The success of any company’s fleet operation is heavily reliant on how well various methods of fuel monitoring and maintenance are handled inside it. Fuel is a significant cost component for all kinds of industrial vehicles and special equipment. And if we don’t track actual fuel consumption and cut expenditures, the company would undoubtedly lose money and work inefficiently.
Fuel costs might reach 45-50 percent in the transportation, logistics, and road construction industries. However, if there is no control over fuel consumption, the costs are frequently not justified. When a corporation does not have a clear grasp of how and where the fuel goes, the company’s profitability suffers. There is always the possibility of overpaying and even fuel theft when there is no control. It is difficult to plan and assess a business’s efficiency without information about real fuel use.
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This blog will outline the different methods of fuel monitoring systems for trucks in India and how the methods of fuel monitoring system are crucial.
Why is Monitoring Fuel Consumption Crucial?
Fuel management systems are intended to monitor and control your fleet’s fuel consumption. They precisely monitor and track gasoline stockpiles, as well as how fuel is dispensed. This data is then saved in systems and delivered to the manager via online portals to offer this useful data. Here are some reasons why monitoring fuel consumption is important:
- Methods of fuel monitoring will enable you to fill in your data in real-time, permitting you to respond to problems quickly, enhance vehicle performance, and keep your fleet on the road for extended amounts of time. The information is excellent for evaluation and decision-making.
- When you have a clear picture of how much fuel is being used per car for each travel, you can spot any irregularities. You may discover that certain drivers can use your fuel for personal purposes, in which case you may put a stop to it and ensure that the fuel is exclusively used for fleet-related reasons.
- Methods of fuel monitoring can assist keep track of how much fuel is being used and when it is being used. You can utilize this data to discover and address security risks in your fleet.
- A fuel management system can help you save money in the long run by reducing fuel waste, theft, and misuse. Equip yourself with a fuel monitoring system like LocoNav for precise, real-time data that can help you grow your business.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Different Methods of Fuel Monitoring
In this section, we will describe the many methods of fuel monitoring, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Fuel Level Sensor Monitoring
Fuel level sensors are used to measure fuel levels in many types of vehicles, such as locomotives, ships, and vessels. It can also be put to use to monitor the fuel level of stationary heavy equipment like generators and fuel station tanks. Fuel price increases are prompting fleet owners and asset managers to implement various methods of fuel monitoring technologies to assist cut fuel-related costs.
Advantages:
- Short-term fuel cost benefits through the detection of unauthorized drains
- Consumption data that is reliable. They detect if driving habits contribute to it and allow actions to be made to control it.
- Ultrasonic sensors are non-invasive, they help to protect the tank’s integrity and prevent fuel leakage.
Disadvantages:
- Because they are electrical devices, they can be manipulated to change their behavior.
- Low outdoor temperatures, as well as poor gasoline quality, can impair the sensors’ ability to determine the fuel level appropriately.
- The modest proportion of measurement inaccuracy increases with time and distance traveled.
CAN Bus Fuel Monitoring
The core of this fuel control system is to link a GPS tracker to the vehicle’s CAN bus to get data from an in-built stock fuel level sensor. All current automobiles now have a CAN interface. It ensures information interchange between various sensors, the onboard system, and other external attached devices to the vehicle. If the vehicle has an open data transmission protocol, readings can be transmitted to the monitoring system.
Advantages:
- It is reasonably priced.
- It does not necessitate the use of any additional telematic sensors or installation effort.
- By connecting the tracker to the CAN bus, you can also collect information on other vehicle parameters such as engine speed, motor hours, oil pressure, axle load, and other readings.
Disadvantages:
- The data acquired from the CAN bus is still not very precise.
- Conventional sensors are not very good at determining the precise time, place, and volume of fuel fills.
- This monitoring system is prone to unusual changes in the fuel schedule, incorrect drain statistics, and “dead zones.”
Fuel Monitoring Without GPS
Surprisingly, several businesses still do not use satellite monitoring devices to track their vehicles and drivers’ work. Fuel accounting is performed in such businesses using antiquated and ineffective procedures.
Fleet managers can use the levels of consumption specified by the vehicle manufacturer. However, you should keep in mind that they are average rates. And, with time, a vehicle’s real fuel usage may diverge dramatically from the initial numbers. Fuel consumption is also calculated using odometer data in automobile fleets. However, the mileage displayed on a car’s dashboard has a margin of inaccuracy.
Advantages:
No significant advantages.
Disadvantages:
- It will be impossible to evaluate the precision of other fuel consumption data and comprehend the reasons for differences if a fleet management system does not depend on GPS monitoring.
- Without satellite tracking, it is difficult to detect idling time, personal usage of vehicles, and direct fuel theft.
- If drivers coordinate with petrol station employees, there is a greater likelihood of counterfeiting and fraud.
Flowmeter Fuel Monitoring
Flow meters are telematics sensors that are put on the vehicle’s fuel line and measure the volume of refueling. Many variants of this equipment can also measure engine runtime and fuel and lubricant temperature. The flow meter data is delivered to a GPS tracker, which sends the data to the fleet management system.
Advantages:
- The fuel consumption sensors provide 97-99 percent accurate readings.
- This provides fleet managers with a precise view of their car’s fuel usage, allowing them to calculate fuel consumption rates, analyze efficiency, and predict costs.
Disadvantages:
- Purchasing and deploying a fuel flow meter is the most expensive way.
- Flowmeters are highly susceptible to contamination and must be cleaned on a regular basis. If they are not cleaned, the car’s fuel system may fail.
- A more costly differential sensor must be placed to monitor gasoline in the supply and return lines.
- It is challenging for the system to keep track of fuel fillings and drains in real-time.
GPS Fuel Monitoring
A professional GPS tracker put in a vehicle and relaying data about its functioning to the fleet management system is an integral part of satellite monitoring. In addition to coordinates and speed, the tracker logs the vehicle’s mileage. The satellite mileage data is far more accurate than the built-in odometer data.
Advantages:
- It is suitable for more accurately calculating actual fuel usage and identifying mileage adjustments by drivers with a high possibility.
- The system may monitor routes, geo-fence visits, compliance to set timetables, and vehicle speeds based on the information sent by the tracker.
Disadvantages:
- Fuel tampering is impossible to detect.
- Controlling fuel use is inefficient.
- The likelihood of fuel theft is fairly significant.
Reasons to Consider LocoNav’s Fuel Monitoring System
LocoNav provides a wide range of services, including a fuel management system that allows you to manage, monitor, and control access to gasoline. It can alleviate all of the problems associated with fuel management. The following are some of the advantages of the fuel management system:
- Methods of fuel monitoring generate data on the distance traveled by the fleet and the amount of fuel utilized. As a result, you can also preserve the data for subsequent study using an autonomous fuel control system.
- It will enhance fuel efficiency because you will be able to track vehicle maintenance and driver routes. Implementing optimal driving routes is required to make cost-effective judgments and avoid fuel waste.
- Fuel theft is a major problem in the transportation and logistics industries. Fuel theft can be reduced by using methods of fuel monitoring. You can track fuel use and expenses, as well as detect security risks in your fleet and apply fixes.
- Fuel theft and pilferage can also be curbed with real-time alerts that notify the users about fuel drainage that occurs in unauthorized areas and at odd times.
Conclusion
The more wear and tear the vehicle experiences as it matures and spends more time on the road. Route optimization reduces overall maintenance and repair expenses by minimizing vehicle utilization. It is critical that you understand the need for periodic maintenance in maintaining a healthy fleet. With LocoNav, you can get your vehicles evaluated for repairs to avoid breakdowns on the road and save money on maintenance. As a result, we monitor tire pressure, engine hours, oil life, idling, and other parameters in real-time.