Tanker Truck Spill Containment: Berms for Loading, Unloading and Parking
Quick Answer
For tanker trucks, fuel trucks and vacuum trucks, the berm has to do two things: let the truck drive in and out, and hold enough liquid for the spill you're planning for. A 4 inch foam wall berm handles drips, hose leaks and overfills at a parking or transfer spot. If you need to hold a full compartment, step up to a 12 inch drive through berm like the UltraTech Ultimate, which holds 5,385 gallons in the 12' x 60' size and 7,405 gallons in the 15' x 66'. For a semi, go 12 or 15 feet wide, not 10. Put a ground tarp under the berm and track belts where the tires roll.
What the rules say about tank truck containment
Federal SPCC rules (40 CFR 112) only apply to facilities that store more than 1,320 gallons of oil above ground, counting containers of 55 gallons or more, and that could reasonably discharge oil to waterways. If your site is covered, here's how trucks fit in.
- Loading or unloading racks, 40 CFR 112.7(h). A rack is a fixed structure with a loading or unloading arm. Containment there must hold at least the largest single compartment of any tank truck or tank car that loads or unloads at it. The rule also calls for warning lights, physical barriers, signs or wheel chocks so a truck can't pull away with lines still hooked up.
- Transfer and parking areas, 40 CFR 112.7(c). Most truck spots aren't racks. A tanker parked at a hose connection or a vac truck offload pad falls under general secondary containment, which EPA sizes to the typical failure and the most likely amount of oil spilled. The rule lists dikes, berms and retaining walls, curbing, drip pans and sorbents as acceptable methods.
- Mobile and portable containers, 40 CFR 112.8(c)(11). Portable oil containers need containment for the largest compartment plus room for rain. Mobile refuelers and other non transportation related tank trucks are exempt from that sized containment, but EPA says the general containment in 112.7(c) still applies to them.
- DOT unloading, 49 CFR 177.834(i). A qualified person has to attend a cargo tank the whole time it's unloading, within 25 feet with a clear view of the tank and hose. DOT doesn't set a general containment rule for unloading.
General information, not legal advice. Your SPCC plan, state rules and local fire code decide what you need. Check with your environmental manager.
Size the berm to the truck
Width matters more than people think. A trailer is about 8.5 feet wide. A 12 foot berm leaves under 2 feet on each side; a 10 foot berm leaves less than a foot. For semis, go 12 or 15 feet wide.
| Truck | Typical footprint | Berm sizes to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Tractor trailer tanker | About 8.5' x 65' to 70'+ | Foam Wall 12' x 72' or 15' x 72'; Ultimate 15' x 66' |
| Trailer only (tractor outside) | About 8.5' x 40' to 53' | Foam Wall 12' x 50' or 12' x 60'; Foam Wall Plus 12' x 50'; Ultimate 12' x 60' or 14' x 56' |
| Vac truck or fuel bobtail | About 8.5' x 25' to 35' | Foam Wall 12' x 35' or 12' x 40'; Ultimate 12' x 36' |
| Pickup or service truck | About 7' x 18' to 22' | Foam Wall 10' x 20' or 12' x 30'; Ultimate 12' x 26' |
Footprints are rough. Measure your own truck and add room to walk around it.
Capacity: 4 inch foam wall vs 12 inch Ultimate
| Berm | Wall height | Capacity (UltraTech) |
|---|---|---|
| Foam Wall 12' x 40' | 4" | 1,196 gal |
| Foam Wall 12' x 72' | 4" | 2,154 gal |
| Foam Wall 15' x 72' | 4" | 2,692 gal |
| Ultimate 12' x 60' | 12" | 5,385 gal |
| Ultimate 15' x 66' | 12" | 7,405 gal |
That's the full volume of an empty berm. The truck's tires and anything else inside take up some of it, and on the Ultimate the fill line is 1 inch below the top. Compare the berm against the compartment sizes on your truck, not the total tank, unless your plan says otherwise.
Foam wall berms: for drips, hoses and overfills
The foam sidewalls compress when a tire rolls over and spring back after, so trucks drive in and out from any side and nobody has to set anything up. That's the right fit for truck parking, fueling spots and offload pads where the planned spill is a leaking fitting or a hose let go, not a ruptured tank.
- Foam Wall, 12' x 72' x 4", PVC, Part #8480 or Copolymer 2000, Part #8585
- Foam Wall, 15' x 72' x 4", PVC, Part #8487 or Copolymer 2000, Part #8592
- Foam Wall, 12' x 40' x 4", Copolymer 2000, Part #8582 and 12' x 35' x 4", PVC, Part #8463 for vac trucks and bobtails
- Foam Wall Plus, 12' x 50', PVC, Part #8965, where the foam slides into sleeves and can be replaced
Copolymer 2000 handles a wider temperature range (minus 25°F to 160°F, versus minus 20°F to 150°F for PVC) and more chemicals. If your product isn't on the compatibility guide, UltraTech can send a test kit for a 30 day immersion test.
Ultimate berms: drive through with real capacity
The Ultimate model has 12 inch walls. The entry and exit walls are held up every 12 inches by a patented "living hinge," so they fold down as the truck rolls over and spring back up on their own. Trucks drive through the two ends only, not the sides. No setup is needed once it's in place.
- Ultimate, 12' x 36' x 1', Part #8509 for vac trucks and bobtails
- Ultimate, 12' x 60' x 1', Part #8505, 5,385 gallons
- Ultimate, 14' x 56' x 1', Part #8510
- Ultimate, 15' x 66' x 1', Part #8507, 7,405 gallons
One caution from UltraTech: only forklifts with pneumatic tires should run over the frames.
Protect the floor: ground tarps and track belts
- Ground tarp under the berm. Rocks and gravel puncture berm floors. UltraTech's sizing rule is to add 4 feet to the berm's length and width, like the 16' x 64' tarp for 12' x 60' berms, Part #8322 or the 19' x 70' tarp for 15' x 66' berms, Part #8334.
- Track belts inside the berm. Heavy reinforced PVC strips that take the wear from tires driving in and out, like the 30" x 66' set, Part #8344 and 30" x 72' set, Part #8345.
- Repairs. A repair kit is a patch of matching material applied with an industrial heat gun. Ask us when you order.
Day to day at the truck pad
- Pump out rainwater after storms so the berm keeps its capacity.
- Keep sorbents and a drain cover nearby for anything that lands outside the berm.
- Chock the wheels and check hoses and outlets before every transfer.
- Walk the berm walls and floor for cuts and wear on a regular schedule.
Get a truck berm quote
Tell us the truck (tanker, vac truck, fuel truck, service truck), its length, its largest compartment, whether the berm sits on concrete, asphalt or gravel, and your delivery address. We'll match the berm, tarp and belts, and quote freight to your site. Custom lengths and widths are available. Email orders@industrialandsafetysupply.com or use the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size berm do I need for a tanker truck?
For a full tractor trailer, look at 12' x 72' or 15' x 72' Foam Wall berms or the 15' x 66' Ultimate. Go 12 or 15 feet wide, since a trailer is about 8.5 feet wide. Check the capacity against your largest compartment.
Can a truck drive over a containment berm?
Foam wall berms are built for it; the walls compress under the tires and spring back. Ultimate berms let trucks drive through the two end walls. Collapsible and hard wall berms are not driven over.
How much containment does a tank truck unloading rack need?
Under SPCC 40 CFR 112.7(h), containment at a loading or unloading rack must hold at least the largest single compartment of any tank truck that uses it.
Do mobile refuelers need secondary containment?
Mobile refuelers are exempt from SPCC's sized containment requirement, but EPA says the general secondary containment rule in 112.7(c) still applies. Sorbents, drip pans or a berm at the parking or transfer spot are common ways to meet it.
Is a 4 inch foam wall berm big enough for a tanker?
For drips, hose leaks and overfills, often yes. A 12' x 72' foam wall holds 2,154 gallons. To hold a full compartment, you usually need a 12 inch wall like the Ultimate.