The bobtail driver reading Handbook 44 – 2026 this month must keep the ticket out of the printer until the delivery starts.
"A ticket shall not be inserted into a device equipped with a ticket printer until immediately before a delivery is begun, and in no case shall a ticket be in the device when the vehicle is in motion while on a public street, highway, or thoroughfare."
When the ticket goes in the printer
Dealer guidance for the bobtail driver: a ticket left in the printer on a public road fails a meter check. Gallons already printed on that ticket before the hose opens fail the same check.
The ticket goes in at the stop, after the truck is parked. Park, set the stop, then put the ticket in.
Delaware Title 6 §5128(d) tracks this printer timing for vehicle tank meters. Section 5128(d) also limits the printer to one delivery ticket at a time. Delaware is one statute a driver can read beside Handbook 44.
What the vehicle meter records for the customer
The note under S.1.1.1 says vehicle-mounted meters need a primary recording element. Handbook 44 – 2026 Section 3.32 states: "Vehicle-mounted metering systems shall be equipped with a primary recording element as required by paragraph UR.2.6. Recorded Representations."
UR.2.6, Recorded Representations (Amended 2023), says: "Vehicle-mounted metering systems shall be equipped with a means to record all sales where product is delivered through the meter and shall comply with G-S.5.6. Recorded Representations. A copy of the recorded representation issued by the device shall be provided to the customer at the time of delivery or as otherwise specified by the customer."
G-S.5.6 in the 2026 General Code says:
"All recorded values shall be presented digitally. In applications where recorded representations are required by a specific code, the customer may be given the option of not receiving the recorded representation. Recorded representations referenced in specific codes shall be made available to the customer in hard copy form, unless otherwise specified by the customer. For systems equipped with the capability of issuing an electronic receipt, ticket, or other recorded representation, the customer may be given the option to receive any required information electronically (e.g., via cell phone, computer, etc.) in lieu of or in addition to a hard copy."
The driver reads the account note and hands the copy the account note names.
What Sale from Bulk puts on the ticket
NIST Handbook 130 – 2026, Uniform Weights and Measures Law, Section 17, Sale from Bulk, is the field list for this ticket. Section 17 says: "All bulk sales in which the buyer and seller are not both present to witness the measurement, all bulk deliveries of heating fuel, and all other bulk sales specified by rule or regulation of the director shall be accompanied by a delivery ticket containing the following information:"
• "(a) the name and address of the buyer and seller;" • "(b) the date delivered;" • "(c) the quantity delivered and the quantity upon which the price is based, if this differs from the delivered quantity for example, when temperature compensated sales are made;" • "(d) the unit price, unless otherwise agreed upon by both buyer and seller;" • "(e) the identity in the most descriptive terms commercially practicable, including any quality representation made in connection with the sale;" • "(f) the count of individually wrapped packages, if more than one, in the instance of commodities bought from bulk but delivered in packages." Handbook 44 UR.2.4.3 adds an invoice line for some temperature sales. UR.2.4.3 says: "Any invoice based on a reading of a device that is equipped with an automatic temperature compensator or based on a weight converted to gallons, or based on the volume of a calibrated container, shall have shown thereon that the volume delivered has been adjusted to the volume at 15 °C (60 °F)."
Wisconsin ATCP 92.42 is one state's 60 °F wording on the LPG sales ticket. With automatic temperature compensation, ATCP 92.42(1) says:
> When delivery of liquefied petroleum gas is made through a liquid meter equipped with an automatic temperature compensating mechanism, the word "gallon" or any abbreviation thereof shall not appear alone on the sales ticket but shall be immediately preceded or followed by the words "automatically corrected to 60° F." in the same size and style of type.
Without automatic temperature compensation, ATCP 92.42(2) says:
> When delivery of liquefied petroleum gas is made through a liquid meter not equipped with an automatic temperature compensating mechanism, the sales ticket shall show the delivered gallons, the temperature of the liquid at the time of delivery, the volume correction factor, and the corrected gallonage. Wherever a statement of corrected gallonage appears on the sales ticket the words "corrected to 60° F." shall appear immediately adjacent thereto.
Confirm the ticket wording your state adopted.
Delaware meter print beside the cab
Delaware Title 6 §5128(a) applies when propane is sold or delivered in quantities of 20 gallons or more for heating or cooking. The ticket is serially numbered and has an original and at least 1 carbon copy. The driver writes the date and the vendor and purchaser names and addresses before the delivery. The ticket also names the grade and the person who made the delivery.
One copy goes to the purchaser or the purchaser's agent at delivery. A written request can name another person, place, or time for that copy. The vendor keeps another copy for 1 year and lists the ticket number on company records.
On metered deliveries, §5128(c) requires the quantity to be mechanically printed on the meter ticket at the time of delivery. Delaware Code §5128(c) also says: "A sales sequence number shall also be mechanically printed on the ticket by the ticket printing mechanism of the metering system, unless the printing mechanism is of the cumulative type. The sales sequence number shall not be returnable to 0 until it has reached its highest attainable number."
Delaware Code §5128(e) says: "The possession of a preprinted ticket imprinted with a gallonage amount in advance of delivery shall be prima facia evidence of intent to use such ticket in violation of this section." The meter prints the gallons when the delivery is finished.
Where the driver files the stop
The meter ticket closes the sale at the tank. The bobtail driver puts the meter quantity and ticket number in a driver ticket file. The driver ticket file is the delivery tracking record for this stop. The driver saves the file before the hose is stowed.
What the bobtail driver does this week
This week the bobtail driver keeps the ticket in hand until the truck is parked. The driver puts the ticket in the printer immediately before the delivery begins. The recorded copy goes to the customer before the hose comes off.
Common questions
Where does a bobtail driver keep the blank meter ticket until the truck is parked? The blank ticket stays in the bobtail driver's hand until the truck is parked. The printer section above is where the blank ticket goes into the device.
Where is the customer's paper or electronic ticket choice written? The account record is where the company writes the customer's otherwise specified choice. The driver reads the account note and hands paper, an electronic copy, or no copy, as the account note says. The recorded-representation section above is the rule this choice follows.
What does the bobtail driver write before the meter prints the gallons? Before the meter prints, the driver writes the date and the vendor and purchaser names and addresses. The Delaware section above is the home for that before-delivery writing. The gallons come from the meter print in the Delaware section above.
Sources
• NIST, Handbook 44 – 2026 Section 3.32 Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-Measuring Devices (UR.2.5, UR.2.6, UR.2.4.3, S.1.1.1 Note), 2026 edition — https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-section-332 • NIST, Handbook 44 – 2026 Section 1.10 General Code G-S.5.6 Recorded Representations, 2026 edition — https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-section-1 • NIST, Handbook 130 – 2026 Uniform Laws and Regulations, Section 17 Sale from Bulk, NIST HB 130-2026, December 2025 — https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/hb/2025/NIST.HB.130-2026.pdf • Delaware Code Online, Title 6 Chapter 51 § 5128 Furnace and stove oil, Delaware Code Online — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c051/ • Wisconsin Legislature, ATCP 92.42 Sales tickets, Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 92.42 — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/atcp/090/92/v/42/2
This page is general information for propane operators. It is not legal advice and it does not certify compliance. Confirm the rule text your state has adopted.