Should fuel theft devices be made standard on HGVs?
Fuel theft continues to be a major issue for the UK haulage and logistics industry – it’s estimated to cost the UK economy around £10 billion every year. And that’s just the big-picture figures. For individual businesses, the financial impact can be even more acute, often resulting a severe impact on their bottom line. Not only is there the immediate cost of the lost fuel to deal with, but it can also result in more indirect financial consequences further down the line too, such as raised insurance premiums.
Now, here at TankSafe, we’re committed to helping you avoid these types of unnecessary costs. In fact, we’ve developed our TankSafe Optimum solution specifically with that in mind. But with fuel theft such a widespread issue (and stats showing that the majority tends to involve a company’s own employees), that raises the question – should fuel theft devices be made standard on all HGVs?
What are the benefits of installing fuel theft devices?
OK, so let’s start at the beginning. As we touched on above, the vast majority of fuel theft (up to 99%) tends to be committed by company employees, rather than dramatic thefts by criminal gangs. Only in very rare instances are large amounts of fuel stolen at once. Instead, a far more common situation involves company employees “skimming” a little bit of fuel off the top each time they fill up. In other words, it’s done little and often – and that’s what often makes it very hard to detect.
Lots of people who do it see it as a ‘victimless crime’, or frequently not even a crime at all. By the same token, most perpetrators would be deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being considered doing anything actually regarded as criminal. So in that sense, the upside is that once skimming has been detected, sometimes deterrent is relatively easy. In other words, even the presence of a fuel theft device is often enough to stop people from trying.
Even in the case of more determined fuel thieves though, fuel theft prevention devices can prove particularly difficult to bypass – especially ours here at TankSafe, which employs a patented mechanism to close off access to the supply once the tank has been filled.
As well as their physical resistance, our fuel theft devices can provide more indirect benefits too – for example, insurance companies often offer discounts to operators who invest in such security measures, leading to potential savings that can offset the initial costs. Enhanced security can also contribute to operational efficiency by minimising disruptions.
So should we make fuel theft devices standard? The case in favour
As you might expect, there’s a strong argument for making fuel theft devices a standard feature on all HGVs. This approach could offer several significant advantages:
Uniform security measures: Making fuel theft devices standard can help to ensure that all HGVs are equipped with a baseline level of security. This uniformity would make it more difficult for thieves to find easy targets, as every vehicle would have similar protective features. The standardisation could significantly reduce the appeal of HGVs as targets, potentially even leading to fewer thefts overall.
Simplified regulatory compliance: Implementing a standard requirement for these devices would streamline the regulatory framework for both vehicle manufacturers and operators. Manufacturers could focus on producing devices that meet a single set of standards, while operators would benefit from a clear and consistent compliance requirement. This could reduce administrative burdens and facilitate smoother implementation of security measures.
Enhanced deterrent effect: The widespread adoption of fuel theft devices would create a stronger deterrent effect, as we’ve already covered above. If thieves know that all HGVs are equipped with advanced security systems, the risk of being caught and the effort required to bypass such systems would likely outweigh the potential gains. This broader application of security measures could deter theft attempts more effectively than isolated instances of protection.
Peace of mind: Standardising fuel theft devices could in theory provide operators with universal peace of mind, helping them to feel confident that their assets are safeguarded against theft. That’s invaluable in the long-term, allowing operators to focus on their core business activities without worrying about security breaches.
So are there any challenges with the idea?
Realistically yes, there are a couple – just as there often is with the universal rollout of any new type of technology. However, that’s not to say they’ll be perennial problems – a couple may just be mere teething issues at first. Here are some of the most crucial considerations.
Cost implications. The cost of individual fuel theft devices is rarely an issue, and the long-term security and peace of mind they provide is often worth a lot of money to customers! However, there’s a good reason that operators who want to outfit their entire fleets often have to take a staged approach, especially for smaller operators or those with older fleets. The costs can increase exponentially with fleet rollouts – which isn’t so much of an issue when operators are implementing it at their own pace, but making it compulsory could result in unnecessarily high up-front costs for certain operators.
Compatibility with existing vehicles: Retrofitting existing HGVs with fuel theft devices may present technical and logistical challenges. Older vehicles might require modifications to accommodate new security equipment, which could be both costly and time-consuming. Ensuring that devices are compatible with a wide range of vehicle models and ages is crucial for a smooth implementation process.
Variable effectiveness. In short, not all fuel prevention devices are made equal. At TankSafe we’ve worked hard to develop highly-effective, top-of-the-line solutions, but as we’ve detailed elsewhere, some older and / or cheaper devices can present issues that undercut their effectiveness, such as weak bases or excessively large holes. This level of variance between models means that while some fleets might see a significant reduction in theft, others may not experience the same level of benefit – potentially negating the impact of standardisation in the first place.
So what’s the answer? Should they be standardised?
Well, as ever with these things, there isn’t really an objectively true yes / no response – you’ll probably hear a lot of different answers from different business owners, depending on their own individual views and circumstances. Ultimately, it’s too soon to tell whether it’s an idea that we may see become law later down the line.
The good news, though, is that fuel prevention devices don’t need to be legally mandated in order to start providing you and your fleet with powerful benefits – and with all our years of experience here at TankSafe, we know that better than anyone. We’ve helped countless businesses protect their fuel with TankSafe Optimum, enabling them to effectively prevent 100% of fuel theft.
You can read more about how TankSafe Optimum works, or don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team here at TankSafe 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!