The third-generation insulated tanker from Oilmen’s Truck Tanks, designed for hauling diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), includes an insulated 4,000-gallon tank, insulated and heated cabinet, insulated and heated piping and protected pumping equipment, as well as a self-load system that enables the driver to use the truck’s pump to load from a bulk tank or rail car.

“This is significant because an operator may not always be going to a terminal or other location that has loading arms,” says John Faris III, marketing manager for Oilmen’s Truck Tanks. “This is even more important as you travel to remote locations.”

Faris says as demand for DEF increases with more contractors running trucks that utilize the fluid, as well as increased use among off-road equipment, there’s a growing need to transport DEF to locations that have been traditionally large consumers of diesel fuel.

“Just as tank trucks are frequently used to deliver fuel to these sites, they will be used to haul DEF as well,” he says.

The truck’s tank is constructed from 304-2B stainless steel to address the specific handling requirement of diesel exhaust fluid as defined by ISO 22241. “Using a non-approved material would contaminate the product and may ultimately result in failure of downstream equipment that use the off-spec DEF,” Faris says.

The tank and equipment cabinet both have 3 inches of fiberglass insulation protecting the DEF against freezing (12 degrees F). The cabinet’s 12-volt heater produces up to 10,000 Btu. All exposed piping is wrapped in heat tape and insulated with 2-inch foam and a protective aluminum jacket.

Other features include a bolt-on equipment cabinet with vibration reduction materials for easier access when performing maintenance or repairs, rear-mounted ladder and piping that enables the operator to bypass the hose reel for rapid metered delivery.

“This can be helpful when delivering high volume at a single location, such as a truck stop or mini-bulk station, reducing the overall delivery time,” he says.

While the truck is specifically designed to haul DEF and should be dedicated to that service alone, it could be repurposed for other applications, such as non-potable water, for greater resale.

Safety features include a PTO activation switch tied to the truck’s brake system, ensuring the PTO can’t be engaged until the brakes are applied. It also automatically disengages the PTO once the brakes are released, preventing the operator from burning up the pump. Dry-break connections also have been used to limit spillage and product contamination.

The DEF delivery trucks can be built with either manual or automatic transmissions, provided a PTO of suitable speed can be sourced, Faris says.

“We offer most major chassis options and stock a number of different chassis makes, configured properly for the tanks we offer. We also have an in-house engineer who can run weight distributions and assist our customers with this process.”

Options include varying lengths and sizes of discharge hoses, as well as a variety of suction and discharge fittings. 800/859-8265; www.trucktanks.com.


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