Telematics expert Omnicomm has recently introduced lifetime warranty (with certain terms and conditions) on fuel-level sensors that are extremely useful in reducing fuel cost and consumption
Fuel costs in India have been increasing at an alarming pace. With escalating geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Brent Crude breasted USD 100 per barrel this week. This could lead to a hike in diesel prices (currently Rs. 86.67 in Delhi) to match the Rs. 9 per litre gap created by the soaring international oil prices. These rising costs directly impact the Indian logistics and freight sector, which in turn affects the overall economy.
Impact of Rising Fuel Costs
Higher fuel costs could reduce profit margins for freighters and transporters, thereby increasing freight charges. In 2021, the All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) announced that transport and freight charges in India could rise by 25% owing to the surge in daily fuel costs. AITWA members also said that this could make transportation unviable because fuel accounts for nearly 60% of the overall truck operating costs. However, fuel management and monitoring systems can offer some much-needed relief to fleet operators.
Innovative solutions, like telematics expert Omnicomm’s recently introduced lifetime warranty (with certain terms and conditions) on fuel-level sensors, are extremely useful in reducing fuel cost and consumption. While operators have little control over rising fuel costs, they can make optimum use of fuel with an efficient fuel management system.
Omnicomm Fuel-Level Sensors
Omnicomm’s remarkably precise fuel-level capacitive sensors are compatible with most common vehicle trackers. This innovation, a spin-off from aviation technology, offers high precision (99.5% accuracy) under extremely harsh conditions. Their line of sensors includes the adaptable Omnicomm LLS 5, adaptable explosion-proof Omnicomm LLS-Ex 5, digital Omnicomm LLS 4, and Omnicomm LLS-AF 4 with analog and frequency-modulated output.
The Omnicomm digital data transmission protocol has become a benchmark in capacitive fuel-level sensors globally. Omnicomm’s solutions help FMS providers, ERP vendors, IoT SDP vendors, and fleet owners create efficient logistical strategies and workflows, thus reducing their operational costs.
Standing Out from the Rest
Apart from the benefits of reliable equipment or seamless integration, partners in the Indian market can now take advantage of the lifetime warranty on all Omnicomm fuel-level sensors, further securing their investments with lifetime support. Omnicomm is the first and only fuel monitoring hardware manufacturer in India to offer a lifetime warranty on hardware. By statute, 15 years is a lifetime for trucks in India. With innovative solutions and exceptional after-sales support, Omnicomm continues to help businesses combat rising fuel prices with accurate tracking of fuel consumption.
Success Stories
CityLink, a subsidiary of CityLink Inland Transport that offers on-demand, intra-city logistics services in the ‘last-mile’ segment, wanted a robust system for error-free monitoring of the fleet’s refuelling and consumption. To automate the process, they installed Omnicomm’s fuel-level sensors into their InfoTrack Telematics vehicle tracking platform. This add-on helped CityLink instantly verify refuelling and reconcile each incident with a voucher or fuel card. CityLink reported saving 500 litres per truck in just four months! It also helped them create a highly efficient real-time system of fuel accounting.
Leading Indian crane rental provider, Barkat Cranes was dealing with rising fuel costs owing to the absence of fuel usage data from remote stationary assets. Using Omnicomm’s technology, their partner, RTG Trackers, created a specialized monitoring system to authenticate refuelling and consumption. The fuel monitoring system identified gaps and inefficiencies, resulting in savings of over 300 litres of fuel per crane every month. With access to transparent data, Barkat Cranes enhanced their asset planning and management.
ODC Carriers – Saving Fuel Costs
Over dimension cargo (ODC) carriers comprise trailers trucks carrying heavy cargo of 90 tonnes or more such as wind-turbine blades, nuclear chambers, etc. Owing to haphazard roads, these vehicles rarely cover the same distance in a round trip and consume between 1.25–0.6 km per litre, with nearly 9–12 refuelling stops. As they are unable to navigate through narrow spaces of Indian highway fuel stations, truckers often carry containers for diesel, which could result in unmetered refuelling and pilferage.
Such was the case with a Mumbai-based pan-India ODC cargo logistics company. However, with Omnicomm’s fuel sensors, the client found the potential to optimise 600 litres of excess fuel being claimed on each trip. This allowed them to take disciplinary action against errant drivers while incentivizing the others. After 12 months, the fuel monitoring system resulted in an improved bottom line of 4%. This system also alerts fleet operators about refuelling events at blacklisted gas stations, providing greater transparency of the actual cost of route operations.
Bottomline
Indian truck fleet operators are embracing the promise of digitization. To combat the surge in fuel costs, it is necessary to have an efficient and automated fuel management system that tracks real-time data, like Omnicomm’s industry-leading sensors. Several fleet operators, original equipment manufacturers, and other players have introduced these unique fuel management systems into their business, enjoying a risk-free user experience with the lifetime warranty as well as improved operational efficiency.