...continued

"The technology enables a vehicle fitted with a Vehicle Identification Unit (VIU) to be identified by a controller connected to the fuelling nozzle once the nozzle is inserted into the fuel inlet on the vehicle. Only once the vehicle has been identified and authorised for refuelling will the pump switch on. This insures that the correct vehicle is refuelled and any attempts at removing the device or refuelling another vehicle will immediately suspend the transaction. Payment for the fuel procured at a retail forecourt is managed through the normal banking infrastructure."

According to Brendan Horan, General Manager, Sales and Marketing (RSA and Africa) at MiX Telematics:" Fuel costs constitute up to 40 percent of expenses in running a fleet and there are numerous ways of ensuring that the fuel costs of a fleet can be optimised. Sensors added to the tank of the vehicle can show the fleet manager how much fuel was used by the vehicle and this data can be consolidated with the fuel record of the vehicle to show if fuel was removed from the vehicle without authorisation.

"Draining fuel out of the fuel tank of a vehicle is a huge concern for any fleet manager as it has a direct influence on the profitability of the fleet. We can fit an Ultrasonic Fuel Sensor to the tank to measure fuel level in litres, which can show the fleet manager, in conjunction with the movement report, if an unscheduled stop was made to remove fuel from the vehicle.

'Just monitoring the movement report of the vehicle for unscheduled stops can stop fuel theft as there are only certain reasons why an unscheduled stop is made. The reasons for the unscheduled stops may vary, but through fleet management systems such as the FM range from MiX Telematics Africa, putting an end to unscheduled stops becomes as easy as pushing a button on your computer for a report."

DigiCore's Managing Director, Mark Rousseau  states that, "On the C-track application, real-time status alerts and a range of reports, as well as trip replays highlight abusive driving such as taking detours, over revving, speeding and excessive idling, all of which impact on fuel consumption.

The tachograph report measures and reports on actual Green Band driving. In the cab, in the case of C-track Solo, the audible warning signal actually alerts the
driver to an imminent violation before he actually commits it and affects fuel consumption negatively.

"As regards prevention of diesel theft, the installation of a fuel cap cover switch enables management to identify where the fuel cap was removed and by checking if that is the location of a filling station or not, fleet managers can establish whether where were any irregularities. Integration to the vehicle's CANbus facilitates reporting on actual fuel consumption which can be used as a gauge to determine if theft has occurred."

Says Gareth Crocker, Communications Manager at Tracker: "Excessive fuel consumption is a result of many factors which include over-speeding, over-revving and excessive idling. Tracker's technology is equipped to give the fleet manager exception reports and alerts in the form of SMS's, email or detailed reports on these costly incidents. Tracker can also add additional accessories to our already highly sophisticated device that will monitor fuel levels and assist the fleet manager bring down fuel theft events."