A bitumen tanker trailer is an insulated tank that keeps bitumen hot enough to pump — 150 to 200 °C — for hours, from the refinery or terminal to the asphalt plant or paving site. If the bitumen cools on the way it thickens and will not discharge, so insulation and, on long routes, heating are what you are really buying.
How the insulation works
Our bitumen tankers use a three-layer body:
- Inner tank in heat-resistant steel, in contact with the hot product
- Insulation layer of high-density mineral wool (fibreglass on request) between the shells
- Outer cladding in stainless or galvanized steel that protects the insulation from weather and impact
This construction holds bitumen at 150–200 °C for hours. Insulation thickness is set per order, so a tanker for short urban runs and one for long cross-border trips do not have to be the same.
When you need a heating system
Insulation slows heat loss; it does not stop it. If loads wait at site, routes are long or winters are cold, add heating so the product can be brought back to pumping temperature:
- diesel or electric heating system (optional)
- reheating by burner or by hot-oil circulation
Choosing capacity
We build bitumen tankers from 22,000 to 65,000 litres in a single compartment. The right size is the largest volume that stays within the axle and gross-weight limits of the countries you drive in — bitumen is heavy, so check the weight before the volume. A 32,000-litre, 3-axle tanker is a common starting point.
Chassis and running gear
- BPW, SAF or Turkish-origin axles
- air, mechanical or bogie suspension; liftable front axle
- WABCO ABS/EBS braking
- Pirelli, Bridgestone or Goodyear tyres on steel or aluminium rims
What to specify in your quote request
- capacity in litres and the weight limits on your routes
- typical trip length and waiting time at site
- whether you need heating, and which type (diesel, electric, burner, hot oil)
- discharge pump and filling arrangement
- axle brand and suspension
Specifications and photos are on the bitumen tanker page, next to our fuel tanker and LPG tanker in the tanker trailer family. Send us your route and capacity and we will come back with a configuration and price.