Fuel Pilferages: Different Techniques Followed By Drivers
Summary
Fuel theft is a significant problem in today’s business world, with approximately $133 billion worth of fuel being stolen globally every year. Drivers and staff follow various techniques, such as direct fuel drain, siphoning fuel, invoice manipulation, taking fuel from the return line, reprogramming odometer, driving behavior, fuel contamination, blaming on vehicle maintenance, and inappropriate usage. It is essential for organizations to take measures to prevent fuel theft, such as implementing strict policies, conducting regular checks, and monitoring fuel consumption and vehicle mileage.
Fuel theft, a significant problem faced in today’s business world, also accounted for one of the most stolen materials globally. Approximately $133 billion worth of fuel is robbed globally every year. Most fuel theft in organizations occurs by insiders, either company staff or drivers, etc.; rather than outsiders.
Why is fuel theft occurring at the first pace? There are three main reasons; why do drivers want to steal fuel? Number one, fuel is expensive; number two, fuel price keeps rising; number three, anyone can siphon fuel out and make it hard to suspect or detect.
How it is happening, normally drivers or staff follow different techniques to steal fuel without getting caught on suspicion.
What Are The Different Techniques Followed By The Drivers In Fuel Pilferage?
1. Direct Fuel Drain From The Fuel Tank
When a trip’s fuel consumption is over-calculated or has no evidence of distance traveled, drivers will use the opportunity to drain the fuel directly from the fuel tank by drilling it.
A fleet manager should suspect this type of theft if there were any drill holes or damages on the fuel tank.
2. Siphoning Fuel Using Hose Pipes
In fuel theft, siphoning fuel out of the fuel tank using hose pipes is the most common method followed by many and this type of theft is most difficult to find out.
3. Invoice Or Bill Manipulations
Invoice manipulations happen in many places, especially in petrol pumps, here gas station staff also helps the drivers to steal fuel on any underground dealings. For example, drivers fill fuel for 80 liters and get the bill from the gas station for 90 liters.
4. Taking Fuel from Return Line
Most of the vehicles have return and supply lines. Stealing fuel from the return line is a bit advanced method. Also, this type of stealing happens with the help of service maintenance providers or mechanics by adding T-fitting on the return line. The T-fitting helps to collect all the fuel that is supposed to return to the fuel tank.
5. Reprogramming Odometer
Many drivers damage the odometer to make fleet managers unaware or make it difficult to note vehicle readings on distance traveled. This is one of the common theft activities take place in many fleet business.
6. Driving Behavior
Hen it comes to driving, drivers act smart. They follow different driving techniques to save fuel & make extra money out of it.
- Neutral driving, where drivers will save fuel by driving the truck in the neutral mode, has huge risk factors.
- Drivers show the same mileage report for the entire trip. In reality, both loaded and unloaded trucks don’t consume the same amount of fuel.
7. Fuel Contamination
Drivers contaminate fuel by supplementing low-quality fuel substances like white kerosene and acetylene to steal fuel; this activity also affects vehicle health in the future.
8. Blaming on Vehicle Maintenance
If you ask your driver the reason for low mileage, he/she simply tends to blame vehicle maintenance. Make sure you don’t fall for it.
9. Inappropriate usage
In some circumstances, drivers won’t steal fuel as the fuel they make use of vehicles for their own usage, which you should not allow those types of inappropriate vehicle usage. This activity not only leads you to fuel loss, but it may also lead you to any inappropriate smuggling cases. Beware of it!
We saw a lot many things about fuel theft; It is an important and difficult task to avoid or prevent fuel theft. Think why it is happening? Stealing from the workplace is not a healthy sign of management and employees relationship. Try to figure out why this happens with your organization, sure you will get a solution.
