Using Steel Drums as an Economical & Convenient Way to Transport Bitumen

Bitumen packaged in drums are most convenient when storing and transporting to the worksite. Over the years, the quality of drums has been improving, and nowadays, bitumen is packaged and exported in new steel drums. The capacity of the drums ranges from 150 kg to 200 kg. However, the most preferred are the 180 kg drums. Consumers and importers use 180 kg drums as they find it more cost-efficient. The savings are related to the production cost of a drum, handling, and shipping charges.

Transporting Bitumen Drums

When it comes to transporting bitumen drums, the standard size used is the 20 feet container. This container size capacity is economical compared to 40 feet container. The reason is that when it comes to carrying a bitumen drum in a 40 feet container, the transportation cost doubles. Also, there is no real advantage as a 40 feet container can hold only 135 bitumen drums compared to 110 drums carried by a 20 ft container. So, for an additional of just 25 drums, one has to pay higher terminal handling charges and shipping charges. The average cost of transportation becomes higher.

Therefore, the right transportation mix uses 180 kg capacity bitumen drums transported in a 20 feet container which ensures maximum transportation at optimum cost resulting in lower cost per drum.

Use of Quality Drums

The new steel drums play an important role in the quality of packing, especially in exports. The asphalt and tar require packaging so that they do not penetrate the drums and leak. Many asphalt exporters source the steel drums directly from manufacturers, with specifications of drums being without pores. The objective is to ensure that the drums are made from the best quality steel sheets sourced from reputed steel manufacturers.

A brief overview of bitumen transportation in bitumen drums

Using 180 kg steel drums and transporting in 20 feet container is the most economical and reliable method. The drums are stored in warehouses or directly transferred to the worksite. The handling of drums at the warehouse or site is usually done by forklifts which can take a load of 5-6 drums at a time. The drums need to be handled with care. Used drums can leak, new drums can break if not handled with care, and if the drums are damaged, it will become challenging to decant.

While transporting, it is best to use trailers to visit remote locations with smaller beds easily. They are cheap and affordable as well and known to carry bitumen drums safely.

When it comes to wastage of bitumen, an average of 3%-5% is always left in the drum, and practically not possible to scrape out. There is also the environmental impact of using bitumen steel drums. A typical 1000 MT project will require at least 5000 steel drums in which bitumen is transported. After use, the drums have to be disposed of reused, polluting the ground at scrap yards or storage places.