How To Help Reduce Diesel Theft With Fuel Management Tech

Theft on construction sites is a common concern in the industry. Fuel theft specifically can cost contractors millions of dollars a year.

The easiest marks for fuel thieves are dated fuel storage solutions: Think round tanks, unsecured nozzles and lack of monitoring systems.

Fortunately, more secure options exist. Modern, modular bulk fuel storage tanks come with many theft prevention features compared to round tanks, but one of the most useful tools in keeping fuel where it belongs — in the tank — is a fuel management system.

What is a fuel management system?

Fuel management systems are key to helping jobsite managers and fuel providers alike ensure that their fuel is secure. They provide fuel level monitoring along with more advanced fuel management features, like transaction capture. But how exactly do they work?

Fuel management systems provide continuous insight into fuel inventory and consumption for both distributors and end users. These systems actively gauge, track and relay all fuel levels.

Different systems use different sensor types. These span from standard hall effect sensors that interface with a standard Rochester gauge (known as a remote-ready gauge) to advanced radar and hydrostatic sensors. Remote-ready gauges are cost-effective and reliable for most operations. Hydrostatic sensors are more reliable, but they often come with a higher price tag.

Data on fuel levels can be stored in hardware on the tank or transmitted using wireless technology to a centralized dashboard that the site manager or fuel distributor can access.

How are they installed?

Fuel management systems can be installed as part of the tank manufacturing process, or aftermarket solutions can be added post-purchase. Purchasing a fuel tank with the system already installed means you receive a turnkey solution ready to go on day one — just add fuel and set up alerts via the software dashboard.

For more advanced management systems, this can also help you save on installation costs versus a contractor coming on-site to install the system post-purchase. Plus, you can avoid delays waiting for contractor availability.

While a fuel management system’s most basic function is to track fuel levels in your tank, additional advanced features help ensure that your fuel is used for equipment refueling – and nothing more.

Preventing fuel theft with technology

Several functions of a fuel management system can work together to prevent theft:

1. Employee authorization: Some systems allow only authorized users to dispense fuel using PIN codes or RFID card readers. This not only eliminates theft by outside parties but also helps companies track employee usage. If you’re concerned about employee fuel theft, you can easily check how much fuel is being dispensed and when, allowing you to quickly spot any unusual activity.
2. Real-time monitoring: Fuel management systems help provide a clear picture of your site’s general fuel usage. While monthly consumption may naturally vary, understanding the average range helps highlight unusual activity. For example, are you seeing nighttime or weekend refueling? Is there a sudden spike in consumption? These are all red flags that, caught in real time, can help you address theft fast.
3. Alarms: Many setups provide an alarm system that can be triggered in certain circumstances, such as a sudden drop in fuel level. These systems come with alerts that are automatically sent to users via email or app notifications and can be triggered by rapid draws, an unauthorized user, fill detection and more.

Keep fuel secure with Western Global

On many jobsites, fuel is one of the largest expenses — which theft can drive even higher. Using the right technology, along with other jobsite security measures, can keep this critical resource safe day and night.

Western Global fuel tanks can accommodate many different fuel management systems, from simple gauges to sophisticated dispensing systems with real-time reporting. We partner with a variety of vendors, including Tecalemit and FuelCloud, to provide turnkey solutions for your specific needs. If you have a preferred technology partner, we’ll work with you to ensure that our tanks can be integrated into your existing systems.

Learn more about protecting your assets from fuel theft