Fuel tankers could be allowed to carry more fuel under government plans to prevent disruption to the supply chain.
Most tankers operate with spare capacity due to the 44-tonne weight limit, but the Department for Transport (DfT) is now consulting on whether to allow the vehicles to operate to their full design train weight.
It said doing so could increase the efficiency of the fuel supply chain by 6%.
Panic buying in September 2021 led to filling stations running dry and more recently climate activists have targeted refineries, which affected fuel supplies.
Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “Thanks to the government’s bold measures to support the sector, our country has now an even stronger haulage supply chain.
“We will continue to work with and listen to the sector to ensure our forecourts are always well stocked and motorists can fill up with confidence.”
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The DfT said any increase in fuel capacity would apply only to fuel tankers equipped with safety features such as vehicle stability functionality and advanced emergency braking systems.
Routes to be used would also have to be agreed in advance to ensure the road infrastructure can accommodate the fuel tankers operating at full capacity.
The government added that an assessment of the proposals by National Highways indicated that the increase in safety risks would be extremely small and any risk of infrastructure damage would be effectively managed
How much difference in reality will it make?
It’s been many years since I pulled a fuel tanker so I grant that some things may have changed, but I imagine that the fundamentals remain the same; fuel tanker designers manufacture the vessels to a certain size bearing in mind max weight limits, a requirement for ullage etc and build them sizewise to suit those parameters.
You don’t see 50000 litre road tankers simply because pulling the extra weight and fresh air is uneconomical, therefore they are relatively small in silhouette when compared to for example gp tankers.
Granted you may be able to physically squeeze a few more litres in the barrel but a certain ullage still needs to be maintained for safety reasons.
Looks like a copynpaste post? Where is it from?
Would larger tankers be allowed extra weight all the time, or only at times of crisis? I would assume only in crisis.
If tankers always carried more fuel, then fewer tankers, and fewer drivers would be needed in everyday use. Companies don`t waste resources by deliberately running light. So if there were fewer trucks and drivers to start with, there would be no slack to take up in time of need.
As Maoster says carrying air isnt part of the game. For that reason Im surprised that there may be “spare capacity” designed in?
But, diesel has an SG of about 0.88 and 0.82, while motor spirit has SG approx 0.79 to 0.75. So a tank designed to carry spirit at full weight would be
…0.77/0.86… loaded Or about 10% extra capacity available for diesel when at normal running max weight.
Is that where the 6% is to be found??
Franglais:
Looks like a copynpaste post? Where is it from?
It’s is it’s from Motortransport.co.uk website
After some digging, I came up with this:
.GOV Open consultation on Fuel tanker weight limits
It’s rather lengthy, but it does explain the .GOV’s thinking.
dieseldave:
After some digging, I came up with this:
.GOV Open consultation on Fuel tanker weight limits
It’s rather lengthy, but it does explain the .GOV’s thinking.
Cheers Dave, a full mug of coffee read.