In the oil industry, the goods and the fuel are the same thing, so every liter of discrepancy has a cost and has to be explained. On top of that come stricter safety obligations than in ordinary transport. PratiMe tracks the quantity in the tank, the place and time of every transfer, and the vehicle's position on the route, so a shortage stops being an unresolvable line item in the paperwork.
Probes in the chambers require careful calibration per chamber and per tank type, because chamber geometry affects the relationship between level and volume. It is a job done once, but its quality determines whether the data will later be usable in a dispute with a customer. The solution relies on measurement in the chambers, so the data exists before a customer even reports a shortage.
Control of the quantity in the tank
Measuring in the tank's chambers tracks the level throughout the whole run, not just at departure and arrival. Every fill and every discharge is recorded with quantity, time and place, so the difference between the quantity dispatched and the quantity delivered is visible right away, not at the end of the month.
What is recorded:
- the level in the chambers throughout the whole run
- every fill, with quantity and place
- every discharge and who it was delivered to
- a transfer at a location that was not planned
Proof of the quantity delivered
Customer complaints about shortages are most often settled with no objective data at all. When there is a record of how much was poured out, at the exact location and at the exact time, the complaint is closed with data, not negotiation.
Every delivery comes with:
- the quantity poured out at the customer's location
- the start and end time of the transfer
- confirmation that the vehicle was at the customer's address
- a report that is attached to the delivery note
Safety and prescribed transport conditions
Transporting hazardous materials carries obligations that do not stop at documentation. A deviation from the intended route, a long stop at an unplanned location, or opening a valve at the wrong location are events the dispatcher needs to know about immediately.
A notification arrives for:
- deviation from the intended route
- stops outside the planned points
- a transfer outside the customer's location
- entry into a zone that is off-limits for the vehicle
Routes, zones and delivery planning
Tankers are expensive to run empty, and the delivery schedule changes throughout the day. An overview of every vehicle's position along with the state of the chambers lets you assign the next delivery to the vehicle that is closest and that still carries enough product.
The dispatcher can see at any moment:
- where each vehicle is and how much product it is carrying
- which deliveries have been completed and which are still pending
- the expected arrival time at the next address
- kilometers traveled and consumption per run
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is measurement in tank chambers?
Accuracy depends on the calibration per chamber and on the geometry of the tank. Calibration is done once at installation, and its quality determines how usable the data is later in a claim.
How is it proven how much was poured out at a customer's site?
The quantity, the start and end time of the transfer, and the vehicle's position are recorded. This also confirms that the vehicle was at the customer's address at that moment.
Is a notification received for a transfer at an unplanned location?
Yes. A transfer outside the intended location, a deviation from the route and a longer stop at an unplanned point are all reported immediately.
Does the system help with the transport of hazardous materials?
It helps with route and zone monitoring. The system does not replace ADR documentation and training, but it provides a record that the prescribed transport conditions were respected.
