What is a Tank Wagon? Fuel Delivery Vehicles
A tank wagon (also called a 'bobtail') is a single-unit fuel delivery truck with a built-in tank typically holding 2,000-5,000 gallons. It is smaller and more maneuverable than a full transport truck (which hauls 7,000-9,000 gallons via a separate trailer) and is used for smaller deliveries, tight job sites, and locations that large transports can't access.
How It Relates to Fuel Delivery
The fuel delivery fleet is built on two primary vehicle types: tank wagons (bobtails) carrying 2,000-5,000 gallons — ideal for smaller deliveries, residential and commercial generators, tight urban sites, and rural/unpaved access roads; and transport trucks (tractor-trailers) carrying 7,000-9,000 gallons — used for bulk deliveries to large tanks, fleet yards, and high-volume operations.
Tank wagons are equipped with PTO-driven pumps, metered delivery systems, multiple hose reels (for different products), and often carry multiple fuel types in separate compartments. A single tank wagon might carry 2,500 gallons of ULSD and 1,500 gallons of gasoline in separate compartments, allowing multi-product delivery in one trip.
BettyJet matches the right vehicle to your delivery needs. If you need 1,000 gallons for a generator, we send a tank wagon. If you need 8,000 gallons for a fleet yard, we send a transport. This optimization keeps delivery costs down and ensures we can access your site safely.
Why It Matters for BettyJet Customers
The right delivery vehicle affects your cost and logistics. BettyJet selects tank wagons for smaller, harder-to-reach deliveries and transports for high-volume orders — optimizing every delivery for cost and accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum delivery for a tank wagon?
Tank wagon minimums typically start at 200-500 gallons depending on the carrier and location. BettyJet can coordinate smaller deliveries via tank wagon for generators, small fleet operations, and remote sites. Contact us for specifics.
Can a transport truck access my job site?
Transport trucks are large tractor-trailers that need paved roads, adequate turning radius, and stable ground. If your site has access limitations, BettyJet will arrange tank wagon delivery instead — smaller trucks that can navigate tight spaces and unpaved surfaces.
Related Terms
ULSD stands for Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel — a cleaner-burning diesel fuel containing no more than 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur. Since 2006, the EPA has required all on-road diesel sold in the United States to meet the ULSD standard, replacing Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) which contained up to 500 ppm of sulfur.
Dyed DieselDyed diesel — also called red diesel or off-road diesel — is standard ULSD fuel that has been dyed red to indicate it is exempt from federal and state road taxes. It is chemically identical to on-road diesel but costs significantly less because the tax (typically $0.40-0.60/gallon) is not applied.
Wet HosingWet hosing is the practice of fueling vehicles or equipment directly from a mobile fuel truck rather than from a stationary storage tank. The fuel truck pulls up to each vehicle and fills it on-site — no bulk tank, no pump, no infrastructure required.
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