Diesel Fuel Theft: The Trend of Price and Theft Incidence
The importance of oil Oil has been used since ancient times, first being used as a tool of war and first documented by the ancient traveler Herodotus in 500BC as being taken from pits nearby Babylon and has been used for thousands of years to heat houses and as a lubricant.
It was always a highly sought after commodity, but after the internal combustion engine was invented in 1895 and the production of motorized vehicles did the demand and therefore, the price of oil skyrocket.
Since this time, there has been a worldwide search to extract as much oil in as many different forms as possible to eventually refine into the diesel fuel that supplies the energy that powers our inter-modal logistical supply chain and provides the means from which modern society can keep itself supplied and functioning.
With any commodity that is rare and in demand, there is inherent volatility.
With normal commodities such as coal or hay, both the supply and demand remain relatively stable, thereby keeping prices fluctuating within expected ranges.
Oil is much more complicated.
In the book, "The Color of Oil", by Micheal Economides and Ronald Oligney, the authors seek to explain the allure and volatility of oil.
Three things that stand out are:
These factors have all contributed in 2010-2011 to a 36% increase in diesel fuel prices in the United Kingdom, while worldwide, the trend in developed countries stays much the same.
Diesel fuel theft A technology that is of great importance to all of us is the truck, HGV, lorry or tractor-trailer.
This vehicle burns diesel to supply our stores with food and finished goods that we all enjoy.
There is a distinct necessity in safeguarding these trucks from diesel fuel theft.
With transport companies existing on tight budgets and the price of fuel directly impacting their bottom line, there is not much wiggle room for fuel to be expended wastefully or stolen.
Directly related to fuel prices are the increasing incidences of fuel theft related crimes.
The Road Haulage Association in the UK keeps track of fuel theft statistics (the police seem to overlook this crime) and have reported a 50% jump in diesel fuel thefts in 2010, furthermore, after another RHA study found that out of 150 hauliers surveyed about whether they have suffered from fuel theft, over two-thirds reported losing diesel to thievery.
If a full tank of fuel costs around 2000 euros, the losses can be great.
Preventing diesel theft with telematics Fleet managers are looking for solutions to this ever-present risk.
Most intelligently use locking-gas caps and anti-siphon devices to deter thieves, but just as Jed Clampett (Beverly Hillbillies tie-in) punctured the ground with an errant rifle slug, the thief will simply puncture your tank or cut your fuel valve, adding costly repairs to the already significant loss of fuel.
It was always a highly sought after commodity, but after the internal combustion engine was invented in 1895 and the production of motorized vehicles did the demand and therefore, the price of oil skyrocket.
Since this time, there has been a worldwide search to extract as much oil in as many different forms as possible to eventually refine into the diesel fuel that supplies the energy that powers our inter-modal logistical supply chain and provides the means from which modern society can keep itself supplied and functioning.
With any commodity that is rare and in demand, there is inherent volatility.
With normal commodities such as coal or hay, both the supply and demand remain relatively stable, thereby keeping prices fluctuating within expected ranges.
Oil is much more complicated.
In the book, "The Color of Oil", by Micheal Economides and Ronald Oligney, the authors seek to explain the allure and volatility of oil.
Three things that stand out are:
- Firstly, oil is a finite resource and the existing levels of production will not be able to meet demand in the near future.
Also, new sources of oil are harder to find and more complicated to extract, leading to increased scarcity and cost of production. - Secondly, as a power source, it has unsurpassed functionality as the standard and efficient means of propulsion and not until there is a secondary power source is found will there be any change in the demand of oil.
- Thirdly, the countries and conglomerates that have domain over the supply can be volatile in their own right, with the recent example being the Jasmin Revolution creating political turmoil within oil producing oligarchies and dictatorships.
These factors have all contributed in 2010-2011 to a 36% increase in diesel fuel prices in the United Kingdom, while worldwide, the trend in developed countries stays much the same.
Diesel fuel theft A technology that is of great importance to all of us is the truck, HGV, lorry or tractor-trailer.
This vehicle burns diesel to supply our stores with food and finished goods that we all enjoy.
There is a distinct necessity in safeguarding these trucks from diesel fuel theft.
With transport companies existing on tight budgets and the price of fuel directly impacting their bottom line, there is not much wiggle room for fuel to be expended wastefully or stolen.
Directly related to fuel prices are the increasing incidences of fuel theft related crimes.
The Road Haulage Association in the UK keeps track of fuel theft statistics (the police seem to overlook this crime) and have reported a 50% jump in diesel fuel thefts in 2010, furthermore, after another RHA study found that out of 150 hauliers surveyed about whether they have suffered from fuel theft, over two-thirds reported losing diesel to thievery.
If a full tank of fuel costs around 2000 euros, the losses can be great.
Preventing diesel theft with telematics Fleet managers are looking for solutions to this ever-present risk.
Most intelligently use locking-gas caps and anti-siphon devices to deter thieves, but just as Jed Clampett (Beverly Hillbillies tie-in) punctured the ground with an errant rifle slug, the thief will simply puncture your tank or cut your fuel valve, adding costly repairs to the already significant loss of fuel.
