TruckandTrackSpring2020

Truck and Track Spring 2020 www.truckandtrack.com 42 FUEL MANAGEMENT Fuel is the driving force behind every business that relies on a fleet. With the cost of fuel being an ever-increasing concern for business owners, it is essential to have high-quality accurate fuel pumps and fuel management systems in place. This could not only help to cut down your fuel costs by giving you the vital data you will need to make changes but may also benefit the environment and help to eliminate the risk of fuel theft to your business. The price of a product will always impact someone’s decision to purchase, but many other factors with fuel management systems should be considered. Of course, the mechanics of the fuel pump must be of the highest quality and the software used to report the data is the best around, but what about the hardware and components in-between that allow the pump and the software to work in harmony? When assessing the quality, robustness, and reliability of your equipment, there are a few key points to consider. How robust is the cabinet or housing? Poorly constructed cabinets that are not adequately weather- protected may ultimately lead to system failure. A top-grade cabinet that has been properly constructed will offer a high degree of protection from all the elements, not just wind, rain, and snow but other extremes such as high temperatures and the effects of prolonged exposure to the sun. Such protection should ensure that your fuel management system can serve your fleet for many years. Can it be accessed easily for servicing? Cabinets should be large enough to contain all the electronics needed and designed to enable full accessibility when being serviced. The most ideal units carry the high voltage components safely within a separate internal cabinet or behind screens to protect the components and to prevent accidents. Although compact designs may sometimes look appealing, in practice they may prevent simple repair or service work from being carried out, which may shorten the life of your system. Should there be a bypass switch? Bypass switches enable the operator to transfer power directly to the pump should the worst happen, and the fuel management system fails. Most systems now have this ability but not all will continue to record data each time the pump activated using the bypass. It may be vital to have a bypass switch installed but that Choosing the right fuel management hardware