture name.

 Manufacture date.

The RSI-AAR TCAD expands on the above fields by including the following fields:  Year car was built.

 Tank class specification.  Category of car types.

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 Original certificate of construction number.  Tank test pressure.

 Tank specification identifier.  Stenciled car specification.  Tank shell material specification.  Tank shell material grade.  Tank shell minimum thickness.  Tank shell maximum thickness.  Tank shell inside diameter at center.  Tank head material specification.  Tank head material grade.  Tank head material thickness.  Tank inside diameter at head.  Tank capacity.

 Truck capacity.

 Tank insulation or thermal protection type.  Tank insulation thickness.

 Center sill type.  Coupler type.  Head shield type.  Heater type.

 Presence of bottom fittings.

3.4.4.6 Bulk Cargo Tank Hazardous Material Placard

Hazardous material placards identifying the quantity of hazardous material must be displayed on cargo tanks carrying a variety of hazardous materials. Other markings such as proper shipping names and material identification numbers are required on cargo tanks carrying materials poisonous by inhalation, marine pollutants, and elevated temperature materials. Since emergency responders must be able to identify the hazardous material placards, the placards are easily identifiable. The presence of placards is recorded by TIFA,

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GES and MCMIS databases but is not recorded by the HMIRS database because the placards are assumed to be present on all cargo tanks included in the database. In addition to the presence of a hazardous material placard, the GES and HMIRS databases also record hazardous material placard numbers.

3.4.4.7 Hazardous Material Descriptors

While other motor vehicle databases record whether the vehicle carried hazardous material or not, TIFA and HMIRS records also include various properties of the hazardous material being transported. The hazard class of a hazardous material, and the hazardous material identification number are recorded. Additionally, in HMIRS, fields are provided to record packing group and identification markings such as toxic by inhalation, serious marine pollutant, radioactive indicators, hazardous material waste numbers and material shipment approval numbers, if applicable. Similarly, the RSI-AAR TCAD records the type of cargo, lading name, lading classification, and Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC). For tank cars that are empty, the RSI-AAR TCAD records last lading in car tank, previous lading name, and previous lading classification.