TANKER CARRIERS

Back-office operations for tanker carriers

Liquid and dry bulk tanker loads carry wash-out fees, heel charges, hazmat documentation, and product-specific insurance requirements. We run the billing and compliance documentation that tanker operations need to get paid accurately.

THE TANKER BACK OFFICE

Built for liquid and dry bulk freight

Tanker billing carries accessorials that do not exist on dry freight. Wash-out and tank cleaning fees between loads are a real cost that should be passed through or built into the rate. Heel charges for product remaining in the tank after offloading need to be documented and billed. Hazmat documentation, placarding requirements, tank testing certifications, and product compatibility records all need to be maintained and available.

We handle the post-dispatch workflow: carrier invoice audit with wash-out and product-specific fee verification, shipper billing with tanker accessorials, compliance documentation tracking, and AR follow-up.

DSO Reduction

30 %+

Reporting

99 Weekly

POD Chase

< 48 h

Where tanker margin leaks

Wash-out fees not passed through

Tank cleaning between loads of different products is a direct cost that varies significantly by product type and cleaning requirements. A basic rinse may run a few hundred dollars, while a full kosher or food-grade washout can cost significantly more. When the wash-out invoice comes in after the customer invoice goes out, it becomes a rebill or an absorbed cost. On high-frequency tanker operations, missed washout passthroughs add up over a month.

Heel charges not documented

Product remaining in the tank after offloading (the heel) represents product loss or disposal cost. The heel amount depends on the product viscosity, tank design, and offloading method. When it is not documented at the delivery site and billed to the appropriate party, the carrier absorbs a cost that should be accounted for in the load economics.

Hazmat documentation incomplete

Hazmat loads require specific documentation at every stage. Incomplete records create compliance exposure and can delay payment when customers require full hazmat documentation with the invoice.

Product-specific insurance not verified

Different products require different insurance coverage levels. When a carrier’s insurance does not match the product requirements, the broker or shipper carries uninsured risk.

How we run your tanker back office

1

Discovery

We document your product roster, wash-out requirements between product types, hazmat documentation needs, and the billing rules for each customer.

2

Onboarding

Training covers your product types, wash-out schedules, hazmat documentation requirements, and customer billing rules. Typical ramp-up is two weeks.

3

Ongoing operations

Carrier invoice audit, shipper billing with tanker accessorials, compliance documentation management, and AR follow-up on every load.

4

You scale

More products, more lanes, more wash-out complexity. The back office keeps up without new hires.

What tanker operations get back

The result is a back office that handles the complexity your freight demands:

Works inside the systems you already run

We work inside the TMS platforms you already use for tanker dispatch, billing, and compliance, with no migration and no new software to learn.

Frequently asked questions

Can ClearLane handle wash-out fee billing for tanker carriers?

Yes. We track wash-out and tank cleaning invoices, match them to the correct shipment, and include them on the customer invoice as a documented passthrough or built-in cost, depending on your billing structure.

We manage the documentation side: hazmat shipping papers, placarding records, tank testing certifications, and product compatibility records. The regulatory compliance decisions remain with your operations team, but the documentation stays organized and available.

Tanker back-office support covers carrier invoice audit with wash-out and heel charge verification, shipper billing with tanker-specific accessorials, hazmat and compliance documentation management, and AR follow-up.

Pricing follows your monthly load count and product complexity. Book a 20-minute call and we will scope the right package for your tanker operation.

Yes. TMW, McLeod, and other dispatch systems used in liquid and dry bulk are all platforms we work inside. Billing, wash-out tracking, and compliance documentation run through your existing system.

We track product compatibility records and wash-out requirements between loads. When a load requires a dedicated or food-grade tank, the billing reflects the correct equipment type and any wash-out or preparation charges. The compliance documentation for product compatibility is maintained per tank and per load.

Related services

Capture wash-out fees and heel charges before invoicing.

Monitor hazmat endorsements and insurance continuously.

Follow-up on tanker invoices.

Settlement and books kept current as you scale.

Get Started

See how we can help your tanker operation

Most tanker clients start with carrier invoice audit and hazmat documentation, then grow into full back-office management.