A
tank truck or
tanker truck (
United States usage) or
petrol tanker (
United Kingdom usage, both commonly shortened to
tanker) is a
motor vehicle designed to carry
liquefied loads,
dry bulk cargo or
gases on roads. The largest such vehicles are similar to
railroad tank cars which are also designed to carry liquefied loads. Many variants exist due to the wide variety of liquids that can be transported. Tank trucks tend to be large; they may be
insulated or non-insulated;
pressurized or non-pressurized; and designed for single or multiple loads (often by means of internal divisions in their tank). Some are
semi-trailer trucks. They are difficult to drive due to their high center of gravity.