Tank trailers are utilized in bulk every single day to transport liquids and dry bulk items across the country. From grain and cement to milk and even chemicals, there are tons of needs for these tank trailers. If you’re in the market for a tank trailer, then there are a few things that you’ll want to take into account to ensure you get a quality lease.
1- Know Your Desired Configuration
Contrary to what some people may think, not all tank trailers are the same. There are actually four main types of tank trailer configurations that are commonly utilized to transport items in bulk. The first is the liquid tank that’s responsible for transporting liquids like water, chemicals, and even fuel. The second is a dry bulk trailer that handles items like grain, cement, and sand.
Refrigerated trailers are specifically equipped with a cooling system to keep the items at a constant temperature. Lastly, the vacuum tank trailer is designed to transport items like sludge that must be vacuumed up into the trailer. Before you go shopping for a new lease, know what truck configuration you need.
2- Determine Necessary Payload Capacity
The next consideration is your payload capacity. You want to choose a truck that is big enough to transport the amount of items that you need. However, you don’t want an overly large truck where there’s a lot of wasted space, as it will cost you much more fuel to run, which is unnecessary. Take some time to think about what your average loads will be and opt for a tank trailer that is a little bit bigger. You don’t want every load your drivers do to be nearing or over the trailer’s weight capacity.
3- Material Compatibility
Apart from choosing the right tank trailer configuration, you’ll also need to ensure that the trailer is designed to handle whatever you’re looking to transport. For example, if you’re going to be filling a liquid tank trailer with a corrosive substance, you’ll want to lease a trailer that is constructed with a corrosion-resistant inside. It’s best to ensure the truck is rated to handle what you’re transporting so your drivers stay safe, and your products stay contamination-free.
4- Up to Regulatory Compliance
Each year, more and more regulations are passed for the trucking industry. You need to ensure that the equipment that you run is completely up to the newest regulatory standards. This helps to not only make transportation safer but ensures that your company won’t have to deal with any unwanted compliance violations. Speaking with the tank trailer manufacturer is a great way to determine if the truck is up to current compliance standards.
A tank trailer can be a very versatile piece of equipment that can allow you to transport large loads over long distances. From transporting fuel to transporting grain, there are a ton of tank trailer options to choose from. Be sure to utilize the information that we went over above when making your next decision on which tank trailer to lease.