Carrying fuel in the bed is routine on work trucks and it is also regulated, which surprises people who assume any strong container will do. The rules are not complicated, but they are specific.
What Makes a Tank Legal to Use?
Certification for the fuel it carries and correct mounting. A tank sold for diesel transfer is built and certified for that job, with the venting, materials and fittings to match. A drum, an old tank or a container certified for something else is not a substitute, however solid it looks.
Diesel and Gasoline Are Different Questions
Most bed mounted transfer tanks are rated for diesel only, and that restriction is not a formality. Gasoline gives off vapour at ordinary temperatures, which changes both the fire risk and the regulations that apply to carrying it.
If you need to move gasoline, look specifically for a container certified for gasoline and expect tighter limits on quantity. Assuming a diesel tank will cope is the single most common mistake in this area.
Quantity Changes What Applies
Rules vary by state and by whether the vehicle is being used commercially, and thresholds around quantity, labelling and driver requirements can come into play once you are carrying enough. Anyone hauling fuel as part of a business should check their own state requirements rather than relying on general advice.
- Confirm the tank is certified for the fuel you intend to carry.
- Check state rules for quantity, marking and any documentation.
- Keep the tank mounted and the nozzle secured whenever the truck moves.
- Carry an extinguisher rated for fuel and keep it reachable from outside.
Securing a Full Tank
Diesel weighs roughly 7 lb per gallon, so a 100 gallon tank holds around 700 lb of fuel. That is enough to move the truck around under braking if it is not properly held down, and a strap over the top of a smooth tank does very little.
Use the tank's own brackets or a bolt-down kit into the bed floor, with backing plates underneath. Check the fasteners after the first few weeks and then once a season, because a heavy tank works at its mounts constantly.
Position matters too. A tank at the front of the bed puts its weight closer to the rear axle and keeps it away from the tailgate, which is both better for handling and easier to secure than a tank sitting mid-floor with nothing to brace against.
Everyday Handling
Ground the nozzle against the equipment before dispensing, keep the pump wiring on its own fused circuit and shut the pump down before moving the truck. Stow the hose where it cannot swing or trail, since a hose caught on a gate is how fittings get damaged.
See transfer tanks for shapes and capacities, or truck tool boxes if fuel gear needs somewhere secure to live.