Remote Tank Monitoring Supports Better Decision-Making and Operational Efficiency

by Ed Burke and Kelly Burke, Dennis K. Burke Inc.

Integrated monitoring offer benefits to fuel dealers and customers

Recent advancements in oil tank monitoring systems have significantly enhanced their accuracy, efficiency, and integration capabilities.

Like many fuel dealers, our business relies on remote tank monitoring systems in our daily operations. We have been monitoring fuel, lubricants and DEF for over 15 years now. The equipment is installed and maintained by our own factory-trained service technicians.

The newer monitoring devices have gotten more reliable. Modern devices are designed with rugged casings and fully encapsulated electronics to withstand extreme weather conditions, ensuring continuous operation even in harsh environments. This durability is crucial for maintaining data accuracy and system
reliability.

The adoption of technologies like Guided Wave Radar (GWR) has improved measurement accuracy and reliability. GWR allows for automated, real-time monitoring of fluid levels, enhancing inventory management.

A Real Convenience

The big value for customers is that they do not have to worry about ordering fuel or run outs anymore. It also eliminates manual tank gauging. For the guy who manages the fuel, tank monitoring makes his job a lot easier. He can go online to check the usage from anywhere and anytime, with far more usage data than his own tank equipment provides. And he finally gets to relax when he goes away on vacation.

Once we get a monitor on an account, we are able to blend into the background of the customer’s daily operations. They do not have to worry about checking tanks or ordering fuel. We just show up with fuel and they never run out.

Modern systems employ IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to provide real-time data on tank levels, temperature, and pressure. These sensors transmit information wirelessly to centralized platforms, enabling remote monitoring and management. This integration enhances operational efficiency and safety by allowing continuous oversight without the need for physical inspections.

Customers can access tank data through a secure, password-protected website that can be accessed from virtually anywhere. They can view data that would include tank level information, product usage, fill history, etc. At the end of the day, it is all about improving our service and providing a better experience for our customers.

Real-Time Tank Insight

There is a big plus side for the fuel dealer too. With real-time data from the tanks, we can plan delivery schedules and routes more efficiently. We make fewer partial fills and end up with fewer retains.

The online screens are very user-friendly, and you get some great reports to work with. They tell you what product is in the tank, the product temperature, and other characteristics. It shows you how many gallons per day they are using, as well as the daily usage for the seven-day and a 35-day period. You can also view if your deliveries are hitting the tank’s delivery size target.

Many systems now feature cloud connectivity, allowing for real-time alerts, mobile access, and comprehensive data analytics. This integration supports better decision-making and operational efficiency by providing accessible and actionable insights.

AI-driven platforms analyze usage patterns to optimize refill schedules, reducing operational costs. By understanding individual tank behaviors, these systems can predict maintenance needs and prevent potential issues before they arise.

We typically have most of our tanks report twice a day. The morning dispatchers get a chance to review the tank levels, and they are checked again when the night dispatchers come in. For us, that is enough to get a good feeling for volume and how much product the customer is going through, or it there is a spike in usage.

There are some tanks where the usage is much higher and requires closer monitoring. We might have them report five or six times a day, depending on their volume and how fast they are going through product.

Same Gallons - Fewer Trips

Utilizing the data from tank monitoring, we can deliver the same gallons with fewer trips to the site. With time-based deliveries, we would typically be filling the tank at about 50 percent of capacity. Using remote tank monitoring, we average closer to 75 percent fills with fewer deliveries. That reduces overall delivery costs with less paperwork, and fewer phone calls too.

Additionally, dispatchers can use accurate tank data to better schedule and optimize deliveries to the customer’s site. Our delivery vehicle brings the right amount of product at the right time.

Fewer Product Retains

Tank monitoring data gives dispatchers a much more accurate view of how much product to load up at the rack and avoid retains. It is also a great tool when you are trying to deal with product retains left on the truck. Our dispatchers can go on the screen and type in the product and vicinity, and it will come back with accounts in that area that can use that product.

Bad Weather Ahead

When storms are approaching, tank monitoring helps us get an early jump on preparations. We can plan deliveries earlier, so we can handle the true emergencies on the day before the storm. It is also worth noting that the unit continues to transmit data to the website during power outages.

Better Gear – Better Tech

These tank monitoring improvements all contribute to more efficient and cost-effective management of our oil storage tanks and delivery vehicles.

Ed and Kelly Burke are respectively Chairman of the Board and Senior Marketing Manager at fuel distributor Dennis K. Burke Inc.They can be reached at 617-884-7800 or ed.burke@burkeoil.com and kelly.burke@burkeoil.com.

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