Loading and unloading truck water tanks and truck fuel tanks takes more than just the tank and truck. Meters, pumps and hoses and reels are all essential to the process of distributing and delivering liquids. These supplies help measure and move the liquids contained in tanker trucks to their final destination.

Supplies for truck tanks can be purchased from many truck tank manufacturers and providers, allowing you to easily obtain the needed items. These supplies can also be purchased from some truck supply shops. Before purchasing tank truck supplies, consider the following:

1. Hose reels cannot be installed on all tanker trucks. It's best to check the height and width of the room available to make sure that the model you select can fit.

2. Never use a pump or hose that is designed to handle smaller loads on a higher load tank. This can cause tearing, breaking and injury.

3. Some meters require a subscription to a service to get digital readings or readings online. This service is often available when purchasing the meter, but usually requires an extra fee.

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Purchase a truck tank pump for loading and unloading liquids

In order to drain and fill truck tanks a pump is needed. This item is available in various sizes and flow rates, which allows it to fit almost any truck tank setup. Always check to make sure your pump can handle the amount of pressure your tank creates. Pumps are usually marked with a maximum pressure rating. In addition to stock models, pumps with special features are also available. From air-operated diaphragm relief valves to built-in strainers, you can find the pump that works best for you.

I recommend: Buy a tank pump from Duncan Industrial Solutions, or check out the selection available from the Wilden Pump & Engineering Company.

Get a meter for measuring liquids dispensed from your tanker trucks

Oil truck tanks, water truck tanks and other types of truck tanks require meters to measure how much liquid is pumped at each delivery. These meters generally provide you with a visual reading, while some models also register the amount dispensed digitally, or provide a print-out. Many meter models also provide relevant information, such as flow rate, temperature, time, preset amount to be delivered, and electronic temperature volume compensation.

I recommend: Use the meter model available from Actaris, or check out the meter manufactured by FMC Technologies.

Use hoses and reels for tanker truck fuel delivery

Hoses and reels can be attached to tanker trucks to provide home fuel delivery, off-road refueling, marine refueling and in-plant refueling. The hose reel provides a safe place to store tanker truck hoses while keeping extra hose out of the way during use. These reels come in varying sizes and are generally tailored for specific hose diameters. Check to make sure that the reel and hose can support the type of liquid and tank you plan to attach it to before buying.

I recommend: Get hoses and hose reels from Oilmen's Truck Tanks, or from the John M. Ellsworth Company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Truck tank meters with electronic temperature volume compensation tend to be more expensive, but can save you money in the long run. Because fuel expands or contacts depending on the its temperature, the amount of fuel you deliver varies. Temperature volume compensation reads the temperature of the fuel and adjusts readings accordingly, giving you a more accurate reading and preventing you from over-pumping.

A tanker truck can be a useful thing to have around in your business. If you do a lot of work away from your office or headquarters that requires fueling and/or water replenishment, use diesel truck tanks or similar options to cover your needs. Make your liquid transportation needs a lot easier.

Whether you're in construction, shipping, contracting, landscaping or other services where you and your employees spend a lot of time in remote areas, the transporting of fuel or water can be a logistics problem. Take care of that problem by using a water or fuel tanker truck or simply a smaller tank that fits in your own truck. Look into several solutions available to you in these areas:

1. Renting, hiring or buying truck diesel tanks for on-site refueling,
2. A pick-up truck bed fuel tank or water tank for smaller projects, and
3. Truck water tanks for various construction uses.

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Keep your equipment running in remote areas with truck fuel tanks

If you work in construction, shipping or another industry that requires you and your equipment to be in locations other than your home offices, you can take advantage of fuel oil truck tanks to simplify refueling needs. Avoid the back-and-forth hassle of keeping your trucks, construction machinery, generators and other equipment fueled. Make use of on-site fueling with truck tank manufacturers and products.

I recommend: Cover your fuel transportation needs with new or used truck fuel tanks from Petroleum Trucks, Seneca Tank, Progress Tank or Oilmen's.

Use a truck tank in your own pick-up for small and medium-sized fuel and water needs

For smaller needs, employ a pick-up truck bed tank. These tanks are constructed from various materials for various purposes and are designed to fit into the bed of standard-sized pick-ups. If you already own such a truck for your business, then getting a truck bed tank for carrying water or fuel is a much simpler, cheaper solution.

I recommend: Use aluminum truck tanks from ATTA for fuel transport, or haul your own water supply with pick-up truck water tanks from WaterTanks.com.

Ensure a steady supply of water at any site with water truck tanks

Water tank trucks can provide a variety of services, especially to construction sites. They can be a source of water where plumbing and other water systems haven't yet been installed, provide water for coolant purposes or just spray water to minimize airborne contaminants like dust where heavy equipment is moving back and forth through unpaved areas. Whatever your purposes, your construction business can benefit from the use of a water tank truck.

I recommend: Cover your on-site water supply needs with water truck tanks from Truck Works, Inc. or United Truck & Equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you foresee a lot of use for your tank truck but have a limited budget, look for a fuel or water truck manufacturer that deals in used equipment. Some of the companies mentioned in this guide do just that, so inquiring about this option could save you quite a bit of money.

Truck tanks allow drivers to haul liquids from one location to another. In some cases, drivers need to haul additional fuel. In other cases, companies haul milk or water.

Companies haul liquids in truck tanks for others and for their own company use. When considering using a truck tank for your business, be certain to learn all of the truck tanks basics. Before making your purchase, consider these factors:

1. Water truck tanks are available in a variety of styles.

2. Truck tanks haul liquids over long distances.

3. Companies use truck tanks on a small and large scale.

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Consider truck water tanks for your mobile watering needs

Many companies attach water tanks to truck beds. The design of these tanks will fit most truck bed sizes. Truck water tanks are rust-resistant. Manufacturers create them without seams or cracks to prevent leakage. These tanks are great for landscape and farming jobs where businesses require water for planting. They also are beneficial for small concrete jobs. If you purchase one, ask your water truck manufacturer about slosh-proof lids for tanks.

I recommend: Read more information about water truck tanks from Water Tanks. View several different types of water tank trucks at Truck Works.

Use truck fuel tanks for remote location trips

Just as automotive supply stores sell aluminum truck bed toolboxes, available truck fuel tanks are also available. These tanks look very much like a toolbox. Some manufacturers make a truck bed fuel tank that comes with a toolbox combo. Most distributors offer wedge type tanks and rectangular tanks. Fuel tank systems allow the truck tank to distribute fuel into your truck factory tank when it is half empty. It will continue to add fuel to your truck until the factory tanks reaches three-fourths full. These are great for long trips to remote locations where gas stations are infrequent. Construction work or drilling in desert locations may require a system such as this.

I recommend: Gain information about fuel systems from ATTA. View metal fuel tanks from Fleming Metal.

Purchase a tanker truck to haul large quantities of water, milk, or fuel

In addition to truck tanks that fit into the bed of a truck, there are also trucks designed with a tank bed. Companies use these tanker trucks to haul much larger quantities of water or fuel than truck bed tanks. Tanker trucks also haul milk from dairy farms.

I recommend: Examine a variety of tanker trucks from Freightliner Trucks. Find fuel tanker trucks from Interstate Products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember when hauling any type of fuel truck tank there are requirements, regulations, and laws to follow. Always make sure that your tank meets fuel hauling standards for the road.

Driving a tank truck, sometimes called a tanker lorry, is an exciting job. The vehicles come in many sizes and might have different designs, but they all have the same purpose--transporting dry bulk, gases or liquid loads. Whether you carry dry bulk cargo, liquefied loads or gases in your tank, it helps to know truck tanks key terms.

Knowing truck tanks key terms helps you communicate effectively with others in the industry. Knowing the history behind the terms also gives you the advantage of understanding the purpose behind certain truck tank terminology.

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Meter

A meter, also called a flowmeter, is a measuring instrument that displays a reading of the amount of liquid in a tank.

I recommend: Springer demonstrates how a meter works as it measures a liquid in a tank truck. It also provides a diagram demonstrating the concept of liquid measurement.

Pump

A pump is a type of mechanical device that uses pressure or suction to move liquids or reuse liquids. It also compresses gases. A tank truck pump transfers liquids from a stationary tank to a tank truck or vice versa. The pump often runs on hydraulics and self primes.

I recommend: Gardner Denver offers several options for tank truck pumps. It describes the working ability of a cargo pump in detail.

Hose

A hose is a malleable type tube that transports gas or liquid. Tank trucks use a hose to transfer milk, oil and other liquid products.

I recommend: HoseXpress offers hoses specifically designed for tank truck usage. Its seamless hoses are lightweight and very flexible.

Reel

This term refers to a cylindrical device used to hold flexible materials like hoses on a tanker truck. Truckers wind the hose line by turning the reel.

I recommend: ReelCraft Industries displays images of hose reels. It designs and custom builds reels for tanker trucks.

Temperature volume compensation

Temperature volume compensation (TVC) refers to a device designed to take measurements of liquid volume, adjusting the measurements so the quantity of liquid displays according to a standard temperature for billing purposes.

I recommend: MDM Services offers a detailed description of temperature volume compensation and how it works. It offers a free temperature compensation brochure as an additional download.

Slosh-proof lids

Tank truck drivers appreciate having slosh-proof lids, which prevent liquid from escaping during a truck's shifting, turning and braking.

I recommend: Schaben Industries displays images of various tanks with slosh-proof lids. It provides these self-vented lids in various sizes.