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Expanding Your Fleet Of Semis? Consider Onsite Diesel Fuel Delivery

If you own or manage a fleet of semis or other large trucks and your company is expanding, it may be time to consider having diesel fuel delivered to your site instead of having your drivers stop to fuel up before they head on down the road. There are several things to consider before implementing a plan to transition to onsite diesel fuel delivery. Here are a few questions to consider that may help you decide on the variables you'll need to determine.

Basic Questions to Ask About What's Needed 

Do your drivers drive locally and return every day or are they on the road for extensive periods of time? When they do return, whether it's nightly or weekly, do they generally stick to the same schedule regarding rest time? These types of questions will help you determine whether or not you would like to have diesel fuel delivered directly to each truck and piece of machinery or if bulk delivery to a storage tank on-site would work best for you.

If your drivers come and go at different hours, it may be easier to have a storage tank on site. However, if they return every evening and the semis are parked overnight, a delivery service can fuel each semi overnight so they're ready to go in the mornings. Either way will save time and money because your drivers won't need to go out of the way to fuel up before they start driving. 

Typically, fuel delivery services can help determine these types of questions by pouring through log books of fuel usage of the fleet. If you are just starting to expand your fleet, you will need to provide an estimate on what you expect to need in the future. 

Your Site Layout May Be a Deciding Factor

Of course, the layout of your site may be a huge deciding factor in whether or not you will have regular fuel-ups for your fleet or if fuel will be delivered in bulk to a storage tank. Storage tanks can be either underground or above ground in a safe location on your site. Each type has certain drawbacks to be aware of while you make your decision.

Above-ground storage tanks are more susceptible to explosions than underground storage tanks, but in-ground storage tanks are difficult to inspect for leaks. Also, underground storage tanks are highly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Underground storage tanks are more of a long-term solution, so you may not want to consider that choice at all if you plan on relocating anytime soon or within the next year or so. The costs of removing and relocating a storage tank can be counterproductive to what you are trying to accomplish with switching from fueling up off-site to fueling up on-site. 

Incorporate New Technology for Fuel Delivery 

Onsite diesel fuel delivery services can provide you with remote monitoring of your diesel fuel consumption, should you so choose. They can do this with data management to determine when to deliver fuel and how much fuel to deliver to each semi in your fleet if you choose fleet delivery. 

If bulk delivery to a storage tank is the option you're choosing, the fuel delivery service can remotely monitor the fuel level within the tank. Essentially, a device is used to transmit a signal to tell the delivery service when the fuel level inside the tank is getting too low and, therefore, your company needs another delivery. 

The types of technological devices used by fuel delivery services can also help determine whether or not there is any misappropriation of the fuel, such as when drivers are consuming far more than their semi should use, which could be due to driving out of their way or could be a sign of a faulty component of the diesel engine. 

Contact a company like Anytime Fuel Pros to learn more.