Why refrigerated trailers are increasingly targeted for diesel theft
It’s no secret that HGVs are often targeted in fuel theft incidents – and while the idea of organised gangs attacking them in the dead of night is not unheard of, it’s actually relatively rare. Instead, the far more common type of fuel theft involves skimming, which is when small amounts of fuel are taken little and often, normally by the company’s own employees.
However, while all HGVs are potentially targets, refrigerated trailers can sometimes be particularly at risk, especially if they’re transporting valuable cargo like pharmaceuticals, and other high-value perishable items. These trailers often hold significant volumes of diesel to power both the vehicle and its refrigeration system, which can make refrigerated trailers particularly exposed to incidents of diesel theft. Here, our experts at TankSafe examine the situation in a little more detail.
How diesel theft can affect your operations
Let’s start by covering the essentials. Fuel theft can place a major strain your budget – it can actually affect the way your business runs. Some of the most pivotal consequences include:
Increased fuel replacement costs
Disruption to deliveries and refrigeration performance
Strain on customer relationships and supply chain operations
Direct financial losses are obviously the clearest risk. Fuel already represents one of the largest costs in operating a refrigerated fleet, and replacing stolen fuel can add to that burden. If theft affects several trailers, or you find yourself dealing with repeated instances of it, that can have a major impact on your bottom line. This can be particularly problematic if your business operates on tight margins, where unexpected costs can destabilise financial planning.
The operational impact can also be significant. If one of your refrigerated trailers loses a major amount of diesel, it may not complete its scheduled journey or maintain the required temperature for its load. This can result in the spoiling of perishable goods, missed delivery slots, and additional time and expense spent rescheduling journeys – and again, if the cargo is particularly valuable, that can be a huge problem.
In some cases, incidents like these can start to damage your relationships with certain customer if several deliveries fail to meet expectations. Over time, the disruption caused by diesel theft can ripple across your entire supply chain, making it harder to keep operations running smoothly.
Common methods used in diesel theft incidents
Lots of fuel theft incidents often follow recognisable patterns that exploit how refrigerated trailers are stored and accessed. These can include:
Siphoning fuel from tanks using hoses and containers
Tampering with filler caps, breather pipes, or fuel lines
Targeting trailers in poorly lit or unsecured storage areas
Diesel theft can take place when trailers are parked for long periods in locations with minimal supervision. As we’ve briefly covered above, one of the most common methods involves “skimming” – in other words, siphoning fuel directly from the tanks using hoses and containers. This method can be carried out quickly, and signs of interference are not always immediately obvious. Tampering with filler caps, breather pipes, or fuel lines is also common, allowing access without creating visible damage that might alert drivers or staff during routine checks. (Our TankSafe Optimum is specifically designed to tackle that very issue, but we’ll cover more on that in a moment!)
And yes, there can also be instances where organised groups use more deliberate methods. These may include targeting trailers stored in unmonitored yards or parking areas with poor lighting, making it easier to gain access unnoticed. In some cases, perpetrators may bring equipment or modified vehicles that enable them to remove large amounts of fuel in one attempt. These approaches can create substantial losses in a single incident, particularly if you’re managing multiple trailers in the same location.
Useful measures you can take to protect your fuel
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways that you can protect the fuel in your refrigerated trailers. Some of the most effective methods include:
Install secure fuel caps, locks, and tamper-evident seals
Improve security in storage areas with cameras, lighting, and access control
Focus on staff training for carrying out inspections
Use telematics for fuel monitoring
So, let’s start with site layout. Your company can enhance security in storage and parking areas to reduce opportunities for theft. You may want to consider measures such as installing surveillance cameras, ensuring adequate lighting, and using fencing or controlled access points, as these can make it harder for fuel theft to take place.
It’s also worth refocusing on the training you provide your team, so that they can perform regular inspections of tanks and monitor for signs of tampering, ensuring that potential problems are identified before they escalate. And in terms of additional technology, you may want to think about elements like telematics systems, which can be fitted to monitor fuel levels in real time, giving you instant alerts if there is an unexpected drop.
Of course, one of the key measures you’ll want to consider has been proven to be one of the most effective at tackling skimming – and that’s where our very own very own TankSafe Optimum can help. It’s the only security device that can offer you 3 in 1 protection by saving you from fuel spills, overfilling, and making your vehicles 100% immune to fuel theft. Our product range is protected by 45 patents covering 49 territories worldwide, so rest assured you won’t find a more efficient and reliable source of protection anywhere else.
If you have any questions regarding any of our products, or you simply need some advice, feel free to head over to our FAQs page, where we answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding our products and services. However, if it doesn’t address your queries, you can give us a call on 01253 400 401, and we’ll be happy to help however we can!