Eliminate Guesswork from Oil Collections: How Can I Plan Logistics More Efficiently?
Oct, 16 2014
Articles
This blog entry is the second in a series that will briefly address key questions asked by those in the waste oil collection industry. It will provide insight into how implementing a tank monitoring solution allows collectors to deliver best -in-class customer service, plan logistics more efficiently, secure their supply of waste oil, and reduce ghost gallons.
How Can I Plan Logistics More Efficiently?
In the waste oil collection industry, service calls are often scheduled using pre-established service intervals – perhaps every two, four or six weeks, based on an estimate of annual oil production by the customer. Drivers determine which customers are due for servicing and create a route around those stops.
The result of this methodology is less than optimal, causing two issues. When the rate of waste oil production is faster than usual, causing a full tank, the customer must call the collector to make an emergency collection. This is costly to both the customer and the waste oil collector. The customer must stop collecting oil or find temporary storage, while the collector must go out of their way to make an unscheduled stop.
The second issue is even more common. Wanting to avoid overfills, collectors often service customers far too frequently, often when the tank is only 50% full or less. Over the course of a year, the collector will end up making twice as many service stops as are actually needed. But without knowing how much oil is in the tank, what can be done?
Implementing a tank monitoring solution can solve both problems. First, there’s no reason to worry about overfills any longer. They can easily be avoided by having automated email or text message alerts sent when tank levels reach trigger points. And with knowledge of tank levels, service stops are scheduled only when they’re truly needed. No longer will you spend the time and money driving to a customer site, only to find a 20% full tank. Customer service stops used to be scheduled on a calendar - now tank level data drives every decision.
So what does this mean for waste oil collectors? The efficiencies gained through deployment of a tank monitoring system frees up fleet time, allowing waste oil collectors to bring on additional customers and grow their business – all without adding trucks or drivers.
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Stay tuned for the next blog entry in the Eliminate Guesswork from Oil Collections series– How Can I Secure My Supply of Used Oil?
Aaron Wold
Product Manager - TankScan, ATEK Access Technologies, LLC