What can we do to prevent fuel theft in trucks and construction machinery? These are the most frequent encroachments, due to these machines’ high fuel consumption and tank volume. Even if you trust the drivers, you can take action to save yourself the headaches of fuel theft and, of course, costs. Measures to protect against fuel theft can be conditionally divided into traditional, administrative, and technical (technological).

Съдържание

1. Traditional methods of preventing fuel theft in trucks and machinery fleets

For companies with their bases and garages that use the machines or trucks:

Use video surveillance of your parking lots and garages to have information about who and when has access to vehicles and machines;
Fencing and lighting the entire parking area well to limit access and provide good visibility to machinery and vehicles;
Hire a security guard to control access to the trucks and monitor the video cameras;
Rent a bigger parking space for the trucks and machines so that there is visibility for the vehicles;
Park machines and trucks so that there is no access to the tanks.

2. Administrative measures to prevent fuel theft

There are different options, depending on the business model of operation.

For companies that have their own or use departmental gas stations: it is necessary to have access control, through which it is clear who, when, what quantity, and in which vehicle filled;
When filling up from large gas station chains: Use fuel cards for business customers.

Why do cards help you protect against fuel theft in trucks? The employees of the gas station are obliged to check the registration numbers of the cars in which fuel is being filled and respectively to notify the company if a discrepancy or fuel is being poured into tubes. Of course, there can be omissions or unscrupulous gas station attendants, but if you have a GPS with fuel control, you can compare the amount of fuel on the invoice from the gas station with the reported by the GPS;

Create and enforce fuel policies;

In these policies, you should clearly define what is expected of drivers when they purchase/refuel. Also, you should tell drivers in no uncertain terms what awaits them if they are caught stealing fuel. Last but not least, you should assign drivers responsibilities related to fueling security such as:

to monitor the car during charging;
to cover the keyboard with their hand when entering a PIN code to pay for fuel with a service card at a gas station;
to park only in secure places to protect themselves from fuel theft by third parties.

Do regular and surprise checks.

Surprise vehicle checks help prevent fuel theft. It is a good idea to put seals to prevent the drivers from leaking from the back oil. Regular vehicle inspections have a disciplinary effect and bring consistent information about vehicles and drivers. Drivers do not always do fuel theft. There are unscrupulous gas station operators who calibrate the gas stations so that they read a higher amount of fuel filled than the actual amount. It is clear what happens to the difference. To protect yourself from such abuses, it is necessary to carefully and regularly check invoices and compare them with those of other gas stations, so that you can catch potential discrepancies.

3. Technical and technological means to prevent fuel theft in trucks and machinery

Use locking fuel tank caps;
Fit anti-siphon devices or strainers that prevent a hose from being used to drain directly from the tank;
High-precision capacitive sensors for measuring the amount of fuel in the tank. With them, you will be able to monitor the fuel level in the tank more precisely. They are used together with GPS tracking devices that allow remote reading of the amount of fuel in the tank as measured by the capacitive sensors.

4. Invest in GPS devices

There are GPS devices that can monitor the fuel level in the tank or transmit information from high-precision capacitive sensors. If fuel theft exceeds BGN 15-20 per car per month, which is between 7 and 10 liters per month per car, it will be more profitable for you to pay for a GPS with fuel control.

Why do GPS devices help prevent fuel theft in trucks and machinery?

GPS devices monitor the fuel level in the tank in real-time. Accordingly, they record the amount of fuel loaded into the tank, as well as drains, if any.
The quantity of all fillings and drains of fuel from the tank is recorded by the GPS systems and can always be checked in time back, through the accompanying software.
The recorded information about the fuel drains in the GPS will help you to prove fuel thefts and will respectively serve as evidence in court when seeking responsibility from the driver under the relevant legal order.
The information recorded in the GPS about the fuel fillings makes it possible to compare what is reported with a document (receipt, invoice) from the gas station with the filling recorded by the GPS device. If there is a discrepancy between the two, for example, 20 liters according to the GPS and 40 liters according to the gas station invoice, then 20 liters “evaporated” or did not enter the tank of the company car.

Bonus tips

Check that the car and the charging card are in the same place at the time and date of filling the tank

Use GPS tracking devices to compare the information received from the gas station about the date/time, amount, and location of refueling with the actual location of the vehicle at that moment. Some GPS systems have integration with some gas stations and this comparison can be automatic or semi-automatic.

Check all deviations

Check for anything unusual such as questionable fueling locations, unusual fueling times, inaccurate odometer readings, and stops at unusual locations. You can use a GPS to inform you of any stops at sites or gas stations other than your own. Another option of GPS tracking software is to define a maximum length of stay above which you will be notified.

Set fuel consumption standards

Check any deviations from the fuel standards and investigate the causes – driving style, fuel leaks, a damaged car with high consumption, or others.

The application of all or part of the listed means will significantly contribute to limiting or protecting yourself from fuel theft in construction machinery, heavy machinery, trucks, and agricultural machinery. If you suspect that similar practices are being carried out in your company, but you encounter difficulties with establishing and registering them, contact our specialists. They will work together with you to resolve the issue. Take advantage of a free consultation with our specialists by calling us at the indicated coordinates and asking about VEM Fuel Control Pro.