Tank truck

Japanese Tank truck（昭和シェル石油）FUSO

A Shell Jet A refueller truck on the ramp at Vancouver International Airport

Pegaso 4x4 tank truck at a Puerto Natales, Chile, gas station

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)

A tank truck (United States usage) or tanker lorry (United Kingdom usage) is a motor vehicle designed to carry liquefied loads, dry bulk cargo or gases on roads. The largest such vehicles are similar to railroad tank cars which are also designed to carry liquefied loads. Many variants exist due to the wide variety of liquids that can be transported. Tank trucks tend to be large; they may be insulated or non-insulated; pressurized or non-pressurized; and designed for single or multiple loads (often by means of internal divisions in their tank). Some are semi-trailer trucks.

Size and volume

Tank trucks are described by their size or volume capacity. Large trucks typically have capacities ranging from 5,500 US liquid gallons (20,800 litres) to 9,000 US gallons (34,000 litres).

A tank truck is distinguished by its shape, usually a cylindrical tank upon the vehicle lying horizontally. Some less visible distinctions amongst tank trucks have to do with their intended use: compliance with human food regulations, refrigeration capability, acid resistance, pressurization capability, and others.

Common large tank trucks

Large tank trucks are used for example to transport gasoline to filling stations. They also transport a wide variety of liquid goods such as concrete, milk, diesel, and industrial chemicals.

Common small tank trucks

Smaller tank trucks, with a capacity of less than 3,000 US gal (11,000 litres) are typically used to deal with light liquid cargo within a local community. A common example is a septic service truck (also known as a bowser) used to vacuum clean several septic tanks and then deliver the septic material to a collection site. These tank trucks typically have a maximum capacity of 3,000 gallons (11,000 litres). They are equipped with a pumping system to serve their particular need.

Another common use is to deliver fuel such as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to households. These trucks usually carry about 1,000 gal (3,800 litres) of LPG under pressure.

Tank trucks are also used to transport fuel around airports to waiting aircraft.

Tank manufacturers

The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page.

Crossland Tankers was formed in 1988 to manufacture, refurbish and repair road tankers. They began designing and building new tanks on a small scale in the early '90s, with major investment in design and product development seeing tankers for the waste, milk, and general purpose chemical markets being produced by the late '90s. In early 2003 it took over Massy tankers in Burnley UK. This proved to be a useful move because it gave the business the position to expand into the UK market and also it gave a base in the mainland so as customers who wanted repairs could be taken care of by the highly skilled craftsmen within the mainland. To date Crossland tankers has gone from strength and is one of the most highly regarded tanker manufacturers in Europe.

Australia Holmwood Highgate was founded in the mid 1950’s primarily to repair, service and maintain fuel tankers of American origin used in the Korean War and subsequently sold off for use in Australia. They went from there into the manufacture of tankers in the 1960's From these beginnings, the Holmwood Highgate Group has grown to become a much-respected name in the bulk liquid transport industry with a reputation for the most reliable equipment. The Holmwood Group is Australia’s longest running tanker manufacturer

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tank trucks

• Liquid hydrogen tank truck
• Tanktainers