Every year, new tankers joining distributor fleets demonstrate just how much thought, innovation and operational experience goes into specifying the vehicles at the heart of fuel delivery.
From increased payload and improved manoeuvrability to smarter technology, enhanced safety, driver comfort and greater delivery efficiency, every new vehicle has a job to do.
The Fuel Oil News Tanker of the Year award celebrates the tanker that does that job particularly well.
Any tanker added to a distributor’s fleet between 1 January and 31 December 2026 can be entered for consideration, with nominations welcomed from distributors, tanker manufacturers and equipment providers.
More than a great-looking tanker
The 2025 competition attracted an unprecedented number of high-quality entries, with Tyrone Fuels taking the 23rd Fuel Oil News Tanker of the Year title for its new Scania G460 6×2, built by Road Tankers Armagh.
The 20,000-litre, five-compartment rear-steer tanker impressed not simply because of its high specification, but because every element of the build addressed a genuine operational need. Moving Tyrone Fuels from its traditional 13,500-litre 4×2 rigids to a higher-capacity tanker delivered greater productivity while retaining the manoeuvrability needed for challenging rural roads and customer sites.
Its specification also incorporated a prototype pneumatic hose reel system to reduce manual handling, alongside enhanced safety equipment and a high-specification driver environment.
For Tyrone Fuels, the benefits were tangible: fewer trips, more deliveries per run, shorter lead times and lower cost per litre.
As we concluded when announcing the winner, this was “not simply a larger tanker – it’s a more intelligent one.”
What makes a winner?
Tanker of the Year is not necessarily about having the biggest tanker, the newest technology or the most eye-catching livery. We are looking for the vehicle that best demonstrates how thoughtful specification can make a meaningful difference.
Perhaps your latest tanker has enabled access to customers that were previously difficult to serve. Maybe increased capacity has transformed route economics, new equipment has made life significantly easier for the driver or onboard technology has improved safety, accuracy or efficiency. It could be helping your business reduce mileage, support a new service, accommodate different products or simply do an existing job considerably better.
Whatever makes your tanker special, we want to hear the story behind it.
Enter Tanker of the Year 2026
Entries will be accepted until 31 December 2026, with the winner revealed in the February 2027 issue of Fuel Oil News.
To enter, send us a high-resolution image of the tanker together with details of the chassis and tanker manufacturer, vehicle type, size, capacity, compartments and onboard equipment.
Please highlight anything that is new, innovative or different from other vehicles in your fleet – but, most importantly, tell us how the tanker is making a difference to your business or your customers.
How has it improved operations? What difference does it make to the driver? Does it enhance customer service? Has it helped improve efficiency, safety, productivity or profitability?
Send your entry and images to claudia@fueloilnews.co.uk.
With the standard rising every year, choosing just one winner is becoming increasingly difficult.
We’re looking forward to seeing what joined your fleet in 2026.
Image provided by 2025 winner Tyrone Fuels