Setting Up a System for Diesel Delivery to Remote Work Locations
Working in areas that do not allow easy access to diesel fuel, or a project with heavy machinery that you can drive to the local gas station often requires onsite diesel delivery. Setting up deliveries with a local supplier needs to take a few things into account to ensure you have the fuel you need when you need it.
Vehicle Fuel
When running equipment on a job or construction site, providing fuel for the machines is vital. Some large excavators, loaders, or other equipment can burn through hundreds of gallons of fuel in a day or two, especially if the project requires those machines to be working around the clock.
Refueling large machines is not always simple, so often, onsite diesel delivery becomes necessary, and the truck coming with the fuel must be able to fuel the equipment directly. The delivery timing is also crucial because getting a diesel-powered machine running after it has run out of fuel is not always easy. If the machine is not working, the contractor loses production time and potentially money.
Most fuel delivery companies can provide job location diesel fuel delivery, but it is critical to set up the delivery schedule in advance to ensure you get all the fuel you need on time. If the amount of fuel required changes, you could alter the plan or delivery amount later, but getting the primary delivery set up should be the priority.
Tax-Exempt Diesel
When ordering onsite diesel fuel delivery for your equipment, you may want to ask the vendor about dyed diesel fuel for your machines. Dyed diesel, also called off-road diesel, is tax-exempt fuel but is only legal for vehicles that do not travel on public roads. The fuel is dyed red, so it is easy to spot in the tank and can not be used in trucks or other diesel-powered vehicles that spend time on and off-road.
The cost of off-road diesel fuel is often significantly lower because you are not paying taxes on it, and you can use it in generators, agricultural equipment, and construction equipment. However, the fines can be very high if you use it illegally. Most delivery services will not deliver it if they suspect you are misusing it because they can be fined for supplying it as well.
Fuel Storage
Larger construction projects may opt to store some diesel fuel onsite for use between onsite diesel deliveries but check with the delivery company you are using before you go this route. The storage tanks must meet some safety guidelines, and the delivery service is not required to fill them for you if they don't feel comfortable doing so.
There are federal guidelines that provide all the requirements you need to consider. In many cases, it is more cost-effective to start the day with a tanker from your diesel fuel delivery service on site to fill the machine each morning. Contact a company like Anytime Fuel Pros for more information.