Solutions for maximizing route efficiency
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One of the most challenging tasks facing any fuel distributor is mastering the route planning jigsaw puzzle. Location, fuel amount, driver schedules and delivery windows must all fit neatly together to maximize productivity and keep costs at a minimum.
Route managers must be able to predict the unpredictable. Every jobsite has different needs and different fuel requirements, while driver availability and labor shortages further complicate route management. Location, personnel and last-minute demands can all disrupt logistics planning.
If you’re struggling to make sense of logistics, the right fuel storage and monitoring solutions may be the answer to optimizing your route logistics. Western Global fuel tanks provide you with the tools you need to maximize labor, keep customers happy and reduce operational costs.
Reducing trips to keep operations rolling
“One thing that buying Western Global tanks has done for us, it has really streamlined everything we’re doing on the commercial fuels industry side,” says Lee Denny of Ohio-based Duncan Oil Company, who purchases about 100 Western Global tanks a year. “It just makes everything flow much smoother – you just pick it up and go.”
Western Global tanks allow fuel distributors to make bulk fuel drops on job sites of any size. On-site, bulk fuel storage enables distributors to make fewer trips to the jobsite, because customers have fuel on-hand — where and when they need it. Fewer trips to the jobsite lets distributors increase flexibility without losing revenue. When time is freed up on one job, another jobsite can be added to the roster for fuel delivery.
Using real-time data to plan
On top of saving time and money by utilizing bulk diesel storage tanks, distributors can also optimize route efficiency with tank monitoring or telematics solutions. Turnkey Western Global tanks come ready with telematics systems installed, providing on-demand fuel level and GPS tracking capabilities.
“If you’re sending a guy out before the tank actually needed to be filled and it only needed to be half filled versus going when it needs to be three-fourths filled, you can cut out a whole delivery,” says Anthony Marchetti of Marchetti Commercial Fuels in Saugus, Mass. “The savings [from fuel level monitoring] are thousands of dollars at the end of the week for both the customer and the company.”
Fuel management systems offer more ways to track consumption and usage. They provide data on fuel levels and consumption rates, and it also gives you details as to who and when fuel was dispensed (often via RFID scan). These solutions are best for companies with a large tank stock and who need to be precise in tracking how much fuel is consumed and when fuel is being sold. These systems can be incorporated into Western Global tanks as well.
Fuel monitoring best practices
When using a fuel monitoring telematics system, consider a few best practices:
Set alerts: Most telematics systems offer fuel level alerts that distributors can easily set to signal when fuel levels in a tank are running low. This can be customized by the distributor to their preference – for example, selecting whether they want to be alerted when a tank is down to 50% or 20% full.
Analyze the data: It can be easy to simply use telematics as a reactive tool to let you know when a fuel drop is needed. But to make the most of your investment, you should analyze the data to help proactively predict drops, which can in turn make routes more efficient.
For example, for a customer using a tank long-term on a jobsite, you can analyze a few weeks worth of data to determine fuel usage rates and predict when you will need to schedule drops well in advance. This not only helps with route planning and ensures you have drivers available, but also increases customer satisfaction when they know you’ll fill them up before they even think about needing to call you.
Keep up with maintenance: Like any equipment on the jobsite, telematics and fuel monitoring hardware needs regular maintenance and health checks. Make sure your equipment is operating properly to prevent missed alerts or incorrect data being transmitted – which could result in unplanned and costly downtime for your customer if they run out of fuel.
Train staff: Ensure any staff using the telematics software are trained on how to use it and interpret the data provided.
Optimizing efficiency and minimizing headachese
With Western Global tanks and fuel monitoring solutions at their disposal, fuel distributors can reduce route planning pains. More logistical efficiency means distributors can better manage available labor, reduce or eliminate overtime, and lower your own fuel costs — all while maintaining high customer satisfaction and potentially growing revenue.
If you’re curious about ways our range of fuel tanks can help you maximize route planning and improve customer satisfaction, contact our expert team today. For more ways of optimizing your bottom line, explore our top cash flow strategies for fuel distributors.
Authored by
Jesus Rodriguez
Product Manager - Western Global
Jesus has extensive experience in industrial manufacturing, working to provide tank solutions with integrated accessories to drive efficiency and success for customers. You can connect with Jesus on LinkedIn here.