Repurposed Truck Tanks Deliver Value
December 25, 2015
Written By Adam Buckallew
MFA Oil is in the process of upgrading its fleet of trucks for both refined fuel and propane. According to Tom Procter, director of service, replacing the company’s smaller trucks with new ones that can haul more is another step toward moving the company forward.
“The 2,600- and 2,800-gallon propane trucks we were running had become too small to meet our current and future needs,” Procter says. “Our new trucks have bigger tanks that allow our drivers to haul more, reducing trips and improving our overall efficiency.”
Although the older trucks had lost their effectiveness in the field, MFA Oil has found a way to maximize their value. The tanks from these trucks are being converted for permanent storage at customer locations. Procter says repurposing the tanks provides many benefits to the company.
“We can reuse the old tanks to make bigger deliveries,” Procter says. “This allows our customers to go longer between refills, which works great for crop dryers and other commercial installations. It also eliminates some of the weekend and afterhours calls we’d receive since the bigger tanks have greater holding capacity.”
The modified tanks deliver cost-saving benefits beyond increased storage and reduced delivery frequency. They also provide a low-cost installation option.
“The cost of installing the overhauled tanks is in the hundreds of dollars instead of the thousands, so it’s a very cost-effective operation,” Procter says.
Before the old truck tanks are installed, they are fixed up and readied for customers by the MFA Oil truck maintenance department in Columbia, Mo.
“We have all of the repurposed tanks sandblasted, repainted and we remove the truck-to-pump plumbing,” Procter says. “Bob Powell and his crew at the truck shop are doing a fantastic job. These repurposed tanks look outstanding.”
Six of the former truck tanks already have been set up at customer locations. Procter says two additional tanks are scheduled for installation and one other is currently at the shop to be adapted.
Procter expects the tank conversion program to positively affect customers and the company.
“These tanks provide added convenience to our customers who need more storage while reducing our costs so it’s a win-win for all parties,” Procter says.