How to Load and Unload Oil from a Tanker Truck?
4 Answers
After the tanker truck enters the station, the unloading operator checks that the safety facilities on the tanker are complete and then guides the truck to the unloading area. Connect the static grounding wire and prepare firefighting equipment. Verify that the unloading tank matches the type of oil carried by the tanker. Confirm the empty capacity of the unloading tank using a level gauge or manual measurement. Before unloading, ensure safety precautions are in place, have firefighting equipment ready on-site, the driver must not leave the unloading area, and open flames or smoking are strictly prohibited in the vicinity. Once the oil level in the tank is stable, notify the fueling operator to start the fueling process. Return the firefighting equipment to its original position and tidy up the site. Cross-check with the oil delivery verification form.
When I first started driving oil tankers, my mentor repeatedly emphasized the loading and unloading procedures. Before loading oil, it's crucial to ensure the grounding wire is securely connected and the electrostatic drag chain is fully touching the ground, otherwise accidents can easily occur. The loading arm at the oil depot must be tightly connected, and the exhaust valve should be opened first before slowly opening the oil valve. When transporting gasoline, I'm even more cautious—the loading speed must be carefully controlled according to the gauge, as going too fast can generate static sparks. Nowadays, new vehicles are equipped with vapor recovery systems that collect and process those white fumes during loading/unloading. Every time I deliver oil to gas stations, I cross-check the oil product documents with the recipient and inspect the tank opening with an explosion-proof flashlight. If any water gets mixed in, the entire tank of oil would be ruined.
I remember the last time I helped transport diesel for the refinery, the operation was more complicated. Before loading, we had to measure the water level in the tank with a copper ruler, and the oil quality test sheet had to be posted on the truck door. The connections of the loading arm had to be tightened with an explosion-proof wrench for exactly three and a half turns – even half a turn less could cause a gas leak. Loading oil in summer was particularly time-sensitive; operations were completely prohibited at noon on high-temperature days. Once, while unloading oil at the storage base, there was a discrepancy of 200 liters between their automatic metering system and my gauge, so we had to stop the pump and recalibrate the equipment. When retracting the loading arm, the pipeline had to be drained first, otherwise residual oil would spray all over the truck.
Driving an LPG tanker truly tests one's skills. Loading and unloading require wearing antifreeze gloves - those liquid nitrogen couplings at -160°C are no joke. The crane positions with blue markings indicate cryogenic zones, while red zones correspond to different petroleum products. Yesterday during unloading, the pressure gauge suddenly spiked, and I immediately triggered the emergency shut-off valve. It turned out the receiving tank's vent valve was clogged. When connecting metal hoses, the flange grooves must be perfectly aligned - even slight misalignment can cause leaks.
