If you’ve driven on the highway, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve seen a tanker. These trucks are integral to the oil and gas industry and are designed to transport liquids and gases by road. They are built with stable, rounded corners and can be trusted to transport flammable and unstable substances like gas, oil, and hazardous chemicals. Trucks need low centres of gravity and internal bulkheads or baffles when transporting fuel in a tanker. This is because fuel expands and contracts depending on its temperature. Tanker trucks might also transport other more stable liquid substances for human consumption.
How to Build the Best Fuel Tanker Unloading System
Looking to make your unloading operations the best in the business? The answer is simple: invest in a bottom-loading arm. While using hoses for loading and unloading in the fuel tanker industry is common, loading arms are superior for several reasons. Unlike hoses, they do not need to be recertified every year. Additionally, they are much safer for your crew. While Northern Platforms offers both bottom and top loading arms, we typically recommend bottom loading if your operation deals primarily with fuel.
Here’s why bottom loading is best for fuel tanker unloading:
- Helps prevent fires: bottom loading limits liquid agitation and turbulence, which can cause sparks and fires. These systems also typically feature grounding features.
- Allows vapour recovery: bottom loading systems can be modified to recover displaced vapours, which can significantly reduce your environmental impact.
- Reduces the risk of falls: As the name suggests, top loading is more dangerous since operators have to load and unload from the top of the truck, which creates a potential falling risk.
For more information on bottom loading, see our previous post, Bottom Loading Arms: What You Need to Know.
Hoses vs Loading Arms: Which is Better?
When deciding whether to use a hose or a loading arm in your unloading system, consider the following:
| Features | Loading Arms | Hoses |
| Overall Cost | Higher upfront, little to no maintenance costs. | Lower upfront, significant costs to maintain. |
| Equipment Lifespan | Extended lifespan (over 5 years) with frequent use. | Short lifespan with frequent use. |
| Site Safety | Easy and safe to operate. Can be outfitted with fall protection systems for additional safety. | Increased risk of tripping and other worker injuries. |
| Safety Features | Can easily be outfitted with additional safety features like dry disconnects, breakaway couplings, and overfill protection. | Can use breakaway couplings, dry disconnects, and hiltap fittings. |
| Certification Requirements | Low maintenance, no recertification required. | Must be maintained and require annual pressure tests. |
Build a Comprehensive Fuel Tanker Loading and Unloading System with Northern Platforms
Ready to get started on making your operations safer and more efficient? We stock high-quality loading arms from EMCO Wheaton and OPW Engineered Systems, which are designed for optimal performance. These loading arms are ideal for unloading petroleum products, chemicals, and liquefied gases. Plus, when you partner with an experienced loading solution provider like Northern Platforms, you can ensure that your system will perfectly fit all your loading needs. We offer turnkey installation, expert maintenance, and consulting services. Explore our loading arm inventory and schedule a site visit with the Northern Platforms team today!