Are you looking to add a propane truck to your fleet? Making the right choice can significantly impact your operational efficiency, safety standards, and overall profitability. As you expand your options, it’s essential to understand what to consider when choosing your propane truck body. This guide looks at the six key factors to keep in mind during your search so you can make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and goals.
What Is a Propane Truck?
A propane truck is a specialized vehicle designed to safely transport and deliver propane gas to residential, commercial and institutional customers. It has several essential components, such as a chassis, tank, pumping system, safety equipment, and other specialized features for handling propane efficiently and securely.
Key Features of Propane Truck Bodies
Before we can discuss what to look for in your next or very first propane truck purchase, you must understand the fundamental elements every propane vehicle needs to have:
- Tank capacity: The truck’s tank capacity will ultimately determine the amount of propane it can carry per trip, which influences the efficiency of your deliveries.
- Safety features: Propane trucks need safety mechanisms like leak detection systems and fire suppression equipment to help uphold safe operations and prevent accidents.
- Pumping system: A reliable pumping system is important for transferring propane from the tank to customers’ storage facilities.
- Chassis and suspension: These play an important role in stability and maneuverability. A sturdy chassis and suspension system are essential for safe transportation.
- Specialized equipment: Some propane trucks have specialized equipment, such as hose reels, meters, and digital monitoring systems, to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Compliance with regulations: Propane trucks need to meet regular standards set by organizations like the Department of Transportation (DoT).
What to Consider When Choosing Your Propane Truck Body
If you’re in the propane business, your number one priority should be safely handling, transporting, and delivering propane. Selecting the right truck body can help you achieve this. Let’s explore the six key features to look for when choosing a propane truck body.
1. Your Needs
Before choosing any truck, assess your business requirements to determine the ideal truck for your operations. This can mean considering:
- The truck’s capacity: Examine your customer base, propane delivery volume, and delivery frequency to determine the amount of propane you typically transport.
- Your future growth plans: What are your business growth projections and expansion plans? Knowing these can help you determine the right truck body size to meet these goals.
- The terrain and routes your trucks take: Assess the terrain your trucks navigate through, including rural areas, urban roads, and off-road sites. These routes will indicate the required suspension capabilities, truck maneuverability, and size constraints.
- Customization options: Explore customization options that best suit your needs, such as storage compartments, lighting systems, safety features, and branding elements.
2. Strength and Durability
Select a propane truck body constructed with high-quality, durable materials such as aluminum or stainless steel. Remember that your truck must withstand the rigors of daily usage, including loading, unloading, and transportation over various terrains. It also needs to endure exposure to environmental factors such as moisture, road debris, and extreme temperatures. A truck body constructed from quality materials can provide you with the long-lasting performance you need.
3. Safety Features
Propane is a flammable gas that can ignite easily when in contact with an ignition source, such as a flame. This makes propane a hazardous substance, especially in the presence of oxygen. This highlights the critical need for careful handling, transportation, storage, and use of propane to ensure safety and prevent potential accidents.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), when transporting hazardous materials like propane, it’s important to comply with various regulations. This includes the proper classification and description of materials through marking, labeling, packaging, and placarding. Familiarity with these rules and regulations is essential to guarantee compliance and safety. This means that selecting a propane truck body that facilitates meeting these stringent requirements is important for operational and regulatory adherence.
4. Fuel Efficiency
Evaluating the engine performance of your potential propane truck is important. You’ll need to consider factors such as torque, horsepower, and fuel efficiency. A well-maintained engine with optimal performance can contribute to improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and overall cost savings.
It’s also necessary to consider driver training and behavior. Educating your drivers on fuel-efficient driving techniques, like maintaining steady speeds, avoiding aggressive acceleration, and reducing idle time, can significantly optimize fuel usage.
5. Manufacturer Reputation
Selecting a manufacturer with a proven track record in producing high-quality propane truck bodies is one of the most essential points on this list. If you’re going to invest a lot of money in any area of your business, you need to ensure that you look for manufacturers with years of experience and a strong reputation in the industry.
A good place to start checking is through online platforms like Google Reviews and Trustpilot, which offer valuable information from customers who have purchased from the companies you’re considering. While researching, you’ll also need to confirm that the manufacturer adheres to industry standards and certifications for propane truck bodies.
6. Aluminum vs. Steel
Choosing between a steel or aluminum truck body is one of the most important decisions when selecting your propane truck body. Steel truck bodies are known for their durability and strength. This makes them resistant to impacts and harsh conditions drivers may experience while on the road. However, steel bodies are heavier than aluminum, which can affect fuel efficiency. They may also be more prone to corrosion over time, requiring more maintenance to prevent rust.
Aluminum truck bodies, like the ones we offer at Fisk Tank Carrier, are more lightweight than steel. This can improve fuel efficiency and increase payload capacity. Aluminum also experiences less corrosion, which can help reduce the need for frequent maintenance and extend the life span of the truck body. An aluminum frame truck is also durable, making it a good choice for long-term usage.
Get Your Propane Truck Body From Fisk Tank Carrier
Fisk Tank Carrier has industry experts such as engineers, designers and welders to ensure we provide the propane industry with the best quality propane truck body and parts. Our products are high quality and made to last. Shop our online store for all your propane truck needs, or contact us today to learn more about what we can offer your business.
