Tanker
Also known as: Tanker · Tank trailer · Tank truck · ADR tanker · Silo trailer
A tanker is a truck or semi-trailer with a fixed tank for liquids, gases, or powders in bulk. It is filled and emptied through valves and hoses.
Names in other languages
- English
- Tanker
- Türkçe
- Tanker
- فارسی
- تانکر
- Русский
- Автоцистерна
- 简体中文
- 罐车
- العربية
- صهريج
Specifications
Typical figures — they vary by manufacturer and by country rules on weights and sizes.
| Max payload | 24,000–30,000 kg |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 25–43 m³ |
| Loading method | Top |
Typical cargo
Fuels, chemicals, food liquids (milk, oils, juices, wine), liquefied gases, and powders such as cement, flour, and plastic granules.
In plain words
Tanks are built for one kind of cargo: food-grade stainless steel tanks for milk, oil, or juice; tanks for fuel and chemicals; pressure tanks for gases; and silo trailers for dry powders such as cement or flour. Many tanks have several compartments, so different products or part loads can travel together. Most are filled from the top or from the bottom through valves.
Dangerous goods by road in Europe and many other countries must follow the ADR agreement: the tank must be approved, the vehicle marked with orange plates, and the driver trained. Food tanks must be cleaned and certified between loads. Like ISO tanks, road tankers usually return empty, which is part of the price.
Advantages
- Fast filling and emptying with pumps or air pressure.
- No packaging needed for bulk liquids and powders.
- Compartments allow several products in one trip.
Limits
- Each tank suits only certain products; cleaning between loads costs time and money.
- Usually returns empty.
- Dangerous goods need ADR approval, marking, and trained drivers.
Example from real shipping
A producer ships 30,000 litres of sunflower oil from Tekirdağ to a bottling plant. A food-grade stainless tanker arrives with a cleaning certificate from its last load. It is filled through the top hatch, sealed, and pumped empty at the plant.
Related terms
- ISO Tank containerAn ISO tank is a steel tank fixed inside a 20-foot container frame. It carries liquids, gases, and powders in bulk, and it moves by ship, truck, and train like a normal container.
- FlexitankA flexitank is not a container. It is a large, single-use plastic bag that is placed inside a standard 20' dry container to carry non-hazardous liquids in bulk.
- TipperA tipper (dump truck or tipping trailer) has an open body that a hydraulic ram lifts to tip the cargo out at the rear. It carries loose bulk goods.
- Road vehicle typesA side-by-side comparison of the trucks and trailers used in road freight: load space, payload, volume, pallet places, loading method, and typical cargo.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.