Our services are used by 700+ companies
We have installed over 9,000 devices
Special solutions based on the clients’ needs
Aspen Group: Metrotec helps prevent fuel theft
Fuel theft is a daily headache for heavy equipment companies. Insurance doesn’t cover it, handling cases is time-consuming, and often there are no results. We have mitigated this business risk by monitoring fuel levels. While it doesn’t provide 100% protection, it is quite effective and allows for quick response in case of danger, helping prevent the worst. Aspen Group CEO Kaidar Erik and employee Kerli Ruubel share their thoughts.
What happens when fuel theft occurs?
Our machines are equipped with GPS tracking and level sensors. If the fuel level drops suddenly, an automatic alert is sent via email and SMS.
And does this help prevent theft?
Mostly yes. We usually react quickly and call the police, which has helped prevent theft. There was a recent case, however, in which three people received an SMS, but all had their phones on silent, so the alert went unnoticed, and no help was called.
You also used a competing service. How would you compare them?
It’s true—we tested another solution on several machines for a while, but concluded that the Metrotec platform is more suitable and convenient for us.
Overall, we are satisfied. The application is easy to use, and everything is clear. The only weak point is customer support, which could be better. That was the main reason we decided to try working with a competitor.
Cooperation with our account manager works well; he responds quickly and appropriately and provides helpful answers.
All our machines have GPS devices. Occasionally, they require maintenance, as devices age and become outdated. Since our sites are scattered and constantly changing, even planning one week ahead can sometimes be a challenge.
When did the cooperation begin?
We started in 2007. Initially, the problem was that not only outsiders were stealing fuel, but also our own employees. For many workers, the first thought was how to supplement their income by taking from the company. To prevent this, we chose a solution that we still use today.
Since then, some machines still have their original GPS devices, which function but are morally outdated. We have used several programs to monitor machine data and track engine hours. Today, everything has been consolidated into the Metrotec platform, and we have decided to continue with it.
What has been the greatest value of this cooperation?
The fleet is easy to manage and monitor. At any moment, we have an overview of what is happening and what has happened. This is a great convenience, and honestly, we can’t imagine working without GPS tracking anymore. The information from the system is important for all employees, especially site managers.
The biggest value is control over fuel usage, theft alerts, and prevention. Even if we miss an alarm, we can later provide precise facts for a police report regarding the extent of damage, as well as the time and location of the incident.
Compared to the early days, our fleet has grown significantly. Heavy equipment operators have their own work vehicles. Having a clear overview of what happens with company assets during and outside working hours is also valuable.
How did you handle these issues before using software?
Many situations just went unresolved. It was often unclear where vehicles were used and how much fuel was consumed. Metrotec made this visible and transparent.
There was a particularly striking case with a new employee who started stealing fuel from day one, amounting to thousands of liters. It took time to catch him. Situations like this no longer occur. Today, the issue is more about criminals who empty tanks at night, but even that is now controlled by the software.
How many people in your company use the program?
Six people: site managers, the director, trailer drivers, and the company administrator, so they know exactly where the equipment is, what it is doing, what it has done, and can also analyze fuel consumption for specific tasks. For quarry machines, productivity can also be calculated.
What are the most frequently used features?
Real-time machine location and historical data on driving and operation. Also reports showing fuel filled and consumed, as well as driving logs. If questions or doubts arise about a site, I check who is or was working there. Once a month, I review each employee’s use of their work vehicle.
One part of tracking heavy equipment working time is monitoring refueling – when, how much, and starting and ending levels. Also fact-checking: loss alarms, fault notifications. If there is a power outage somewhere, I check the system. The busiest time is the beginning of the month, and then continuously as needed.
Do you sometimes have questions about the system? How do you solve them?
In the early years, there were more questions about using the system, and we communicated more with the account manager. Now, most questions are related to the technical side of the machines.
What are the biggest challenges in your field right now?
Simply surviving in unfair competition. We still compete with companies that pay envelope wages and evade taxes. We must also ensure that fuel thieves don’t gain momentum. Night-time monitoring to respond quickly to alarms is tiring, but it has helped catch several groups of criminals and prevented losses.
What are the future trends in your field?
We will continue on our current path. Regulations are becoming stricter regarding waste sorting and recycling. Unsorted waste is twice as expensive to dispose of as sorted waste. We operate in two areas – demolition and quarry work. In quarry operations, we rent out crushers and screens that produce materials or sift sand and soil. This is seasonal work. Demolition projects we handle from start to finish.
What do your clients expect from you the most?
Fast and affordable work. Clients generally don’t look at whether wages are official – if they can get even 1% cheaper, they choose that provider. Public procurement laws have been improved, but in very few cases can the contracting authority request proof of average wages.
In summary, the most important thing about Metrotec is that the data is available and accurate. Then everything works well.