How Much Does It Cost to Fill Up a Diesel Truck?

The cost to fill up a diesel truck can vary widely based on several factors, such as the size of the truck's fuel tank and the current price of diesel fuel. In this article, we will explore the general costs associated with filling up diesel trucks and provide a detailed breakdown for different types of trucks.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Fill Up a Diesel Truck

Truck fuel costs are determined by the size of the fuel tanks and the prevailing price of diesel fuel. Diesel prices can fluctuate daily, due to various economic and supply chain factors.

Diesel Tank Sizes

Truck fuel tanks can range from a small pickup truck with a 22-gallon tank to large tractor-trailers with multiple tanks. The specific fuel consumption can vary greatly:

Pickup trucks: 20 to 30 gallons Semi-trucks: 100 to 270 gallons (depending on the configuration) Small commercial trucks: 50 to 150 gallons Larger commercial trucks: 200 to 300 gallons or more

Current Diesel Prices

The overall cost to fill up a 1000-liter (approximately 264 gallons) truck can range from around $240 to $750, depending on the cost of diesel per liter. For example:

At $3.00 per gallon: $792 (for a 264-gallon fuel tank) At $4.00 per gallon: $1,056

Examples of Specific Truck Costs

Let's look at the cost to fill up a few specific types of trucks:

2016 Ford F150 (Pickup Truck)

This truck has a 22-gallon tank. At a price of $3.50 per gallon, the cost to fill it up would be:

22 gallons x $3.50 per gallon $77

2013 Ram 2500 (Medium-Duty Truck)

This truck has a 32-gallon tank. At a price of $4.25 per gallon, the cost to fill it up would be:

32 gallons x $4.25 per gallon $136

2000 Ford Excursion (Large-Sized Truck)

This truck has a 44-gallon tank. At a price of $4.65 per gallon, the cost to fill it up would be:

44 gallons x $4.65 per gallon $205

2018 Peterbilt 389 (Petroleum-Fueled Truck)

This truck has two tanks combined for 270 gallons. At a price of $3.50 per gallon, the cost to fill it up would be:

270 gallons x $3.50 per gallon $945

Larger Commercial Trucks (Tractor-Trailers)

Tractor-trailers with multiple tanks can easily have fuel tanks that combine for more than 270 gallons. For example, a large tractor-trailer with a 1000-liter (264-gallon) tank at $3.00 per gallon would cost:

264 gallons x $3.00 per gallon $792

However, these large trucks can have even higher costs depending on the configuration and the price of diesel:

At $4.00 per gallon: $1,056 At $5.00 per gallon: $1,320

Conclusion

The cost to fill up a diesel truck depends on the size of the fuel tank and the current price of diesel fuel. While small trucks like pickup trucks can be filled for less than $100, larger commercial trucks may require several hundred dollars.