Liquid bulk transportation is a niche in the transportation industry that deals with hauling liquid chemicals, petroleum products and fuel, among other products. Due to a boom in gas and oil exploration across the globe, the liquid tank transportation segment has witnessed an evolution in the past few years. However, beginners must understand the nuances of such transportation, especially hauling dangerous products such as petroleum. Here are some facts about bulk liquid transportation that new fleet managers must know.
Surge Control -- When tanks are partially filled, the liquid being transported will tend to move back and forth (sloshing effect). The phenomenon is not only risky when hauling flammable fluids such as petroleum, but it also affects the handling of the liquid tanker by throwing it off balance. For this reason, oilers have baffles or bulkheads, which are panels that divide the trailer into smaller compartments. The compartments reduce the internal movement of the bulk liquid.
Fuel Efficiency -- Fuel tank trailers cover a lot of mileage, and thus, they consume more fuel than other vehicles. Therefore, new transport entrepreneurs must look at ways of making their trailers more fuel-efficient. If less money is put on fuel, then more money will be ploughed back into the business. Notably, new designs of trailers are lighter than the original ones. When a container is light, less fuel is needed to drag its weight. As such, shrewd truck owners should look into shading loads off their trailers to enhance fuel economy. Furthermore, some tank trailers have smooth-sided walls to reduce drag resistance when the vehicle is moving at high speed. Besides, plastic fairings can be installed beneath a trailer's wheels to increase fuel economy by improving the vehicle's aerodynamics. Even though the cost of purchase and installation of fairings might be high, the investment is offset by long-term fuel savings.
Corrosion -- While road salts improve driving conditions during winter, they can be corrosive and damage tank trailers. Exposure to salt accelerates corrosion, which can lead to a slew of issues such as of malfunctioning hydraulic brake systems. Trailer owners can apply variants of salt shields to protect their fleet from rust. The guard, which is often sprayed underneath the vehicle, offers a protective barrier from road salts. Moreover, tank trailers are plagued by corrosion and pitting from the effect of the bulk liquids they haul. Many jurisdictions offer free information to fleet managers on the compatibility of different chemicals to the interior of a tank trailer.
Contact companies like Russell Transport to learn more about industrial transportation.
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