About Asphalt & Hot Oil Tank Trucks
Asphalt and hot oil tank trucks vary in design and capacity, but are all designed to transport asphalt and oil at a steady temperature between 275 and 320 degrees Fahrenheit (135 and 160 Celsius). The majority of trucks equipped to carry out these tasks are heavy-duty vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) ranging from around 26,000 to 33,000 pounds (11,793 to 15,000 kilograms) or more, which puts them in the heavy-duty category.
Kenworth T880 Hot Oil Tank Truck
These trucks are often upfitted with tanks made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or aluminum, and are well insulated to help maintain the high temperatures necessary for their cargo. Even with insulation, however, heat loss can occur, especially over long distances, so many asphalt and hot oil trucks also come equipped with heating systems that use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or diesel burners, and some use electric heating systems.
Tank sizes range from around 1,000 gallons up to 4,200 gallons (about 3,800 to 16,000 liters), although larger tanks are available for trucks with higher maximum weight capacities. Most tanks built for asphalt and hot oil are non-specification tanks, meaning they don’t meet any Department of Transportation standards. Asphalt tank trucks that do have spec tanks, however, may be suitable for carrying gasoline, crude oil, plasticizers, solvents, and other materials, depending on the specific DOT standard they are designed to meet.
Asphalt Tank Trucks
An asphalt truck (aka an “asphalt distributor”) is used to lay new blacktop or fill potholes in existing pavement. The truck’s tank may have a traditional barrel shape, or it may resemble a hopper you’d find on agricultural equipment, especially if the truck is designed for patchwork. Asphalt trucks are outfitted with pumps that are often heated to keep the asphalt at the desired temperature as it passes through the spray bar during application. Spray bars usually measure about 12 to 24 feet (3.6 to 7.3 meters); longer bars allow operators to cover more ground in a single pass and sometimes have wings that fold up to save space in storage and prevent damage during transit.
Most trucks in this category also come with flush systems that use reusable solvent to clean out the spraying system to prevent asphalt from cooling in the system and creating blockages. The controls for the asphalt and flush systems are typically located inside the cab, so the operator can perform all necessary tasks without leaving the driver’s seat.
Hot Oil Tank Trucks
Hot oil trucks, or hot oilers, are designed to transport oil, tack, and other materials to hot mix asphalt plants, but they can also be used to clean paraffin wax out of oil wells, clear debris away from oil extraction equipment, heat water for fracking, defrost pipes, and more. They differ from asphalt trucks in that they are sometimes equipped with tank controls located on the exterior of the truck near the tank. These trucks are especially important during the winter months, when freezing temperatures would otherwise bring oil field work and other, similar activities to a standstill.
Find Asphalt & Hot Oil Tank Trucks
You’ll find asphalt and hot oil tank trucks for sale on TruckPaper.com from a variety of leading manufacturers, including Ford, Freightliner, International, and others.
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