How fuel theft has changed – and what to do about it
We’ve been in this business a long time now here at TankSafe, and overall our years in business, we’ve seen how fuel security has transformed as an issue. In recent years especially, rising fuel prices, changes in legislation, and shifts in day-to-day operations have all played a part in how fuel loss happens – and how companies respond.
While the underlying issue isn’t new, the landscape has evolved, with technology, economics and risk management now playing a much larger role. (We’ve made sure to keep pace with the times too, which is exactly how our TankSafe Optimum came to be.)
So today, we thought we’d take a moment to take a quick look at how the situation has changed, as well as some of the associated implications – and what you can do about them.
How fuel loss has evolved over time
While large-scale fuel loss incidents can be quite frightening (especially if organised crime is involved), you’ll be pleased to know that this kind of incident remains the exception. Instead, most fuel theft happens incrementally through a process called skimming, which is when fuel is taken little and often – typically by company employees. Because it happens gradually over a long period of time, it can be very difficult to detect, but can easily end up costing tens of thousands a year. In recent years, it’s become more of a concern than ever, largely due to a couple of key economic factors.
The first major shift came with the sharp and sustained rise in fuel prices, particularly diesel. Global supply issues, political uncertainty, and demand surges following the pandemic were all major contributory factors. Average diesel prices in the UK reached record highs in 2022, and though they’ve stabilised a bit since then, they remain broadly unpredictable – and that’s made diesel more attractive to people for skimming.
The second major development was the removal of red diesel eligibility for most commercial sectors in April 2022. Previously, many operators used red diesel for non-road machinery and equipment, which carried a lower tax rate and included a visible red dye. With this option removed for logistics and transport firms, white diesel is now used across far more areas of operation. This change means fuel stored on-site is now identical to road diesel, which increases the chance of it being used without permission.
A third important change has come from increased demand on driver hours and tighter delivery windows, leading many fleets to rely more heavily on lay-bys, industrial estates, and unsupervised areas for overnight parking. These locations often lack lighting, monitoring, or physical security, which can increase the chance of exposure during rest periods. Drivers are understandably often worried about it too, as we’ve covered here on the blog before.
The key factors that influence how fuel goes missing
Unattended lorries parked in low-visibility or insecure areas
Storage tanks without robust access control or monitoring
Gaps in fuel card policy or reporting
Lack of tank-level visibility or alerting
Insufficient audit trails for fuel usage
There’s no single explanation for fuel loss across fleets. Often, it’s a combination of several factors working together. Higher volumes of fuel being stored on premises or in tanks create more opportunity. Busy operational schedules can result in less time available for thorough checks. Fuel cards, if not monitored carefully, can be misused – intentionally or accidentally. In some cases, access to parked lorries happens when no one is present, particularly overnight or in poorly lit areas.
Tank access is one area where risks are often underestimated. Lorries parked in seemingly low-risk areas can still be accessed quickly when there is no anti-siphon protection in place. In some cases, fuel is taken by removing locking caps or drilling directly into the tank. This causes further damage and leads to increased downtime. Storage tanks in depots may also be exposed, especially when fencing, lighting or monitoring are not consistently applied.
Gaps in reporting or fuel tracking can also make it harder to detect small, repeated losses. Without visibility over who is using what – and where – it becomes easier for discrepancies to go unnoticed over time.
A quick overview of approaches that now lead to better prevention
Anti-siphon devices are a straightforward but highly effective measure – as we know ourselves here at TankSafe! Essentially, their main function is to prevent the ability to draw fuel once it’s been filled, so that you can have peace of mind about any unauthorised access to tanks – especially where lorries are left unattended overnight.
Telematics has also played a significant role in prevention. Systems that monitor fuel levels in real time can play a useful role in providing alerts if there’s an unexpected drop in fuel – either while the engine is off or in motion. Telematics data supports the detection of live incidents and helps highlight patterns over time, including unexpected consumption on certain routes or repeated issues at specific locations.
Surveillance tools such as motion-triggered cameras, site lighting, and live CCTV feeds can all offer extra reassurance, particularly for depots or parking areas. Some businesses also use fuel marking agents to tag their diesel, making it identifiable if recovered or tested.
Fuel card controls have become more sophisticated in recent years, with some systems enabling strict driver and lorry matching, transaction limits, and real-time alerts. Regular audits used in combination with these systems can help to reduce the chance of discrepancies being missed.
Storage security upgrades – including fencing, locked access points, and controlled dispensing – are all ideal for reducing exposure at the depot level, where large volumes of fuel are stored.
What can today’s fleets do to stay ahead?
Practical steps can go a long way towards reducing exposure, as you may already know if you’re a regular reader of our blog. A useful starting point is to review parking arrangements to favour secure or well-monitored locations. If your business operates multiple sites, carrying out a simple risk review of storage areas can help you work out the best areas to focus on – for example, potentially on fencing, lighting, and access control where it is most effective.
Staff engagement also plays a vital role. Simple measures such as clear fuelling procedures, regular audits, and reporting channels for irregularities can all support a culture of shared responsibility, and that in itself can go a long way to helping make skimming socially unacceptable. (In many cases, peer pressure is enough to prevent it entirely.) Fuel card usage becomes easier to manage when staff know it is being actively reviewed and cross-checked.
And of course, visibility is what brings all these elements together. When you’ve got reliable, real-time data on fuel usage, site access, and fleet movement, that puts you in a better position to act earlier and more decisively.
If you’re one of the many businesses currently building up your own security system, there’s one easy way to effectively secure your fuel – and that’s TankSafe Optimum. It features a patented design that we’ve developed ourselves here at TankSafe, with a clever locking valve mechanism that prevents the tank being over-filled or “brimmed”.
What this does is isolate the fuel in the tank, therefore effectively preventing any skimming, siphoning or spillage. You can read more about how TankSafe Optimum works, or don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team if you have any further questions about the best ways to protect your fuel in 2024. Give us a quick call on 01253 400 401, and we'll be happy to help however we can!