How Many Gallons Do You Really Need? A Guide to Choosing the Right Septic Truck Tank Size

Information, Growth, Septic Pumping By Riley Reed
Featured Image

Avoid costly mistakes by selecting the right tank size for your septic business needs.

How Many Gallons Do You Really Need? Choosing the Right Tank Size for Your Septic Truck

When it comes to buying a septic truck, one of the most important decisions you will make is tank size. Whether you're a one-man operation or running a growing fleet, choosing the right tank capacity can affect everything from your efficiency and daily revenue to fuel costs and job turnaround time. In this post, we’ll break down the key factors to consider when selecting a septic tank size — so you can make the smartest investment for your business.

 

 

1. Understand Your Typical Job Volume

  • How many jobs do you handle per day on average?

  • Are most of your customers residential, commercial, or municipal?

  • Residential jobs may only require 1,000–1,500 gallons, while commercial or multi-home systems might need 2,500+.

 

 

2. Consider Route Length and Travel Time

  • If you work in rural areas with long distances between jobs, a larger tank could help minimize trips to the dump station.

  • In metro areas with closer jobs and shorter hauls, a smaller tank may be more fuel-efficient and easier to maneuver.

 

 

3. Dump Station Accessibility

  • How far is your nearest disposal site?

  • Frequent trips to dump waste can eat up time and fuel — larger tanks reduce the need for daily offloads.

 

 

4. Truck Chassis and Weight Ratings

  • Bigger isn’t always better. Make sure your truck's GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) can handle the tank size you’re considering.

  • Overloading your truck could lead to safety issues and expensive repairs down the line.

 

 

5. Think About Future Growth

  • If you’re just starting out, a mid-size tank (1,500–2,000 gallons) can offer flexibility.

  • If you plan to scale your business or serve high-volume accounts, consider going bigger to stay ahead of demand.

 

 

6. Common Tank Size Ranges (and What They're Best For):

Tank Size

Best For

1,000–1,500 gal

Residential jobs, urban routes, startups

2,000–2,500 gal

Mixed residential & commercial jobs, medium fleets

3,000–4,000+ gal

Commercial/municipal jobs, rural routes, large fleets

 

 

7. Final Tip: Match the Truck to Your Work — Not the Other Way Around

Don’t get stuck trying to make the wrong truck work for your jobs. Instead, start with your daily workload and business goals, then choose the right tank size (and truck setup) that helps you get the job done faster, safer, and more profitably.

 

 

Need help choosing the right tank size for your next septic truck? We’ve helped hundreds of contractors find the perfect fit. Contact us today or browse our current inventory of work-ready trucks.


By Riley Reed
Definitions, Septic Industry, Pump Truck