Own your own fuel truck?

Would it be possible to sell fuel at an airport simply by driving a
fuel truck to the field? Would I need an office, or could I simply
drive the truck from airport to airport selling gas?

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a permit to do this?


--Dan

Depends on the airport. Most larger airports will surely make you have
an office, if not a permit. We had an FBO try to tie some planes down
at a remote airport here. When the airport manager found out he kicked
them out saying they were running a commercial operation without
renting office space.


Dan wrote:
Would it be possible to sell fuel at an airport simply by driving a
fuel truck to the field? Would I need an office, or could I simply
drive the truck from airport to airport selling gas?

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a permit to do this?


--Dan

At most airports you will need a business license, proof on insurance and a
lease agreement with the local administrators of the airport. Around here it
is getting to be the same for independent instructors or "shade tree" A&Ps
that work from their trucks.

BT

"Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...
Would it be possible to sell fuel at an airport simply by driving a
fuel truck to the field? Would I need an office, or could I simply
drive the truck from airport to airport selling gas?

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a permit to do this?


--Dan

And there are state and federal regulations of fuel trucks that travel
the roads... You are gonna need the appropriate licenses and permits to
haul flammables, DOT inspection and waiver, EPA inspection, bonded
drivers who have a CDL with flammables endorsement, commercial license
plates on the vehicle, business registration, liability insurance, DBA
filed in the counties were you do business...

You will, as others pointed out, also need a contract with the airport
authority to run a business on their property, permit for signage, 24/7
business telephone number in case of a spill, identity card, HSA
background terrorist check, random drug and alcohol testing plan,
workmans comp insurance, etc... In addition at bigger airports, fueling
(other than personal fueling from hand held cans) has to be done on a
containment pad..
Once you have done all this you are unlikely to have enough money or
credit left to fill the fuel truck...

Welcome to the 'free' USA...

denny

The first thing this post says to me is that you have the ability to
purchase fuel from a fuel distributor or tank farm. If not, you'll need
that ability. Then all the licenses, permits, inspections, pump and meter
calibrations and certifications ect. But, it does not necessarily mean that
you have to "operate" your business from or on the airport, you may be able
to operate from your house and simply deliver fuel to your customers by
appointment at the airport. This type of operation is fairly common in both
farming and crop dusting. We often have fuel delivered to tanks and crews
by appointment at BFE locations. However, your local airport may have some
equal competition rules about all retail operations maintaining an on
airport office and meet the same set of standards. But I would question
whether they could prohibit you from delivering fuel that a customer has
already purchased if you meet all the normal transport and delivery
criteria.

"Hey Mr. Airport Manager, I've have to deliver some fuel to Mr. XYZ's
airplane, he said he'd meet me at 10am. Where do you want me to park?"
Jim

"Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...
Would it be possible to sell fuel at an airport simply by driving a
fuel truck to the field? Would I need an office, or could I simply
drive the truck from airport to airport selling gas?

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a permit to do this?


--Dan

Denny wrote:
And there are state and federal regulations of fuel trucks that travel
the roads... You are gonna need the appropriate licenses and permits to
haul flammables, DOT inspection and waiver, EPA inspection, bonded
drivers who have a CDL with flammables endorsement, commercial license
plates on the vehicle, business registration, liability insurance, DBA
filed in the counties were you do business...

One local FBO got around that by buying fuel trucks but keeping them on
the airport. They never touch a public road. The oil company comes out
and fills the trucks right there at the airport.

-robert

Dan wrote:
Would it be possible to sell fuel at an airport simply by driving a
fuel truck to the field? Would I need an office, or could I simply
drive the truck from airport to airport selling gas?

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a permit to do this?


Here's a related question. I own a piece of a private airstrip. We've
got perhaps 50 lots in the development. There's no fuel. It would
seem to be the easiest way to have fuel would be to buy a small fuel
truck and just drive it over to the terminal. There wouldn't be any
public sales, just to the coowners.

Now what would be involved. CDL's and some kind of permits for
hazmat?

T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:



One option is to buy an above ground tank and pump. They
sell the two mounted on a single skid and drop it off as a
unit. You plug in to power and phone for the credit
authorization and then have the fuel delivered. I didn't
look into it, but the guy who did thought it would pay for
itself in a couple years.

How big? I have two friends that did that. First is an FBO owner that
bought a 6000 gallon tank. All told I think he has $50K into it. It
will take nearly ten years to pay for itself. The other friend and his
two partners bought a 12,000 gallon tank. They have the fuel contract
with the local college flight school and sell a lot of gas. It's a five
year break even. No way you'll make it pay for itself in two years.

"Ron Natalie" wrote

Here's a related question. I own a piece of a private airstrip. We've
got perhaps 50 lots in the development. There's no fuel. It would
seem to be the easiest way to have fuel would be to buy a small fuel
truck and just drive it over to the terminal. There wouldn't be any
public sales, just to the coowners.

Now what would be involved. CDL's and some kind of permits for
hazmat?

If you drive it on the road, yes, a CDL and Hazardous material, and also,
there is a tank truck endorsement.

It really might be easier to get a tank installed, and cheaper. They will
bring the gas to you, and not mess with the truck.

You could then get a truck to drive on the property.

The question if you own your own truck, is whether the local distributors
will sell bulk to you, from their terminal. That is a question you would
have to call around and get answered.
--
Jim in NC

OK, here's a followup question:

Does anyone know if some fuel taxes could be avoided by selling avgas
on an Indian reservation? Could be lucrative for the Indians with
today's gas prices. Plus, the airport could bring in additional
customers to the casino... : )

--Dan

Dan wrote:
Would it be possible to sell fuel at an airport simply by driving a
fuel truck to the field? Would I need an office, or could I simply
drive the truck from airport to airport selling gas?

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a permit to do this?


--Dan