Do not assume a car fuel-drain price, capacity or timescale applies to a truck. Provide the registration, vehicle type, approximate fuel quantity and whether it has one or more tanks. If the vehicle is in a live traffic area, the immediate safety arrangement may need to come before any fuel work.
Tank quantity and configuration
Explain the number of tanks, the tank that received the wrong fluid and the approximate contents. If the tanks are linked, or you are unsure of the arrangement, say so. Large quantities and vehicle-specific access affect how the job is scoped.
Tell us what was added and whether the engine or any fuel-fed auxiliary equipment has operated. Include the filling receipt and amount if available. The operator should not transfer fuel between tanks or vehicles in an attempt to resolve the incident without appropriate assessment.
AdBlue in an HGV diesel tank
AdBlue belongs in its separate system, not the diesel tank. If it has entered the fuel tank, keep the vehicle off and identify the amount added. If diesel entered the AdBlue tank instead, state that clearly: it affects a different system.
An AdBlue incident should not be treated as a routine petrol-and-diesel mix. Whether the truck has run, the tank arrangement and the extent of circulation matter. The technician must assess what cleaning and further checks are appropriate; a simple tank drain may not be the full job.
Roadside, depot and delivery-site access
Give the actual stopping location, direction of travel where relevant and whether there is room for another vehicle to work safely. Mention trailers, loading restrictions, height limits and any site contact or induction requirement.
Driver-hours, delivery commitments and cargo arrangements may influence your operational plan, but they do not make an unsafe location suitable for fuel work. The vehicle may need a different recovery or working arrangement before a mobile fuel drain can proceed.
Operator approval and onward decisions
Arrange a responsible contact to approve the assessment and cost. Provide any job reference, purchase-order process and requirements from the vehicle’s owner or maintenance provider. Confirm communication arrangements if the driver and transport office are in different places.
The assessment should establish the work required and whether workshop checks are needed before the truck returns to service. Tank volume, contamination, condition and safe access determine the scope. Attendance is subject to those details and the availability of suitable equipment.
Attendance, access and the cost of the work
Commercial, HGV and plant enquiries are individually scoped. Tank volume, vehicle or machine configuration, site permissions, equipment and travel affect the quote. A starting price for a standard car drain does not apply automatically.
We cover mainland Scotland and the islands. Arrival estimates are confirmed for the vehicle’s actual location and current availability. Time on site is a separate matter and depends on the work. Neither a coverage page nor an initial enquiry is a promise of a fixed completion time.
Before attendance, identify the person authorised to approve the work. The technician explains the proposed service and confirms the cost before starting. If you intend to use a policy, lease agreement or hire-company process, check its requirements with the provider.
Find your coverage areaHGV fuel draining: common questions
Can every HGV be drained at the roadside?
No. Vehicle configuration, fuel volume, position, access and the contamination determine whether mobile attendance is suitable and what equipment is needed.
Should we drain one tank or both?
Do not guess. Explain the tank arrangement and which tank was filled. The technician needs to assess how fuel may have moved through the system.
Does the price start at the same amount as a car?
A standard car starting price should not be applied to an HGV. Commercial tank volume, equipment, access and travel need an individual quote.
What if a refrigerated or auxiliary unit used the same fuel?
Tell us exactly which equipment shares the supply and whether it has operated. That may affect the scope of assessment as well as your operational arrangements.