The Weight of Diesel Fuel

Answers on the Weight of Diesel Fuel and More

Fuel – it’s the juice that keeps trucks running. If you’re going to haul money-making loads to keep your trucking company successful, you need diesel fuel to get you from origin to destination.

It’s a simple equation, but have you ever stopped to wonder the details of diesel fuel? Have you thought about the weight of diesel fuel? What about the fuel weight of a full tank of diesel? Does diesel weigh more depending on the outside temperature? How does that weight of diesel fuel impact your truck weight, especially when it’s time to hit the scale?

Don’t you worry, we have answers to those questions and more.

What is the weight of diesel fuel?

The weight of a gallon of diesel is about 7 pounds, roughly. Diesel weighs a little less than 7 pounds per gallon in the US (and a little more than 7 pounds per gallon in Canada), but let’s go with 7 pounds per gallon to make it an easy, round number.

What is the fuel weight of a full tank?

Semi-truck fuel tanks do come in varying sizes, but they hold an average of 125 to 300 gallons of fuel. A fuel tank sits on each side of the tractor and fuel is distributed between the two tanks to balance the truck’s total weight. So, since diesel fuel weighs about 7 pounds per gallon that means that a full tank of fuel weighs anywhere from 875 to 2,100 pounds.

Does the weight of diesel fuel change when it’s colder vs. warmer?

Yes, but it’s really a super small amount. Check out this nifty calculator. So, let’s say it is 16 degrees Fahrenheit, one gallon of diesel fuel weighs 7.1 pounds. Now change it to 106 degrees Fahrenheit and the same gallon of diesel fuel weighs 6.8 pounds. Now, go to a quite comfortable temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit. That gallon of diesel fuel weighs 6.9 pounds. See? The differences are all very minimal. Think of it this way: The temperature weight difference of diesel fuel will never be more than 10-50 pounds depending on the size of the fuel tank.

How much does a gallon of diesel fuel cost?

There isn’t one magic price that fits all. When it comes to diesel fuel, it’s all about location, location, location. If you’re fueling in the Midwest, you could pay as little as $2.93 per gallon as of June 24, 2019. But if you’re in California, you could be paying as much as $3.97 per gallon of diesel fuel. The good news is that if you have the TCS Fuel Card, you can save BIG on diesel fuelat more than 1,000 nationwide in-network locations – with $0 transaction fees!

What to Do Before the Scale

What should you factor in before you load up and hit the scales?

You should always factor in the amount of fuel you are carrying before you hit the scales. If you have 100 gallons of diesel in your tank, then that’s about 700 pounds that’s added to your truck weight. It’s good to mentally overestimate your truck’s weight, so that when it sits on the scale it remains within weight limits. Otherwise you might be faced with a ticket for being over the weight limit.

What are the truck weight regulations?

According to federal law, single axles are limited to 20,000 pounds, axles spaced between 40 inches and 96 inches apart (tandem axles) are limited to 34,000 pounds. The gross vehicle weight is limited to 80,000 pounds.

Saving money on diesel fuel, and on truck service and maintenance, is important for all truckers and trucking companies. That’s what the TCS Fuel Card can do for you. Are you ready to save on fuel? Get a TCS Fuel Card today!