Tuffa tank and FMS ‘saves JJC thousands’
A new onsite diesel refuelling installation by fuel storage solutions specialist Tuffa is reportedly yielding significant savings for Cumbrian operator JJC Skip Hire.
Michael Cronje is the transport manager at JJC Skip Hire and the man responsible for keeping the fleet of 25 skip wagons and a smaller force of road sweepers fully fuelled at the lowest possible price.
Each skip wagon weighs eight tonnes alone and up to 24 tonnes when carrying a full load, making overall fuel consumption significant. Michael estimates that JJC Skip Hire’s wagons and road sweepers use nearly 20,000 litres of fuel per fortnight, meaning even a small reduction of just four pence per litre quickly equates to savings of around £800 every two weeks.
A planned move of premises from two separate yards to a single larger yard gave the skip hire provider the opportunity needed to rethink how the fleet was refuelled.
Previously, the drivers were issued with fuel cards. While the cards shaved a few pence off the RRP price it still meant the drivers made frequent stops to expensive forecourts, often making inefficient diversions from their route while carrying extra weight.
After making price enquiries with a local fuel supplier, Michael decided that onsite diesel storage and dispensing complete with fuel management was the right solution for the company’s requirements.
With two sites compacted into one, there was a tight site plan, and it was decided that a 20,000 litre steel diesel dispensing tank (enough to fuel the fleet for two weeks before being resupplied) was the best compromise between storing enough fuel and maintaining a small footprint. Michael opted to source the tank from Tuffa.
“Tuffa came up trumps after offering a higher specification at a decent price,” he explained.
“We chose Tuffa’s 20,000 litre tank as it was fully bunded and made with 6mm thick steel making it extra safe. We also specified the fuel management system to increase overall security with an electronic tag to identify individual drivers.
“However, the main advantage of the fuel management system for us was that it would automatically send a notification to the fuel suppliers – for example, when the fuel level is down to 3,000 litres. This removes the need for manual input and human error so that we never run out of fuel.”
As well as supplying and fitting the Piusi MC Box Fuel Management System, Tuffa organised for Michael to receive training on the fleet management software, which enables him to monitor the tank fuel levels, as well as identifying driver and vehicle fuel consumption so further fuel-saving initiatives can be implemented.
Other optional extras requested by JJC Skip Hire includes a K44 pulsed meter (required for use with the fuel management system), a higher flow rate to save on time filling, and a 10 metre-long hose so multiple drivers can park for a fill simultaneously.
The 10 micron water and particulate filter and the high-security cabinet with roller shutter door (which safely houses the ancillary equipment) came as standard.
Michael added: “Before we purchased the Tuffa tank our drivers had Shell cards and were frequently diverting to busy and expensive forecourts. Having a tank in the yard is much more convenient and with the fuel savings, we expect the tank to pay for itself after just one year.
“The service from Tuffa was great; I dealt with Dee [Tuffa senior sales] throughout; she always responded quickly and professionally to my questions. We went with Tuffa for the price, but we received the service to accompany it.”
Complete with 10-year guarantee, JJC Skip Hire’s new diesel dispensing tank will be a long-term and extremely valuable investment for the company, says Tuffa.
At the current rate of fuel consumption, the MC Box Fuel Management System will track over one million litres of diesel dispensed within the next few years. The reduced fuel costs alone will save the skip company tens of thousands of pounds, while the data interpreted by the fleet management software will help Michael to continuously improve fuel efficiency.
Tuffa’s diesel tanks have a 30-year design life, the firm adds, and are also compatible with sustainable biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), to assist fleets in meeting emission targets.
