Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions fleet operators, drivers, installers, and technicians actually ask about BLEND. If yours isn't here, the support line is at the bottom of the page.
What BLEND is, what it does, and how it fits into a typical fleet.
BLEND is a closed pneumatic system that meters fuel additive precisely and injects it into the fuel stream during discharge — eliminating manual hand-pouring, chemical exposure, and inconsistent treat rates.
BLEND is engineered for bulk fuel transport fleets — primarily diesel deliveries to retail sites, commercial customers, and industrial operations. It's designed to mount on standard bulk fuel trailer configurations and integrate with existing dispensing workflows.
If you're not sure whether your trailer configuration is a fit, the answer is almost always yes — but a quick fleet analysis will confirm it.
Yes. BLEND went through a two-year engineering effort with five major system revisions, three pilot units in active fleet operation, and over 350,000 gallons of diesel run through the system across more than 135 loads. The pilot validated the precision dosing, the closed-system safety design, and the operator workflow.
The system is now in production and the pilot fleet has placed an initial fleet-wide order.
BLEND describes what the system does: it blends additive into the fuel stream at the point of discharge — accurately, every time. The framework even maps to the operating sequence: Meter → Connect → Blend.
BLEND is designed and manufactured by AlumiTank, the fuel tank specialists, in partnership with one of America's largest fuel trailer manufacturers and developed in close collaboration with a top-10 US convenience-store fuel retailer. AlumiTank handles engineering, production, and warranty support directly.
BLEND is compatible with most diesel fuel additives, including:
If you use specialized additives with unusual viscosity or chemical properties, we'll verify compatibility during the fleet analysis. Continue sourcing the additive itself from your existing supplier — BLEND is the delivery system, not the chemical.
The current BLEND system is optimized for diesel fuel applications. While the closed pneumatic design is intrinsically safe around flammable vapors, gasoline additive dosing has different chemistry and regulatory requirements that the system isn't currently configured for. If you're hauling gasoline and interested in additive injection, get in touch — we can discuss what's possible.
How BLEND is priced, what's included, and how to place an order.
BLEND is quoted directly based on your fleet's specific configuration. We offer single-unit pricing for evaluation orders and volume-tiered bulk pricing for fleet rollouts. Every quote reflects what your operation actually needs — not a one-size-fits-all menu.
To get a configured quote, send us your fleet size, average loads per week, and current treat rate. We come back within two business days with the analysis and pricing.
Yes. Single-unit pricing is available for evaluation orders, pilot programs, and fleets adding their first BLEND-equipped trailer. Most fleets that move forward to full rollout start this way.
Single-unit and bulk-unit orders include the same complete five-kit BLEND system, full documentation, training materials, and standard 2-year warranty.
Every BLEND order includes:
On-site installation and training is a separate, configured cost based on fleet size and travel logistics. Freight and any trailer-side modifications are not included and are scoped during the fleet analysis.
No. All units ship FOB Bigfoot, IL, and freight is handled separately. Most fleets prefer to use their existing carriers rather than building freight into the order — it keeps logistics under your control.
Lead time depends on order quantity and current production schedule. For typical orders, expect a few weeks from PO to first units released. Bulk fleet rollouts are scheduled in phased releases — initial batch first, with remaining batches scheduled across subsequent months.
Lead time is confirmed as part of the configured quote.
How BLEND gets onto your trailers, how long it takes, and who can do it.
Hands-on technician time is typically 6–8 hours per trailer for retrofit installations and 4–6 hours for factory installations on new builds. When AlumiTank is on-site for a multi-trailer batch install, calendar time runs 2–3 days for assessment, install, commissioning, and driver training combined.
The work sequences cleanly through the five sub-kits — tank assembly, bracing, crossover, operator's console, and air/electrical/coupler. Each kit ships with templates, hardware, and the schematic that ties it to the next phase.
BLEND installation uses standard shop tools:
All hardware, fittings, drill bits, templates, and specialized components ship with the system. The five sub-kits are designed so a qualified technician can work from the documentation without specialized BLEND-only tooling.
Three install paths are available:
All three paths produce the same result: a fully commissioned system with the standard 2-year warranty.
That's exactly what the Service Center Certification Program is for. We certify qualified bulk fuel trailer service centers on the full BLEND installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and warranty support process. Once certified, your existing maintenance partners can install BLEND and handle ongoing service without your trailers leaving their normal service network.
If you have a preferred service center, let us know during the fleet analysis and we'll work with them on certification as part of your rollout planning.
BLEND installs cleanly on a typical bulk fuel trailer with no major modifications. The system is designed for standard aluminum fuel tanker trailers equipped with compressed air systems operating in the 90–120 PSI range. Mounting space is needed on the driver-side frame rail aft of the landing gear (tank assembly) and the opposite frame rail (bracing kit), typically near the rear of the trailer.
Some fleets need to relocate placard brackets or other small removable items from the install zone — that work is straightforward. Unusual trailer configurations (non-standard frames, unique discharge piping, tight clearances) are flagged during the fleet analysis and factored into the install plan.
No. BLEND uses the tractor's existing air-brake supply for pneumatic pressure and the trailer's existing electrical termination box for power. There's no auxiliary compressor, no new battery system, and no new power feed required. This is deliberate — every dependency adds a failure point and a maintenance burden.
Yes. AlumiTank works with trailer OEMs to integrate BLEND as a factory build option. If you're a trailer manufacturer interested in offering BLEND on the spec sheet, get in touch — we can walk through the certification and integration process.
How drivers use BLEND, what they need to learn, and what happens during a typical load.
2–3 minutes per load on average. The metering step (transferring the dose from the upper holding tank to the lower propulsion tank) takes seconds. Connecting the injection coupler is fast and second-nature. The actual blending happens during the fuel discharge, so the driver can attend to other delivery tasks while the system runs.
For comparison, manual hand-pouring typically takes 5–10 minutes per load and includes chemical handling on every cycle.
Most drivers are confident running the system after one viewing of the step-by-step training video and one shadow shift with an experienced operator. The trailer hardware is numbered 1 through 7 to match the seven-step operating procedure — there's no memorization, just follow the numbers.
The lower propulsion tank has a clear sight window with a crisp scale. The operator transfers the dose from the upper holding tank by gravity and visually confirms the volume before the system pressurizes. The dose is verified before anything dispenses — not after.
During dispensing, a second sight window in the injection line lets the operator watch the additive flow into the fuel stream. When aeration appears in the window, the propulsion tank is empty and the dose is fully delivered.
BLEND delivers ±2% accuracy on metered volumes when the system is properly maintained and operated according to the procedure. That precision is the core advantage over manual measuring methods, where treat rates drift load-to-load and driver-to-driver.
The accuracy comes from the gravity-fed transfer with sight-window verification before pressurization — the operator visually confirms the dose against the scale on every load.
Yes. The driver meters the appropriate amount from the upper holding tank into the lower propulsion tank based on load size and desired treat rate. The system is infinitely adjustable within the propulsion tank's capacity range — dose as little or as much as needed for each delivery.
This is a core design choice. BLEND doesn't lock you into a fixed dose per load; it gives the operator visible control over the dose every single time.
The system is designed so the right action is always the next obvious one. The operator's console has a blue indicator light that confirms pressurization status, and the vent valve / indicator light combination makes it mechanically difficult to leave a delivery site with the system still pressurized.
The pre-departure checklist is part of every load: vent valve OPEN, indicator light OFF, product valve closed, injection coupler stowed. If any of those isn't right, the driver catches it before the trailer moves.
Yes. BLEND operates in all weather conditions where fuel delivery occurs. The system was developed and pilot-tested in the Midwest through cold-weather operating conditions, using the tractor's air supply, stainless steel piping, and weatherproof electrical components — all rated for the conditions bulk fuel transport sees year-round.
The pneumatic system itself is unaffected by cold temperatures. If your additive has cold-weather viscosity issues, you may need to warm it before metering — which is the same consideration as with manual hand-pouring methods. Specific cold-weather operating considerations are covered in the driver training manual.
BLEND doesn't replace your existing dispensing infrastructure — it supplements it. The trailer's normal product discharge path is unaffected by BLEND. If a system issue ever requires bypassing the additive injection step, the trailer can still complete fuel deliveries while service addresses the problem.
That said, the system is designed for reliability. The 2-year warranty covers system, pneumatics, pump, and controls.
Warranty terms, replacement parts, technical support, and ongoing maintenance.
Standard 2-year warranty covering the system, pneumatics, pump, and controls. The warranty begins from the date of system commissioning, not the date of purchase. Collision damage and unauthorized modification are excluded.
Full warranty terms ship with every order and are reviewed during installation commissioning.
AlumiTank maintains parts inventory for every BLEND component. Most replacement parts ship same-day or next-day to keep your trailers running. Certified service centers also stock common service parts for faster local turnaround.
Order replacement parts through the AlumiTank technical support line: 815-943-6649.
BLEND was engineered with minimal maintenance as a core principle. The system is closed (no chemical contamination of components), uses pneumatic pressure (no electric pumps to wear out), and integrates with the trailer's existing air and electrical infrastructure (no separate systems to maintain).
Recommended maintenance intervals:
The system has no electronic components, no motors, and minimal moving parts — resulting in very low maintenance requirements compared to electric or hydraulic systems.
The same number you've called AlumiTank on for years: 815-943-6649. The technical support line provides direct access to engineering for installers, technicians, and fleet maintenance teams.
Email support: support@alumitank.com
Business hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM CST
If your fleet uses a certified service center, that center has a direct technical line to AlumiTank engineering for escalations.
Yes. As BLEND continues to evolve, updated documentation is distributed to certified service centers and made available to fleet customers through AlumiTank support. The driver training manual, installation manual, and quick reference card are the primary documents that get refreshed.
BLEND can be uninstalled and reinstalled on a different trailer, though it isn't designed for frequent transfer. If you're retiring a trailer or rebalancing your fleet, the system can be removed and remounted by AlumiTank, your maintenance team, or a certified service center. Discuss specific transfer plans during the fleet analysis or with the support line.
Real questions get real answers. If yours isn't covered above, the support line is open and the engineering team is reachable. We'd rather have a five-minute conversation than have you guess.
Accuracy Every Time