What Is a Tanker Truck and What Do They Carry

Everyone has seen a tanker truck at least once. The massive wheeled machines with one of those cylindrical tanks, slowly crossing the states.

But what is a tanker truck, exactly?

Well, these vehicles are typically a part of the transportation of hazardous materials, liquid cargo, and other goods such as natural gas and water.

To understand tank trucks better, in this quick guide, we’re going to reveal what it is, what they carry, and how they’re regulated in the United States.

What Is a Tanker Truck

So, what is a tank truck exactly?

A tanker truck, also known as a “tank truck”, is a vehicle that is specialized to transport liquids and/or gases in massive quantities. When we compare them to a regular freight truck, we must point out the large cylindrical tank mounted on the vehicle chassis.

This massive tank typically has multiple compartment separations, designed to carry different types of liquid freight at the same time. In a nutshell, these tanker trucks can easily carry food products like milk and dangerous chemicals simultaneously.

The engineering behind the tanker trucks is insane!

Based on its utilization, a tanker truck could be a subject of very harsh federal regulations, and in most cases, this happens when carrying hazardous materials is involved. To understand them correctly, we need to grasp the fact that these vehicles can be both commercial and industrial.

The can be fuel tankers delivering gasoline or HazMat trucks transporting corrosive chemicals; these trucks are essential to keeping supplies moving via safe transport.

What Do Tanker Trucks Carry

If you are wondering what do tanker trucks carry, the answer is simple. A tanker truck carries whatever freight the industry requires.

However, the tank’s design also varies based on what it’s going to be used for, hence you can’t have the same tanker truck for both flammable cargo and food-grade goods.

So, if you’re generally curious what a truck with a tanker carries, here’s a quick breakdown:

• Fuel: One of the most common tankers is “fuel tankers”, carrying fuel liquids such as gasoline, natural gas, and diesel.
• Food: Another popular freight that you’ll find inside a tanker truck is liquid foods such as milk, syrups, oils, and others.
• Chemicals: Another common type of tanker truck is the “HazMat truck” or also known as “HazMat vehicles”, which carries industrial chemicals with extra precision.
• Liquids: Tanker trucks often carry wastewater that is moved in large quantities, a part of environmental services.
• Agriculture: There are many other liquids from agriculture, such as liquid feed, fertilizers, and many others, that are being transported by tanker trucks.
• Asphalt: There are also heated tanker trailers that carry asphalt used in the construction of roads, which must remain at high temperatures throughout the trip.

That’s only the tip and most common uses for the tanker trucks. There are many other freight that are being transported across the United States.

How Big Is a Tanker Truck

When we wonder about the tanker trucks' size, their dimensions often vary, based on what they are used for and how they are built. So if you've ever asked how many gallons are in a tanker truck or how long is a tanker trailer, here's a quick breakdown.

So, each truck with a tanker is designed with its specific cargo in mind, volume considered for balance, and price-sensitive weight distribution.

Those are not just specs, they are safety features!

Tanker Truck Types and Their Capacity

There are quite a few different tank trucks, and each of them is built to carry a specific type of freight, while its design is precisely considered.

If you’re wondering how many gallons in a tanker truck typically go in, the answer is in the type of truck, it’s design, and maximum capacity.

Let’s see how many gallons does a tanker truck hold:

So, each of these tanker truck types is designed for different freight and has different capacities, so knowing how many gallons tanker truck models can carry is critical. At its core, it’s all these measures for safe transport, while trucking companies comply by acquiring the correct model.

CDL Tanker Endorsement vs HazMat Endorsement - Understanding the Differences

In order to use a tanker truck or HazMat truck, the driver employees of the trucking companies need a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

From there, it all depends on what’s in the tank, and based on the level of concern, danger, and risk, HazMat endorsement and the tanker endorsement come into importance. These are just additions to the driver’s license and are required based on the tank capacity of the tanker truck.

Tanker Endorsement (N)

A tanker endorsement is mainly required for any driver operating a truck with tanker that’s transporting any type of liquid cargo.

The drawback here is that even if the substance is not dangerous or hazardous, it’s still a must. It does not matter whether the freight is water, gasoline, or toxic waste; there are too many challenges on the road, which require expert drivers.

To acquire the tanker endorsement, all drivers must pass a written test that mainly focuses on the handling and safety procedures of tank trucks. This is essential for drivers who transport liquid goods but don’t deal with dangerous chemicals.

HazMat Endorsement (H)

So, now we know what is a HazMat truck, but what is HazMat endorsement?

In turn, the HazMat endorsement is mandatory for any driver that is carrying hazardous materials. Many of those materials include easily flammable liquids, radioactive substances, and other hazardous substances.

The test for acquiring a HazMat endorsement includes a written exam, plus fingerprinting, a background check, and proof of citizenship or lawful permanent resident status.

These extra requirements ensure that HazMat drivers are qualified to fully handle the risks involved in hazardous materials transportation. In many cases, especially in HazMat trucking companies, they prefer drivers who hold both endorsements.

For those aiming to cover both areas, you can apply for an “X” HazMat tanker endorsement, which combines both and is widely required in hazardous material trucking companies. So, that is how to get a HazMat and tanker endorsement, so let’s move on to how to find a tanker HazMat.

Find the Best Tanker Trucking Companies for HazMat Transportation

If you want to find and choose a suitable partner for HazMat hauling, you may need to dig much deeper than finding a tanker truck with available capacity.

When dealing with HazMat tanker trucking companies, you must also look for trust, safety, and compliance. In addition, you need to verify that the company you go with has expert HazMat truck drivers with a deep understanding of the “Hazardous Materials Transportation Act”.

It’s important to understand that these companies don’t just move product; they manage risk, and that’s why they need a hazardous materials endorsement.

It does not matter what exactly you’re shipping. Be it fuel, chemicals, or simple water, when working with HazMat transportation, you become responsible. Not only for the people but also for the environment, so finding properly endorsed drivers is one of the most important aspects.

Find HazMat Transportation Today

If you're unsure where to begin, it’s a smart idea to compare the best HazMat tanker companies side-by-side. Now that you know exactly what HazMat trucks are used for, you know exactly what companies to search for.

You can quickly estimate your costs and carrier options using the FreightRun Quote Calculator to find the best fit for your transportation of hazardous materials needs.