Among the many costs of operating a fleet is fuel. It is by far the most consistent cost, and it’s important to make sure fuel is being used efficiently. This means tracking inventory, monitoring fuel usage, and consolidating contracts and invoices wherever possible.
A fuel management system can help you accomplish this, but it is important to understand how and determine which systems are best for your needs.
Importance Of Fuel Management Systems
Fuel management systems provide a wide range of data related to fuel usage including those listed below.
Allows you to stay on top of fleet maintenance
A fuel management system helps you track data on fuel usage for individual vehicles, whether through refueling patterns or automatic tank monitoring.
If one vehicle’s fuel usage is especially high, your fuel management system will detect this instantly, allowing you to immediately schedule a maintenance check and resolve the problem.
Optimize fuel usage
How and where your employees drive makes a difference in fuel usage.
With certain fuel management system technologies, you’re able to track driver behavior and determine who might need more training or offer suggestions to lower fuel consumption.
Ensure compliance
CO2 emissions are heavily regulated in many states, and making sure your fleet adheres to emission standards is vital both to minimizing liability and decreasing your overhead costs.
Tank gauging systems can also indicate when a containment sump might be failing so the issue can be addressed ensuring your vehicles aren’t environmental hazards and are in compliance.
Best Fuel Management Systems
With the importance of fuel monitoring and management established, here are six of the top fuel management systems for 2019.
1. E.J. Ward
E.J. Ward provides a host of automated fuel management services to fleets, including IoT fuel control, automated fueling software, vehicle telematics, tank level sensors, and EV charging stations. They also offer implementation and training support to their customers.
Their fuel control services are fully cloud-based, drawing on IoT technology to provide real-time data and control access to fuel stations, car washes, security gates, and more.
2. FuelMaster
Syntech Systems offers a number of fuel management systems for fleets, including their FuelMaster series.
These and other systems provide a host of features to their users, including:
- Real-time transaction tracking at fuel terminals
- Variety of fueling process methods, including keypads and proximity cards
- Communication with tank monitors and gauges
- Fuel measurements and controls
- Fuel efficiency tracking
- Modular design for ease of maintenance
In addition, they provide training at no cost to their customers and distributors.
3. Gasboy
Gasboy’s services include its EKOS (Energy Knowledge Operating System) software, which tracks transactions and handles custom reporting on data from multiple systems.
They also offer a wide array of fuel island and vehicle tracking software systems, each providing reliable comprehensive services.
Their products come from numerous brands, and they pride themselves on their complete range of services.
4. MultiForce
FuelForce provides fuel controllers and software solutions to aid in fuel management. Their hardware boasts a variety of functions and features such as:
- Keypads
- Card/key readers
- Receipt printers
- Multiple fuel support options, including CNG, LNG, BioDiesel, lubricants, and even electricity
As for their software, which is called FuelServe.net, customers benefit from the ability to arrange and filter data as they please. Alerts and charts allow them greater control over their fuel usage.
5. Petro Vend
Petro Vend 100 and 200 are fuel control systems distributed by OPW.
These fuel management systems are easily scalable for up to 1,000 users and hosts of options, such as:
- Multiple key and card reader options
- Multiple pedestal size options
- Easy installation and serviceability
Petro Vend products are also compatible with multiple fuel management software solutions, allowing remote data tracking and analytics.
6. GIR
GIR has been in the business for decades, giving them professional insight into the needs of fleet managers everywhere. They consistently strive to improve their products, which include both hardware and software systems.
These products include:
- TIP/GCA terminal, which is a highly flexible hardware system that’s easy to use
- W100 and W200 web-based software, which allow for easy management and organization of fuel-related data
Their hardware and software are fully compatible with each other, making them a great way to get a simple package of fuel management system features together.
Choosing The Best Fuel Management Solution
When deciding on the best fuel management system for your fleet, the above options present a great starting point.
From there, consider what each option has to offer.
Products
If you want a basic fuel control system with some software to keep track of data, the option you choose will be very different from a company that needs gas tank monitoring and GPS-based tracking.
Some companies may be better for certain products than others, so take some time to analyze what each company does best.
Features
Individual products may offer a wide range of features. The basics, such as card/chip readers and ease of installation, may be all you need.
On the other hand, you might want a more developed system with a host of built-in features to improve your fuel management practices.
As you assess the products and features provided by each company, you’ll be able to find the best fuel management system for you.
The experts at Total Environmental Concepts can help you choose the right fuel management system for your needs