{"id":107520,"date":"2026-10-30T10:40:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T17:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.absorbentsonline.com\/spill-containment-blog\/?p=107520"},"modified":"2026-10-30T10:40:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T17:40:27","slug":"drive-in-spill-berm-size-for-trucks-and-vans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.absorbentsonline.com\/spill-containment-blog\/drive-in-spill-berm-size-for-trucks-and-vans\/","title":{"rendered":"What Size Drive-In Spill Berm Do You Need for Your Truck?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pick a berm your vehicle fits inside with room to spare, and one that holds more than the leak you’re planning for. That sounds obvious. The mistake we see most is sizing by length and forgetting width. Below we go vehicle by vehicle, using the foam wall berms we stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with three measurements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Overall length<\/strong> of the vehicle, bumper to bumper (or hitch to tailgate if a trailer stays hooked up).<\/li>\n\n
  2. Width at the tires<\/strong>, not the mirrors. The tires are what roll over the foam walls.<\/li>\n\n
  3. The biggest container that could leak<\/strong> while the vehicle is parked: a fuel tank, a hydraulic reservoir, a transfer tank in the bed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Add at least 1 foot of clearance on each side and 2 feet at each end. Skip this and the driver clips a wall every time they park, and those walls wear out faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quick sizing table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Footprints below are approximate ranges. Measure your own vehicle before you order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vehicle<\/th>Approx. footprint<\/th>Berm to look at<\/th>Capacity<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Utility vehicle, golf cart, mower<\/td>5′ x 10′ or less<\/td>8′ x 8′<\/a> or 10′ x 10′<\/a><\/td>159 or 249 gal<\/td><\/tr>
    Regular-cab or short-bed pickup, cargo van<\/td>6.5’\u20137′ wide x 17’\u201319′ long<\/td>10′ x 20′<\/a><\/td>498 gal<\/td><\/tr>
    Crew-cab long-bed pickup, extended van, service body truck<\/td>7′ wide x 20’\u201324′ long<\/td>10′ x 30′<\/a><\/td>748 gal<\/td><\/tr>
    Box truck, small fuel or lube truck<\/td>about 8′ wide x 24’\u201335′ long<\/td>10′ x 40′<\/a> (tight on width; see below)<\/td>997 gal<\/td><\/tr>
    Truck with trailer, longer straight truck<\/td>about 8′ wide x 35’\u201345′ long<\/td>10′ x 50′<\/a> or a custom size<\/a><\/td>1,246 gal<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Why the 10′ x 20′ is our most popular size<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The 10′ x 20′ PVC foam wall berm<\/a> fits what most fleets park: pickups and vans. If you’re buying for a pickup, it’s the one we recommend first. A 7-foot-wide pickup leaves about 1.5 feet of clearance on each side. It holds 498 gallons and weighs 83 pounds. It ships UPS Ground, so there’s no forklift or freight appointment needed when it arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One catch: crew-cab long-bed pickups. Many run 20 feet or longer, which puts the bumpers right on the end walls. Measure first, and if it’s close, go with the 10′ x 30′.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When 10 feet wide is not enough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Every PVC foam wall berm we stock is 10 feet wide. That works well for pickups, vans and service trucks. An 8-foot-wide box truck leaves only about a foot on each side, so park carefully or step up in length for more room to maneuver. For semis and tankers, call us at (800) 869-9633 and we will recommend the right containment for your rig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Is a 4-inch wall enough?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    For what these berms are built for, yes. Think of a pickup’s fuel line weeping overnight, or a hydraulic hose letting go while a mechanic works on a service truck. Even the smallest size we list holds more than most vehicle fuel tanks, and the 10′ x 20′ holds 498 gallons. If you need to hold a full tank compartment from a tanker, look at a berm with taller walls on our spill containment berms<\/a> page. If your site has an SPCC plan or permit, size the berm to what that plan requires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Set-up tips that make a berm last<\/h2>\n\n\n\n