Think of a tanker truck as a hardworking “delivery person” who safely carries large amounts of liquids we use every day from one place to another. Its carrying capacity, or its ‘backpack,’ depends on its size and design.
Different types of tankers have different capacity ranges. For example, small tankers typically have a capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 gallons, while large tankers can have a capacity of up to 16,800 gallons or more. The tanker’s design, the type of liquid, and the distance it needs to travel all affect its capacity.
Knowing the capacity of a tanker truck is very important for cargo transport companies. For example, in the transport of fuel, the use of a properly sized tanker can reduce the number of transports and save money. When transporting foodstuffs, the size of a tanker truck not only affects its load capacity, but also ensures that strict cleanliness standards are met. Understanding this can help make the whole process more efficient, cost-effective and safe.
In the next section, Geron will take you through the different types of tanker capacity and their application scenarios. This will help you better understand the practical application of tanker capacity.
What is a tanker truck?
A tanker truck is a special vehicle used to transport liquid or dry goods. It is commonly used to transport items such as fuel, chemicals and food. Its main part is a large tank that holds the cargo. And inside the tank there are dividers known as bulkheads and baffles that stop the liquid from flowing excessively, thus helping to keep the truck stable while travelling.
There are different types of tanker trucks depending on the cargo they carry. Tanker trucks transport petrol and diesel. Chemical tankers transport hazardous chemicals. And food grade tanker trucks transport liquids such as milk or cooking oil. Each type of tanker truck comes in different sizes to fit the specific job it needs to do.
Common Uses of Tanker Trucks
The common uses of tanker trucks include the following categories:
Fuel Transport: These trailers transport fuels such as petrol and diesel. They are usually used in petrol stations, factories and other places where large quantities of fuel are required.
Chemical transport: These trucks transport dangerous chemicals such as acids and alkalis. They are specially designed to keep the chemicals safe during transport.
Food grade product transport: These trucks transport food grade liquids such as milk and cooking oil. They comply with strict cleaning regulations to ensure food safety without contamination.
Dry Bulk Transport: These tankers are used to transport dry substances such as cement or grains. They are equipped with specialised pneumatic systems that ensure smooth loading and unloading of goods.
Key Factors Affecting Tanker Capacity
The capacity of a tanker truck is affected by a number of factors, including the type, design and construction and the nature of the items being transported. The following is a breakdown of the main factors affecting tanker capacity:
1. Types of tanker trucks and their typical capacities
Different types of tanker trucks have different capacity ranges and are suitable for a wide range of applications:
Small Tanker Trucks: Typically 3,000 to 5,000 gallons in capacity and are mostly used for urban distribution and short hauls.
Heavy Duty Tankers: Larger capacities, ranging from 10,000 to 16,800 gallons, are used for long-distance transport.
2. Detailed Capacity of Different Types of Tanker Trucks
Tanker trucks are designed to have different capacities depending on their use. The following are the common types and their capacity details:
Chemical Tanker: Capacity ranges from 3,800 gallons to 7,000 gallons, depending on the density and characteristics of the product being transported, and is commonly used to transport corrosive or hazardous chemicals.
Crude Oil Tankers: Designed for the long-distance transport of crude oil, with capacities up to 16,800 gallons, they are used to ensure efficient large-scale crude oil transport.
Petroleum Fuel Tankers: These trucks transport fuels like gasoline and diesel, with capacities between 9,000 and 9,800 gallons. They often have multiple compartments to carry different types of fuel at the same time.
Food Grade Tankers: Used for transporting milk, cooking oil, and other food grade liquids that meet strict sanitation standards. Typical capacities range from 6,000 to 7,000 gallons, and the tanks are usually stainless steel to ensure the safe transport of food products.
Pneumatic Tankers: These trucks carry dry materials like cement or grain, with capacities from 500 to 1,650 cubic feet. They use air-powered systems to quickly load and unload the cargo.
Storage Tank Trailers: Also known as horizontal silos or storage tanks, they are primarily used for on-site storage of large quantities of dry bulk goods, with capacities up to 500,000 pounds, for large construction projects or industrial use.
Liquid Gas Tanker Trailers: These trucks transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG). They can carry between 10,000 and 12,000 gallons and have special designs to keep the gas stable and safe.
3. Design
The design of a tanker truck also affects its capacity and performance:
Bulkheads and baffles: separate liquids, reduce shaking during transport, and improve stability.
Tank material: According to the nature of the transported items (e.g. corrosive, flammable), different materials such as steel or aluminium alloy are selected to ensure safety and durability.
Valve and piping system: effectively manage the loading and unloading process, which affects the overall transport efficiency.
How to choose the right tanker capacity
Choosing the right tanker capacity requires a combination of factors, and here are a few key steps to help you make an informed choice:
Determine transport needs : Firstly, calculate how much cargo you need to transport based on the goods you are transporting. Different types of cargo, such as fuel, chemicals, food-grade liquids or dry goods, have different volumes and weights. Therefore, you need the right size tanker. The distance matters too—short trips may not need a big tanker, but longer trips might require a larger one to reduce the number of trips back and forth.
Evaluate transport conditions: Roads and weather can affect the type of tanker truck you need. If the roads are rough, you’ll need a solid and sturdy tanker truck. If you are in extreme weather conditions, you may also need to consider a tanker truck designed with insulation or freeze protection to ensure the safety of your cargo.
Material Selection: The material of the tanker depends on the items being transported. For chemicals that can cause rust or damage, you need a tanker truck made of corrosion-resistant materials. For food, stainless steel is a good choice because it meets sanitation standards. The type of material also affects the weight of the tanker truck, which changes how much fuel it consumes and how much it costs to transport.
Budget Considerations: When choosing a tanker truck, not only the initial purchase price should be considered, but also the long-term cost. This includes fuel efficiency, routine maintenance costs, and possible repair costs. Choosing a tanker that is fuel efficient and simple to maintain may save you a lot of money in the long run.
Get transport solutions
Whether you need to move fuels, chemicals, food products, or dry goods, picking the right type and size of tanker truck is really important. By making the right choice based on different cargo types, transport conditions, tanker materials, budget and other factors, you can ensure efficient and safe transport. Small tanker trucks are suitable for short-distance distribution and small-scale cargo transport, while large tanker trucks can meet the needs of long-distance transport and large-volume cargo. Taking all these factors into account, you can find the most cost-effective and practical transport solution to ensure that your cargo reaches its destination safely and that you can effectively reduce your operating costs.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Genron’s engineers for expert help with tanker trucks.
