Won't Get Fuelled Again: 3 Key Ways That Transport Telematics Can Fight Fuel Thieves

Fuel theft is one of the biggest threats to the global transport business. Each year millions of gallons of gasoline, diesel and petrol is stolen from the tanks of trucks, lorries and vans worldwide. The shocking truth, however, is that most fuel-related crimes are committed within organisations, by members of staff operating sometimes sophisticated schemes to siphon off fuel from their employers.

No matter how large or small the theft, it hits someone's bottom line. What surprises us here at iBox technology, however, is how few transport professionals realise that telematics can play a huge role in cutting down and even eliminating these crimes. How? Well, here are three key ways in which you can detect and prevent fuel theft from your fleet.  

1. Fuel Cap Switches

Fuel cap proximity switches show when a fuel cap has been removed and refitted. Each instance will be recorded on the transport manager's telematics data flow. By cross-referencing this with other data, you can get a clear picture of what is going on with your fleet - and whether anything is amiss.

For instance, most commercial drivers use Fuel Cards which charge the petrol and diesel used directly to their transport manager rather than the driver themselves. This allows the transport office to see where and when vehicles are refuelling, but it also allows them to ensure that the fuel cap has been removed at legitimate times. If removals coincide with fuel stops, the chances are all is fine. If not, however, you need to know why. 

2. Fuel Level Indicators

Fuel level indicators show what percentage of the maximum fuel level is being carried by a vehicle. This can be a key clue when someone is behaving illegally. If, for instance, the percentage of fuel being carried drops dramatically and in a way that doesn't tally with the vehicle's mileage, then alarm bells should ring immediately. 

Again, it's a piece of data that can be used in conjunction with other pieces of information, such as Fuel Card transactions. If large amounts of fuel is being purchased, but levels aren't rising accordingly, you may be a victim of a sophisticated crime operation.

3. Authorised Stops

Telematics devices like the iBox 'Tele-mate' allow transport offices to list authorised stops, locations where your vehicles are scheduled to make deliveries or collections or perform other legitimate tasks.

Once more, this allows you to combine this information with other useful data to form a detailed picture of your drivers' activities. If vehicles make unauthorised stops and these stops coincide with the removal of the fuel cap and drops in fuel levels, this again should set alarm bells ringing.

All in all then, telematics provides transport managers with a range of tools that can help them detect fuel theft within their fleets. In the current economic climate, it can make the difference between survival and failure. For more information about how iBox technology's 'Eco-mate' and 'Tele-mate' can help protect your precious fuel supplies, contact us today. 

Tanks For Nothing: Soaring Fuel Thefts Making Life Even Tougher For UK Transport Firms

As if the UK's transport and haulage industries haven't got enough to cope with, they now face a serious and costly new threat - fuel theft. 

Siphoning diesel from lorries is rife at the moment, with the number of reported crimes soaring. 

A survey by the RHA, Road Haulage Association, found that almost 60 per cent of those polled had been victims of fuel theft in the past 12 months. 

Chrys Rampley, RHA security and infrastructure manager, told roadtransport.com "Fuel thefts in the road haulage industry have always been a big issue, but the spike in diesel costs will make operators' margins suffer even more than usual."

Rampley said that while some thieves were stealing diesel for personal use, an increasing number were selling large amounts of fuel on the black market. The RHA survey backed this up, revealing a hike in the number of thefts in the region of 1,000-1,500litres, compared to the average 100-600litres that had been stolen in the past. 

More than half of victims in the poll said diesel had been siphoned directly from lorry tanks, while the rest had been taken from storage tanks in yards and compounds. 

Perhaps not suprisingly the most vulnerable locations and times are lay-bys at night and in the late afternoon. 

One leading haulier, David McMurray, MD of Accrington, Lancashire company McMurrays Haulage told roadtransport.com. "We have been targeted a handful of times so far in 2011. It has been a problem for the industry for a long time, but fuel is becoming like liquid gold-dust, so I'm not surprised to hear the number of incidents has risen again."

McMurrays has fitted its fleet with anti-siphoning products, but there are doubts over whether this is effective. The RHA said that some anti-siphoning security was proving counterproductive because thieves went well-equipped and tore the fuel cap off the tank, which left the whole tank in need of replacing at even greater expense. 

This is where telematics can play its part. Of course, you can never stop a determined criminal, especially when they operate in well organised - and potentially dangerous - gangs. But devices like iBox's 'Check-Mate' and 'Eco-Mate' can help fleet managers keep abreast of what's happening remotely by helping them monitor variables, from fuel levels to the security of vehicles in lay-bys. If drivers are targeted by gangs, the 'Tele-mate' also allows two way communication between driver and fleet office and, if necessary, the police. 

On the subject of which, we would expect the police to help combat this alarming rise. And, to be fair, the specialist lorry crime unit TruckPol has re-introduced the reporting of fuel thefts under 1,000 litres after stopping the service back in July 2009. 

But as we reported in a previous blog, TruckPol now faces severe funding cutbacks. It all means that hard-pressed hauliers are going to feel more embattled - and abandoned - than ever. 

Caution - Dangerous Road Ahead. Why Osborne's Petrol Price Cut Won't Save Fleet Managers From Fuel Crisis.

So the chancellor, George Osborne, had been listening to the transport industry after all.

The big business headline in yesterday's Budget was Osborne's surprise decision to cut 1p off fuel duty with immediate effect and freeze the proposed inflation rise in tax for this year, putting it back to January 2012.

The nine month breathing space was greeted with cautious optimism by the transport industry. But prices on the forecourt are still going to be influenced by oil companies and the evidence is that they are going to be climbing  further because of the situation in the Middle East and the greed of the petrol companies.  


As the BBC reported today, that greed was in evidence again yesterday as petrol stations all over the country apparently increased their prices by between 1p and 2p in advance of the budget, wiping out the benefits of the 1p cut at a stroke.

In other words, Osborne's cut is a step in the right direction, but it's hardly a turning point. And when you look at the way fuel prices have been rising during March, you can see that the relief from the tax cut and freeze may not be the life-saver that some people are calling it.

So what do we make of all this? Well, one thing is for certain, with fuel prices forcing more and more haulage and logistics companies out of business and oil prices (above) jumping around all over the place and unlikely to become setttled this year, fuel efficiency is going to remain a make-or-break issue for fleet managers. 

All of which means that telematics devices like iBox technology's popular Eco-mate, which monitors everything from fuel usage to harsh braking and idling time, are going to become even more essential if firms are going to protect their bottom lines.  

For more details about the Eco-mate or our other range of innovative tracking devices, contact iBox technology today. 

Introducing the iBox vehicle tracking 'Mates' Part 2 - the fuel-saving 'Eco-mate'

It's an interesting reflection on the current economic conditions, that one of our most popular tracking devices is now the innovative 'Eco-mate'.

With fuel prices rising seemingly every day- and the threat of an oil crisis brewing in the Middle East - many transport and logistics companies are finding that this device is an invaluable asset when it comes to managing fuel and vehicle efficiency.

The Eco-mate combines a live, web-based Canbus interface with our Trac-mate technology and features an impressive range of functions which allow managers to monitor variables from fuel consumption to driving and braking habits, harsh acceleration and excessive idling.

In a cost-conscious business environment, it's little wonder it is attracting so much attention. Contact us if you would like more information.

Features include:
Live Canbus which includes :
MPG
Harsh acceleration
Harsh Braking
Use of cruise control
Idling
Fuel used idling
Total fuel used
Engine hours
Distance to next service
PLUS:
Live web based .
Tracking
Snail trail
Full auto reports in csv , pdf and excel
Mapping
Compatible with standard Garmin Sat nav.
Able to monitor vehicle ancillary equipment ( cranes, lifts etc)
Geo-fencing including polygon
Auto alerts in sms or e mail format
Find nearest vehicle function

Running On Empty: Spiralling Fuel Costs Are Killing UK Transport Firms

Barely a week goes by now without news of yet another transport company being brought to its knees by rising fuel prices. The latest casualty is one of Britain's oldest haulage firms, Joseph Rice & Sons, who have ceased trading after 161 years. 

As roadtransport.com reports the Gloucester-based hauliers said  the "soaring cost of fuel" was the biggest reason for the collapse of the firm, which employed 33 staff.

The story highlights a couple of things. Firstly, it underlines the need for Government action to protect the transport industry from spiralling prices, which are likely to get even higher because of the political instability in the Middle East. 

Last week the FairFuelUK campaign handed in a petition with more than 120,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street. 

But the story is also a reminder of the important role telematics can play in helping companies control their fuel costs. 

iBox technology's popular eco-mate tracking device is an invaluable asset for fleet managers looking to manage fuel and vehicle efficiency. The device combines a live, web-based Canbus interface with our Trac-mate technology and features an impressive range of functions which allow managers to monitor variables from fuel consumption to driving and braking habits, harsh acceleration and excessive idling. 

"With so many companies struggling to cope with rising prices, fleet managers need every bit of help they can get in monitoring how much fuel their drivers are consuming. The eco-mate has been successful in helping some of our customers make significant savings in their fuel bills," said iBox director Steve Green. 

"In a world where every penny counts, it can make the difference between survival and becoming yet another name in the list of failed transport companies."