How helpful are telematics in preventing fuel theft?

As we’ve often covered here at TankSafe, fuel theft remains a persistent and costly problem for commercial fleets across the UK. Whether it's fuel being siphoned directly from tanks, skimmed during refuelling stops, or misused by staff, it’s a problem with a significant financial and operational impact.

Now, with rising fuel costs and growing pressure on margins, plenty of fleet managers are looking for smart, responsive ways to protect their resources. One of the most effective ways, of course, is through the use of fuel security devices like our very own TankSafe Optimum. As you may well know though, security systems tend to work best when they’re deployed as part of a co-ordinated solution, so telematics is another common option that’s being increasingly explored – not just for improving efficiency, but also for detecting and deterring theft before it spirals out of control.

So then… is it worth it for your fleet?

Telematics can reveal greater insights about fuel usage


The exact capabilities of different telematics systems vary depending on the specific solution being explored. As a general rule though, they can provide deep visibility into how fuel is being used across a fleet. They monitor tank levels, record refuelling events, track overall consumption, and flag inefficiencies – all of which can help you to establish clear benchmarks. If an HGV’s fuel usage suddenly deviates from the norm without any justifiable reason, it may suggest something suspicious is happening.

Take, for example, a long-haul lorry regularly running the same regional delivery route. If fuel consumption suddenly increases despite no added weight or change in mileage, that shift might signal unauthorised fuel removal. Some platforms match fuel card transactions to the HGV’s GPS location and timestamps – making it easier to verify whether a refuelling stop happened as recorded or if the fuel was drawn elsewhere.

Data on driver behaviour can uncover fuel misuse


Driver conduct plays a role in both deterring and detecting fuel-related issues. Telematics systems monitor actions such as excessive idling, long unauthorised breaks, engine use during rest periods, or stop-start behaviour near laybys. These patterns may indicate improper use of the HGV or opportunities being taken to siphon fuel unnoticed.

In a fleet environment where multiple drivers may operate the same unit, behaviour data creates accountability. If one lorry consistently shows higher-than-average fuel loss compared to others on similar routes, and it's tied to a particular shift pattern or driver, that generally constitutes a red flag worth investigating. Knowing this data is visible tends to reduce casual misuse across the board.

Fuel theft alerts can expose suspicious activity


Telematics platforms often include real-time alert functions designed to detect abnormal fuel events. For HGV fleets, this could include sudden drops in diesel levels while the lorry is stationary, or refuelling events taking place outside of authorised depot sites or partner fuelling stations.

If an alert comes through at 3 a.m. showing 100 litres disappearing from a parked HGV, that can effectively give you the opportunity to act immediately. Alerts may also be triggered when refuelling volumes don’t match the expected usage based on mileage and load, or when fuel card data doesn’t align with the HGV’s logged location. Obviously, these systems don’t stop theft on their own, but they make it much harder for theft to go unnoticed. (If you do suspect one of your team of taking fuel, we’d recommend reading our piece on how to talk to an employee about it.)

This isn’t an exhaustive list of the potential applications for telematics – but they may be able to provide a useful foothold for getting started. In fact, 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.

As we touched on above, it features a patented design that we’ve specifically developed in-house here at TankSafe, with a clever locking valve mechanism that prevents the tank being over-filled or “brimmed”. This isolates the fuel in the tank, therefore effectively preventing any skimming, siphoning or spillage. It’s an excellent way to secure your fuel in the short term while you gradually build up additional security measures that can help catch perpetrators in the act.

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!