Propane tank transport: empty tanks only
Ryecroft Freight moves new and refurbished ASME propane tanks empty, on flatbeds: in our pricing engine (October 2026), ten 500-gallon tanks from Houston, TX to Dallas, TX cost about $1,602, and four 1,000-gallon tanks about $1,402. We do not transport propane or any tank that still contains product.
We move new tanks from manufacturers to dealers, refurbished tanks from reconditioning yards, and stock transfers between dealer yards and install sites. Sizes run from 120 to 1,990 gallons, and loads can mix sizes. This guide explains why every tank has to be purged before it travels, what we need from you, and what the move costs.
Ryecroft Freight does not transport propane or tanks containing product. Every tank we load must be new, or emptied and purged by a qualified propane company.
Why "empty" has to mean purged
A propane tank with nothing left in it but a little liquid or vapor is not empty in the eyes of federal hazardous materials rules. Under 49 CFR 173.29, a packaging that holds only the residue of a hazardous material must be shipped the same way as when it held a greater quantity. A tank with residue is regulated like a full one.
The exception is a packaging that has been cleaned of residue and purged of vapors so that no hazard is left, with its hazard markings removed, obliterated or securely covered. PHMSA, the federal agency that writes these rules, has said a propane cylinder is clean enough when the vapors in it are no longer capable of sustaining combustion. It has also said that the shipper makes that determination.
That matters because a load of residue tanks adds up quickly. A vehicle carrying 1,001 lb or more, by aggregate gross weight, of flammable gas in non-bulk packages must be placarded, and the federal minimum insurance for a carrier hauling non-bulk hazardous materials is $1,000,000, against $750,000 for general freight. We do not run hazmat loads, so a tank with residue does not go on our trucks.
You may have heard that tanks charged to 5% or less can travel. That provision in 49 CFR 173.315 covers ASME tanks shipped by a private motor carrier, which in practice means the propane company's own truck. It does not apply to a for-hire carrier like us.
What we need from you
- The number of tanks and the water-gallon size of each
- Whether each tank is new or refurbished
- Your written confirmation that every tank is empty and was purged by a qualified propane company (new, never-filled tanks excepted)
- Hazard markings on purged tanks removed or covered
- Forklift or crane at pickup for tanks larger than 500 gallons, and the same at delivery
- Pickup and delivery addresses with notes on access for a flatbed
Loading 1,000-gallon and larger tanks
A 1,000 or 1,990-gallon tank is a long, heavy cylinder that needs a forklift or crane rated for it at both ends. Tanks larger than 500 gallons need loading equipment at pickup. If the delivery site has none, tell us when you book and we will quote a crane-equipped truck. Specialty tank haulers commonly work this way, moving empty storage tanks by flatbed and crane.
How many tanks fit on one truck
It depends on the mix. Tank diameter and length decide how many fit across and along the deck, and large tanks use deck space that a group of small tanks could share. Rather than guess, the calculator works out the load from the sizes and counts you enter and adds a second truck when the tanks will not fit on one. Mixed loads of different sizes are normal.
Example prices
| Load | Route | Miles | Price | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 500 gal, Houston to Dallas | Houston, TX → Dallas, TX | 272 | $1,602 | $1,362 to $2,003 |
| Linehaul (272 mi): $876 · Tank handling (10 tanks): $500 · Fuel surcharge (DOE $6.199/gal, week of Oct 5): $227 | ||||
| 4 × 1,000 gal, Houston to Dallas | Houston, TX → Dallas, TX | 272 | $1,402 | $1,192 to $1,753 |
| Linehaul (272 mi): $876 · Tank handling (4 tanks): $300 · Fuel surcharge (DOE $6.199/gal, week of Oct 5): $227 | ||||
| 20 × 120 gal + 6 × 250 gal, Chicago to Des Moines | Chicago, IL → Des Moines, IA | 373 | $2,162 | $1,838 to $2,702 |
| Linehaul (373 mi): $1,201 · Tank handling (26 tanks): $650 · Fuel surcharge (DOE $6.199/gal, week of Oct 5): $311 | ||||
Each price has three parts: a flatbed per-mile rate, a handling charge for each tank by size, and a fuel surcharge tied to the weekly U.S. diesel average. In these examples handling works out to $50 per 500-gallon tank and $75 per 1,000-gallon tank. The truck costs the same $876 on the 272-mile run either way, which is why four large tanks can cost less to ship than ten mid-size ones. The mixed load of small tanks from Chicago, IL to Des Moines, IA comes to $2,162.
How a tank booking works
- Enter the pickup and delivery ZIP codes, and the count and size of each tank, in the calculator.
- Check the price. It shows the truck, the handling for each tank and the fuel surcharge as separate lines.
- Book, and confirm in writing that every tank is new or has been purged.
- At pickup, the driver checks the tanks against the booking and secures them on the deck.
- At delivery, your equipment lifts the tanks off, and you sign the delivery receipt. Note any damage on it before you sign.
If your tank count or sizes change before pickup, tell us before the truck is dispatched. A load that no longer fits on one truck needs a second one, and it is far easier to add it in advance than on the day.
Before pickup
- Get the purge done, and keep the record from the propane company
- Cover or remove hazard markings on purged tanks
- Have the forklift or crane and an operator ready at the booked time
- Group tanks by size near the loading spot
- Tell us about any tank you are unsure of before the truck arrives, not after
For your own load, the Ryecroft Freight calculator prices any mix of sizes in under a minute. Read more about how we handle tanks on the propane tank service page.
Common questions
Can you deliver a filled propane tank?
No. We transport tanks empty only. Your propane supplier fills the tank after it is installed.
Can you pick up a used tank from a customer site?
Only once a qualified propane company has emptied and purged it and you confirm that in writing. A used tank that still holds residue is regulated as hazardous material, and we do not carry it.
Who decides that a tank is purged?
The shipper. PHMSA has said the person offering the tank for transport determines whether it is cleaned and purged. In practice that means the propane company that purged it, and your written confirmation at booking.
What happens if the driver finds propane in a tank?
The driver refuses any tank found to contain product. Tell us about any tank you are unsure of before the truck is dispatched.
Does the truck need hazmat placards?
No. Because every tank we carry is new or purged, the load is not hazardous material and the truck runs without placards.
Sources
- 49 CFR 173.29: Empty packagings (Cornell LII)
- PHMSA interpretation 11-0211 on cleaned and purged propane cylinders (PDF)
- 49 CFR 173.315: Compressed gases in cylinders and tanks (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 172.504: General placarding requirements (Cornell LII)
- J.J. Keller: 49 CFR 387.9 financial responsibility minimum levels
- Racklify: J&C Propane Transport (flatbed and crane tank moves)
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules and prices change; your online quote shows the current price for your load.