University of Extrication: Large Truck Fuel Capacities

Nov. 1, 2015

Ron Moore covers how to estimate the fuel quantity in a large truck.

To meet Part 393 of the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, side-mounted fuel tanks must be plainly marked with its liquid capacity plus a warning against filling it to more than 95 percent of its liquid capacity. This applies only if the fuel tank is side-mounted and readily visible on the vehicle. If these stampings around the filler neck are accessible, they are the best definitive means of determining fuel tank capacity.

Subject: Fuel Tanks

Topic: Large Truck Liquid Fuel Tank Capacities

Objective: Improve ability to estimate capacity of large truck fuel tanks

Task: After studying various large truck fuel tanks, the rescue team members shall be capable of estimating the potential quantity of fuel that may be carried in a given tank.

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Large Truck Crash Stats (2013)

3,906 fatal crashes
73,000 injury crashes
265,000 property damage crashes

Approximately 950 large truck crashes every day in the U.S.!

Source: U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

As you arrive on scene, you observe a jack-knifed tractor-trailer blocking several lanes of the highway. The incident commander has assigned your crew to deal with the leaking diesel fuel spill. You wonder just how much fuel could be in that punctured fuel tank.

This University of Extrication column reviews the features of various large truck fuel tanks and provides some rule-of-thumb guidance to help you make a rough estimate of how many gallons could be onboard.

There are requirements in every state for a “reportable quantity” of petroleum product, such as diesel fuel, if spilled at a crash scene. Potential quantities are therefore important to know when making notification to the state environmental agency or when calling for a hazmat team response to the scene.