Is it illegal

[joshuabardwell]

How does this come into play if I fill my tractor's tank while it's up on the trailer? I mean, it's a diesel, so I guess it doesn't matter, but what if it were gas?

 

[newbury]

Therein lies the difference!

Not sure why you were quoting me, I was talking about the limit for diesel being 119 gallons per container instead of 120 gallons and # of containers didn't matter.
Gasoline is 8 gallons/container.

Gas may be carried under the Hazardous Materials -
Materials of Trade Exception (49 CFR 173.6) in
quantities not greater than 8 gallons per container with
the total weight of all hazardous materials not exceeding
440 pounds (at a weight of 35 lbs per 5 gallon
container). Any quantity of gasoline greater than 8
gallons per container must comply fully with
hazmat regulations.

in the same publication. That would be about 62 gallons of gas if my late Saturday night math is right.

 

[Soundguy]

and dot wonders why nobody gets this stuff right.

it's a morass of twisted rules..

 

[WM75Guy]

The better question is it safe to transport diesel that way? Probably not. DOT has requirements for non-bulk (119 gallons or less) portable (not attached to the vehicle) containers for flammable and conbustionable liquids for a reason, for when bad things happen, such as a fire or accident. The signs that say it is a violation to dispense fuels into unapproved containers are usually local or state fire code requirements. If the Fire Marshal sees you doing it I am sure a discussion will take place with the possibility of the words nobody likes to hear, "Sign here, press hard, it's multiple copies. Your signature is not a plea of guilt but a promise to contact the court clerk within 10 days or a warrant will be issued for your arrest.". The next question is how do you secure the non-bulk portable container during transport. Local, state and federal codes can govern that. If you were to spill it during transportation and get caught, haz mat cleanup is expensive. As far as placarding and CDL requirements for transporting 50 gallons of diesel, you would be exempt under Federal requirements, < 1001 pounds of a Class 3 liquid.

Getting caught filling or transporting could be expensive. In Texas enforcement of DOT requirements can be by the DOT, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, and trained local police and county sheriff deputies in certain jurisdictions. Local fire marshals, who are peace officers, can enforce fire code and city ordinances concerning dispensing and transportation of flammable and combustionable liquids. Getting caught means fines up to $2000 for violating the fire code or up to $500 for other Class C offenses, which includes city ordinances and traffic offenses, such as unsecured load.

I would recommend you get the proper non-bulk portable container for diesel that can be properly secured during transport and not worry about it.

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,
A transfer tank (diesel only in back of truck) is made out of steel or aluminium. Most manufacturers do not want to mess with DOT provisions and make the largest tank at 109 gallons in size.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Practices vary from area I notice. What happens in middle of no where in a town of 22 people with one fuel source may not always pass state and federal laws.

 

[LBrown59]

I don't know what you are referring to as "bottled gas" but I (as well as the wife) take our 20lb propane tanks to the propane place to have them refilled and the guy there always watches me load them into the trunk, he will even load them for the wife. And this isn't a gas station, it is an actual propane distributor, coincidentally the same place that brings the truck to my house to fill my tank. (it's actually nice because if I walk in to pay my bill at the same time they will sometimes fill my 20lb tank for free )

I have also replaced the tank for my kegerator at airgas and they had no problem with me transporting it in my trunk (granted that is only c02). For my bigger tanks I always take the truck.

When I delivered for a dealer back in 1961 to 1962 we called it bottled gas propane or liquid petroleum .

 

[LanceH]

try to get a bottled gas seller to put a tank in your backseat or trunk without an anti roll carrier..

Come to eastern Kentucky!

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Maybe this will help you. Diesel Fuel Container Regulations | eHow.com

 

[rd_macgregor]

I'd guess that a food-grade barrel isn't officially an "approved" container, but its probably safe for fuel use if it is the same kind of plastic as is used in the approved containers. As others have noted, how fuel containers are filled, handled and hauled is different for gasoline than for diesel.
I noticed that lots of folks were filling red gasoline containers at the local fuel oil (dyed) pump, whereas I always put diesel/fuel oil in the yellow containers and gasoline in the red. The provincial fire marshall's office told me there were no regs preventing this practice...despite the warning message embossed in the plastic container itself about what fuel it is approved for!
BOB