Major Argentinian freight company ensures automated documentation of fueling processes with HID Global’s identiFUEL™
With more than 800 own and contracted trucks in operation, freight company Cruz del Sur delivers goods from Buenos Aires to customers all over Argentina. All trucks have at least two tanks to cover long distances and refuel centrally at the Cruz del Sur Headquarters located in Buenos Aires.
Pump Control is a 25-year-old company devoted to designing and manufacturing fleet-control systems. During many years tags and readers were company made, but HID Global’s identiFUEL™ offer made Pump Control choose to focus on dispenser control and software and utilize the RFID vehicle identification from HID Global to increase their development speed and reduce overall costs.
Challenges
The prime goal was to automate all documentation related to the fueling of authorized trucks. Human documentation errors should be avoided and the speed of the overall fueling process should be improved.
It was essential to find a rugged solution that inflicted no delays to the operation and required minimum instructions for those in charge of fueling the trucks. Since fueling takes place 24x7, any extra steps and extra time was a deal breaker.
Another issue was placing tags on a wide range of tank inlets. Each truck has 2-3 different tanks and many different models of trucks needed to be supported. It had to be possible to retro-fit existing fueling stations.
Solution
Combining HID’s readers and tags with Pump Control’s fleet management system provided Cruz del Sur a complete dependable solution. Pump Control’s Fleet-Online offer has moved from wired readers to a new wireless era, providing customers like Cruz del Sur enhanced flexibility that meets all the challenges faced on the field.
Pump Control chose HID identiFUEL™, because it is a reliable solution that provided wireless readers that minimize damage or breakage and are very easily replaced when batteries reach end of life. Custom RFID tag fixations were designed to accommodate different types of tanks.
Another factor was the constant evolution of the RFID technology. For example, all types of tanks are fueled by the same hose, making it almost impossible to make the nozzle stay on a fixed position to ensure tag reading. The newly designed identiFUEL™ Nozzle reader overcame this issue and provided a 360° reading of the RFID tag fixed to the tank.
“People at the forecourt didn´t have to change their routine at all, making the transition to the HID identiFUEL™ system seamless.”
Readers are the first thing users see when they interact with our system and we feel confident that identiFUEL™ leaves a good impression. At the same time, they are highly durable to withstand the rough handling at fueling stations of trucks.
Results
All 800+ trucks and 20+ fueling stations have been equipped with identiFUEL™ Vehicle tags and nozzle units in 2018. The software has been developed by Pump Control allowing detailed reports of fueling events and remote access to tank and status information via mobile APP. The avoidance of paperwork has reduced the time a truck stays at the station to the pure refueling time, thus reducing waiting queues and increasing staff satisfaction.