How to save money on fuel in construction: keep a lid on consumption

When it comes to managing construction projects, equipment efficiency and any downtime have a huge impact on your bottom line. The cost of fuel – and ensuring a clean, ready supply – is often one of the most significant expenses on-site.

The cost of losing fuel to theft, engine issues from contaminants and lost productivity from waiting on deliveries are headaches for project managers. Here we discuss the latest trends in monitoring consumption and stock levels, preventing theft, and utilising filtration technology. Keep pace with tomorrow’s engines, today, with Western Global.

Diesel is the fuel of choice for the States, with the construction industry making up 55% of off-road fuel usage in the US. For context, there are nearly 6 million employees in the industry, all depending on regular fuel deliveries to operate.

Fuel is more than an asset in construction – it’s the industry’s main power source, charging equipment and machinery and allowing workers to complete projects easily. That’s why Western Global works hard to ease the stress and ensure our customers always have fuel that’s high quality, safely contained and ready to use at all times. With risks of theft and misuse affecting the industry, maximizing efficiency and making savings needs to be a priority.

Fuel is a significant expense for the construction industry, with high costs and consumption often accepted as part of the job. However, there are ways to reduce both costs and consumption, and improve fuel efficiency across your site. We’ve provided actionable tips below.

Fuel monitoring

Without fuel, time and money are lost. New technology in remote fuel monitoring allows operators to track inventory levels and live locations at any time. This eliminates downtime caused by depleted fuel supplies. Available online or through a mobile app, they generate reports and email alerts to enact timely refill orders. The system also flags unusual usage, alerting you to theft or leaks which could result in sites being shut down due to missing fuel stock.

Knowing what spare storage capacity you have across a site also enables procurement to stock up when prices are low. Bulk fuel storage tanks like our TransCube Global allow you to store large amounts of fuel for long periods of time, providing robust and reliable protection that’s easy to clean and maintain. They’re also stackable when empty, meaning that they won’t take up space. 

For off-grid locations, GPS data helps operators and suppliers keep track of fuel tanks too, avoiding lengthy searches on large worksites.

Keeping fuel clean and contaminant free

Engineers design new engines to meet changing environmental standards. At Western Global,  we’re constantly evolving our filtration systems to keep pace. Clean, contaminant-free fuel means higher usage time and fewer issues from dispensing.

Given that most diesel is delivered with a surprisingly ‘dirty’ ISO rating, contaminated fuel is a real issue that’s not considered critical until something goes wrong. Fuel that isn’t clean and debris-free often has decreased lubrication and can lead to tank damage.

In many cases, the cause of fuel contamination is from water in the tank – often the result of poor maintenance. Regularly inspecting and maintaining your fuel tank helps prevent contamination while also reducing leaks that could cost even more to clean up. Filters should be cleaned as part of these inspections, and any water accumulation should be removed to avoid condensation.

When your fuel stock is on-site, we also recommend keeping tanks as full as possible to avoid dispensing remains. Running a near-empty tank can cause sludge build up, leading to blockages – especially when operating in cold conditions. Storing fuel in bulk means that you always have enough stock to power equipment, arranging deliveries and capitalizing on lower prices before you run dry.

Our fuel tanks are ideal for storing clean fuel that’s available when and where you need it. They’re double walled, providing an extra protective layer that maintains your fuel quality throughout even the toughest conditions. We also offer filter packages as part of our fuel tank accessories range, helping maintain fuel purity and ensure equipment runs smoothly.

Preventing fuel theft

Loss of fuel is an often overlooked expense. Losing over $630 a month on misplaced fuel and chalking it up to ‘the cost of the job’ happens more than one might think. But fuel loss is preventable.

Card-locking control technology combats theft by only allowing authorized individuals to access fuel. Here at Western Global, our system lets drivers enter their details, vehicle number and type of fuel they need using a phone-based app. This prevents loss and helps determine which operators and equipment are using the bulk of the fuel.

Our tanks are 100% secure, with a double walled design and pumps contained behind a locked cabinet. GPS tracking is also available, meaning you can keep track of your fuel at all times. For more guidance on reducing fuel theft read our guide.