Merridale helps DP World tighten fuel control

The UK branch of DP World has explained how the need for stricter vehicle and driver authentication for refuelling was instrumental in its system upgrades with Merridale.

The global logistics provider, which has a proud history of humble beginnings in 1972 as a port operator in Dubai, now has operations in over 69 countries and spans every continent.

DP World is an integral part of the supply chain, moving 10 per cent of global trade through a seamless, interconnected global network of ports and terminals, economic and free zones, logistics hubs, and marine services.

As part of the upgrades at its UK sites in Southampton and London Gateway, which employ over 800 staff and contractors and use a fleet of over 200 vehicles, DP World chose to install the Merridale MX – I integral system with dual authentication as well as the MX – T tank management system.

“With dual authentication, people now must identify themselves with a Datatag and ID badge rather than just a Datakey,” explained engineering manager David Bowers.

“This has allowed us stricter control over who is fuelling up which vehicle and where. This has also helped tighten up reporting across all our sites, which has been very good!

“Previously, we had unreliable data caused by drivers swapping keys when they’ve misplaced or damaged theirs, for example, so we required a better method of authentication.

Merridale says its Datakeys are highly reliable, but that for extreme environments, contactless identifiers are sometimes preferred.

Merridale Datatags provide a contactless alternative to datakeys and can be programmed with ease. For a sturdier solution to data transfer, Merridale also offers a vLink direct fuel management system to vehicle solution.

Since its introduction to the market in 2013, Merridale’s vLink system has become more and more popular with fleet operators, the fueling specialist reports.

Developed in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton as part of a government-sponsored Knowledge Transfer Programme, the vLink is a rugged snap-on and quick-release communications cable which enables the fuelling point to automatically authenticate the vehicle being refuelled.

Designed to speed up depot fuelling, the vLink system consists of a reader unit on an umbilical communication cable that reads the vehicle ID from a contact plate attached to the vehicle.

When used as an alternative to data tags, it offers a more robust option for use with dedicated fleet vehicles in harsher working conditions. Where a fleet vehicle can’t be fitted with a contact plate, the system can be used in conjunction with a handheld proximity data tag.

DP World also uses Merridale’s advanced web-based platform, FuelWorks, as part of its fuel management system.

Designed in-house by Merridale after many years’ consultation with fleet operators, the software allows users to monitor fuel usage and efficiency, show stock and predict restocking requirements, and evaluate environmental impacts, therefore, enabling users to adhere to FORS reporting standards.

“We have integrated Merridale’s systems into our own with ease, to further enhance our stock monitoring and reporting, and the API that Merridale developed to enable us to do that was quite neat,” David added.