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Key Takeaways
- The average range for fuel truck capacity is 3000-11600 gallons
- How much a fuel tanker truck holds depends on the trailer type
- The federal limit on fuel tanker truck weight is 80,000 pounds maximum
- Route restrictions and delivery route planning are affected by fuel tanker size.
- Specialized tankers transport diesel, gasoline, and aviation fuel efficiently
Table of Contents
How Much Fuel Does A Tanker Truck Hold?
To answer “how much fuel does a tanker truck hold”, we have to consider the size of the truck and its function. The global standard for fuel truck sizes varies based on road rules and the needs for fuel transportation. The smaller trucks could averagely have a capacity of 3,000 gallons within cities and 13,000 gallons for across the country haulers. In the US, fuel tanker capacity ranges from 5,000-11,600 gallons.
There are smaller tankers that carry 1,000-3,000 gallons. These smaller tankers are ideal for local deliveries. Medium tankers hold 4,000-6,000 gallons and are used for regional deliveries while large semi-trailers which are used for very long distance hauls carry up to 11,600 gallons. Each category is subject to legal weight limits, impacting routes and fuel logistics.
The fuel tanker capacity varies by fuel type. How much gasoline a tanker holds differs from how much diesel a tanker truck holds and also differs from how much petrol a fuel tanker truck holds.
How Many Gallons Does A Tanker Truck Hold
The different truck types have the following capacities, gallon ranges and Department of Transport (DOT) standards
| Truck Type | Average Gallon Capacity |
|---|---|
| Straight Truck | 1,000 – 3,000 gallons in a fuel truck |
| Semi-Trailer Tanker | 5,000 – 11,600 gallons of fuel in a tanker truck |
| Double Trailer Tanker | 10,000 – 14,000 gallons in a gas tanker truck |
| DOT Class | Max Capacity Under U.S. Standards |
| Class 3 Flammable | Up to 12,000 gallons tanker truck |
| Weight Limit (GVWR) | 80,000 lbs tanker truck weight |
Other nations mostly measure tanker volume in liters. This affects how many gallons a tanker truck holds depending on where you are. Make sure to always check the units of measurements when comparing fuel tanker capacity across regions.
Need to Calculate Fuel Loads or Tanker Limits?
From DOT weight limits to fill percentages, getting it wrong can mean fines, spills, or lost revenue. Use a calculator to plan exactly how much fuel your truck can legally and safely carry.
How Many Gallons Of Gas Does A Fuel Truck Hold?
Specifics gasoline storage for how many gallons of gas a fuel truck holds is class 5 and 6 city-based trucks which usually carry 1,000-3,000 gallons in a gas truck. These are ideal for delivering to local gas stations. For long hauls, class 8 fuel trucks are used. They hold up to 11,600 gallons of gasoline in a tanker truck depending on their configuration and adhering to DOT restructuring.
The trucks that deliver within cities are designed to be flexible and this limits the amount of gas a gas truck can hold. But the tanker trucks that haul over long distances can take up 14,000 gallons when the truck has multiple compartments.
Companies like Shell and Exxon Mobil have different gas tankers in different zones. Depending on if they’re supplying to bulk buyers or retailers these tankers hold 8,500- 11,500 gallons of gas in a tanker truck.
How Much Fuel Does A Fuel Tanker Carry?
Below is a breakdown of carrying capacities vs gross volume
| Fuel Tanker Type | Gross Volume | Typical Carrying Capacity (95% Fill Rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Delivery Tanker | 3,000 gallons in a fuel truck | 2,850 gallons of fuel does a fuel truck carry |
| Standard Semi-Trailer | 9,000 gallons fuel tanker capacity | 8,550 gallons fuel in a tanker truck |
| Large Double-Trailer Tanker | 12,000 gallons in a tanker truck | 11,400 gallons of fuel in tanker truck |
The difference between gross volume and transportable capacity lies in the 95% fill rule. The regulation states tankers cannot be filled completely to allow for fuel expansion. So safety limits are also considered and not just the total tank volume.
Safety plays a crucial role in determining tanker carrying capacity. Excess fuel can increase tanker truck weight beyond legal road limits, heightening rollover and spill risks. Understanding how much fuel does a fuel tanker weigh ensures safe and legal operations under DOT guidelines.
Unsure Which Tanker Size Fits Your Fuel Delivery Needs?
From small delivery trucks to 18-wheelers, choosing the wrong capacity can cost time and money. Get a comparison chart to match the right tanker size with your operation’s needs.
How Much Fuel Can A Tanker Trailer Hold?
The type of trailer determines how much fuel a tanker trailer can hold. Models like the MC-306 and DOT-406 carry flammable liquids like diesel and gasoline. These tankers are fuel-specific and usually hold 9,000-11,500 gallons in a fuel tank if their axle count and length allow.
Trailers with one compartment carry a maximum 9,000 gallons of fuel in a tanker truck while those with multiple compartments which split storage and can carry different fuel types, can carry about 10,000-14,000 gallons in a gas tanker truck.
Food grade and chemical tank trailers are different in design and regulation even though they appear similar. Their interiors and baffle system reduce overall capacity. These tankers hold less material than fuel tankers, influencing fuel tanker capacity when they’re repurposed for petroleum logistics.
How Much Fuel Is In A Fuel Truck At Maximum Capacity?
Filling trucks to capacity has the following to note
- Trucks are filled to near maximum capacity to maximize fuel delivery
- When filled to capacity, less trips are needed
- From refineries and terminals, full capacity is required to deliver in bulk
- DOT regulations mandate near minimum filling but not fully to minimize risks of spilling and rollovers.
- Fill loads must be monitored to stay with tanker truck weight limits.
Fuel volumes vary based on temperature, fuel type and altitude.
- Expansion and contraction of fuel in hot and cold temperatures respectively, affect fill levels
- Gasoline’s volatility limits the amount to be loaded at once
- Higher altitudes may reduce vapor pressure slightly increasing safe fuel volumes
- How much fuel in a fuel truck is affected by changes in seasons
- Gallons which are adjusted to accommodate density differences are used to measure actual tanker fuel capacity
Temperature-compensated meters, automatic shut-off valves and overfill prevention sensors are used by refineries to control how much fuel is in a fuel truck. This is to make sure fuel truck capacity is met without risking spillage, exceeding weight limits and causing stress to the truck.
Need DOT-Compliant Fuel Transfer Solutions?
We offer certified transfer pumps, hoses, and safety kits that match DOT regulations for gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel transport. Ensure every trip is safe, efficient, and within legal limits.
How Much Diesel Does A Tanker Truck Hold?
Smaller diesel tankers and commercial diesel tankers have different capacities. 5,000-11,600 for commercial diesel tankers and 500-3000 gallons for smaller agricultural fuel trucks depending on farm size and distance covered.
Given their differences in density how much diesel a fuel tanker truck holds is often slightly less for diesel by weight due to DOT limitations on gross vehicle weight
For municipal transport and heavy equipment, many government fleets use only diesel delivery trucks. With the average being 2,500-7,000 gallons in a fuel truck depending on their fuel needs and regional distribution areas.
How Many Litres Of Fuel Does A Tanker Truck Hold?
If you’re out of the US, the table below will show you what a fuel tanker truck can hold.
| Tanker Type | Gallons | Litres |
|---|---|---|
| Small Fuel Truck | 2,500 | 9,463 litres in a fuel truck |
| Standard Semi-Trailer | 9,000 | 34,069 litres in a tanker truck |
| Large Double-Trailer Tanker | 12,000 | 45,425 litres of fuel in a tanker truck |
Australia, Europe and Asia have different metric capacities and they’re as follows
- Australia: Has a highway limit for tankers set at 36,000 Litres
- Europe: Road trains can reach 50,000 Litres in unpopulated regions
- Asia: 10,000-35,000 littered depending in the fuel infrastructure
Metric units help you understand fuel tanker capacity logistics and different regulations per region.
Below is a conversion chart from gallons to litres
| Litres | Gallons (US) |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 264.17 |
| 5,000 | 1,320.86 |
| 10,000 | 2,641.72 |
At Elan Fuels, we can offer a free and interactive conversion tool that can help international logistics teams calculate fuel tanker capacity across metric and imperial units. to assure compliance and fleet efficiency.
How Much Fuel Does An 18 Wheeler Tanker Hold?
18-wheeler fuel tankers are semis and have to comply with DOT regulations that impose maximum tanker truck weight to be 80,000pounds. However, the 18-wheeler has a capacity to carry 5,000-11,600 gallons of fuel. How much it actually carries depends on the trailer length, number of axles and fuel type. They’re ideal for long distance fuel transport.
18 wheelers are ideal for large scale fuel tanker truck capacity needs due to the compartments that permit them to flexibly carry different fuel types at the same time while staying within regulatory limits.
What Determines How Much Fuel A Tanker Truck Can Hold?
The truck size, the number of compartments and the fuel type transported are critical factors that impact how much fuel a tanker truck can hold. For example, since gasoline is more volatile than diesel, safety regulations will limit the fuel tanker capacity depending on which of them is being transported. Even if the tankers used have the same capacity to carry fuel.
Even though a tanker may be able to hold up to 11,000 gallons of fuel, if the resultant weight of the fuel tanker truck and the fuel loaded exceed 80,000 pounds, the tanker will have to carry less fuel than its actual carrying capacity. Environmental conditions such as high temperatures can also reduce the maximum carrying capacity fuel due to fuel expansion. These regulations are enforced by the Department of Transport (DOT).
Landscape, distance and weather will also affect fuel carrying capacity. If the routes involve steep hills, less fuel will be carried, if the distances are too far apart, the trucks will carry less fuel to limit wear and tear of the truck. Ultimately, these factors determine how many tankers truck capacity gallons are hauled per trip.
How Much Does A Tanker Truck Weigh When Fully Loaded With Fuel?
The legal highway limit of gross vehicle weight weight rating for a fully loaded fuel tanker in the Us is 80,000 pounds. If the tanker isn’t carrying fuel, it usually weighs between 30,000-36,000 pounds depending on the size and materials of the tanker. When full, the fuel makes it up to 80,000 pounds.
Gasoline and diesel have different fuel densities leading to disparities in calculations of how much does a fuel tanker weigh for both of them. Gasoline weighs 6.1pounds per gallon while diesel, which is heavier, is 7.1pounds per gallon. So the value for how much a diesel tanker weighs when full will exceed a gasoline load of the same volume. This impacts payload management and road compliance for transporting each fuel type.
What Is The Capacity Of A Fuel Tank Trailer In Litres Or Gallons?
The table below shows average fuel tanker capacity of different trailer types in gallons and litres and also their common trailer configurations and fuel types.
| Trailer Type | Capacity (Gallons) | Capacity (Litres) | Fuel Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Compartment | 9,000 | 34,069 | Gasoline/Diesel | North America |
| Multi-Compartment (3–5) | 10,000–12,000 | 37,854–45,425 | Mixed Fuels | Global (interchangeable) |
| Road Train (Triple) | 14,000+ | 53,000+ | Diesel | Australia |
| Short Urban Trailer | 3,000–5,000 | 11,356–18,927 | Gasoline | Europe/Asia |
Polar, Tremcar and Heil which are industry leaders, design trailers that meet regional requirements. For instance Polar’s DOT-406 models hold up to 11,600 gallons, Tremcar’s stainless steel multi-compartment are made to carry both gasoline and diesel while Heil has lightweight trailers tailored for maximum fuel tanker truck capacity under strict US highway regulations making sure there is safety and efficiency across borders.
