Bulk Liquid Transportation Tank Sizes, Configurations And Uses

If you're looking to get started with bulk liquid transportation companies and start shipping liquids worldwide, you'll need to know all about the tanks that you can use to do so. There are lots of different options out there for you, and they all have their benefits. Here's which bulk liquid transportation tank you should use, based on your needs.

Bulk Liquid ISO Tanks

When you think of a bulk liquid transportation tank, this is probably what you're thinking of. These cylindrical tanks are designed to hold a lot of liquid at once, and be hooked up directly to the back of a truck.

These tanks are quite versatile, as they can hold a wide variety of liquids. That can include more dangerous liquids, such as fuels, corrosive chemicals, and more. You'll also see them being used for water, alcoholic beverages, resins, solvents, and many more different liquids.

While you most commonly see them being used on the road, an ISO tank is actually intermodal. They can be used on the roads, on rails, and by trucks. That makes them very versatile, so they can be used wherever you're sending that container liquid storage in the country.

The size of an ISO tank will vary, as there are different types out there on the market. On average, you can expect them to hold around 25,000 liters at once. When picking a size though, be aware that there will always need to be a percentage of the tank left empty for the 'ullage'. This stops the liquid surging while in transit and makes it safe to transport.

Drums And Barrels

These are another very common option, as they're considered to be one of the easiest options when it comes to bulk liquid transportation companies.

On average, one drum will be able to hold around 55 gallons each. When used, there's typically several in one shipment, so you can adjust how much you send out at once.

To ship drums and barrels, they need to be filled, and then stacked onto pallets. The pallets and drums are then wrapped in plastic wrap. This is needed, as it helps keep the drums in place and avoids damage while in transit. Then, they're loaded onto the container ready to be sent out.

They're another highly versatile container liquid storage, as they can hold almost any liquid you can think of. When used, they're often given a liner first before the liquid is poured in. That helps keep the liquid in best possible quality, without worry about contamination.

Once a drum has been used, it will be sent back to a depot to be washed out and stored, ready for use again on another delivery.

IBC Tanks

IBC tanks, or Intermediate Bulk Containers, are another option that has become more popular in recent years. As the name implies, they're designed to fill the gap between drums and ISO tanks. They can hold up to 1,250 liters each, making them good for larger jobs where you need to send out more bulk liquid.

As a bulk liquid transportation tank, they're easier to fill and use than drums. They fill through a nozzle in the top, and are designed to be stacked. In that way, they're easier to get filled up and stacked into a container, without the use of plastic wrap to hold them in place. Because of this, some bulk liquid transportation companies are using them as they help them reduce their environmental impact.

Like drums, they will need to be cleaned out and stored before reuse. They do also use liners when used to ship liquids, in order to maintain the integrity of it. They can also be used to ship a wide variety of liquids, on all kinds of shipments by air, land and sea.

Flexitanks

One of the newest types of container liquid storage out there is the Flexitank. They've become one of the go to ways to get liquids out on the road, as they offer a huge amount of benefits.

A Flexitank is a little different to the other options on this list, as it's a bag design rather than a solid bulk liquid transportation tank. The bag is made of several layers of polyurethane, and can hold up to 16 – 24 tons.

The main benefit of a Flexitank is that they hold a lot more liquid than drums or IBCs. They're made to lie in the bottom of your typical container unit, and are filled up there. As they're filled, they take up all of the available space in the container. That way, you can get more liquid in the same container, as there's no 'dead space' as you'd get with drums.

Another major benefit is that they're suitable for a huge range of uses. They're approved for use by the FDA for food grade liquids, so water, wines, oils, and more can all be put in them. They're also great for a huge range of other liquids too, from shampoos to sulfates and more.

Many companies have already made the switch to Flexitanks as they are offering a lot of benefits over the typical tanks that are currently on the market.

Now you know all the options that are currently available to you. You can see what tank is the best one for your job, so you'll get the best results and the best price point, whatever you're sending out.