Leak Detection Challenges and CITLDS vs Continual Reconciliation
A great newsletter regarding the challenges with managing leak and loss detection at a high-throughput travel center, truck stop, or convenience store.
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by William Jones, Warren Rogers Associates
Printable Copy: The Advantages of Continual Reconciliation on Fuel Profitability
While the population of regulated USTs has dropped dramatically since storage tank rules were first published in 1988, there has been a major trend in the retail petroleum industry toward the development of high-throughput fueling facilities. Hypermarket fueling stations with customers at each dispenser, convenience stores active at all hours of the day, and travel centers with delivery transports lined up to make their drops are now a common sight. The fueling public is drawn to these facilities because of their competitive fuel prices. The business model that supports these complex operations relies upon moving large amounts of fuel products on thin margins.
Naturally, operation of these high-tempo sites imposes wear and tear on fueling equipment. From a leak-detection standpoint, the concern is whether product containment has been compromised in the face of all this activity. From a business perspective, costly fuel inventory losses can take place at active sites because of problems with meters drifting out of calibration or improper blending ratios, theft at the dispenser or upon delivery, or the effects of temperature fluctuations. Many companies with high-volume sites have realized that the best way to manage their complex operations is to rely upon precise measurements of fuel inventory. Warren Rogers Associates (WRA) has worked with operators of such sites to develop a Continual Reconciliation System to enable them to manage their leak-detection requirements and all of the complex transactions and fueling equipment at high-throughput facilities where problems with fuel inventory shrinkage are endemic.
Figure 1
The Continual Reconciliation System
As shown in Figure 1, the Continual Reconciliation System uses a processor (“OSP”) installed at each facility to acquire data from automatic […]
PRESS RELEASE
fuelWrap Enhancements Help Automate and Track Manual Tasks, Improve Efficiency
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — (Aug 29, 2024) Warren Rogers is proud to introduce several new enhancements to their innovative fuelWRAp dashboard during the 2024 NACS/PEI Show, October 7-10, Las Vegas, NV. Attendees can review the new tools at Booth C6959, Fuel Services and Equipment Section, throughout trade show hours or during networking events.
In addition to the robust tools already available with the real-time fuelWRAp dashboard, Warren Rogers has added several new enhancements, including Task Tracking, Document Management, and Store Asset Management. Each tool allows current clients and new customers to better-automate the manual tasks related to scheduling maintenance, compliance inspections, various company-related documents, and details regarding store and fuel-related equipment at each location. These tools allow clients to securely track and capture critical information in the security of the Warren Rogers’ cloud. In addition, clients can allow company users permission to access and share this critical information as needed. Learn more about our new task tracking and file management tools here. For details on fuelWRAp Asset Management, click here.
William Jones, president and CEO of Warren Rogers added, “We continue to improve our technology and offer innovations that our customers need. These new enhancements, related to task and document management, allow our clients to consolidate many of the manual functions that they are currently performing on our fuelWRAp dashboard. Fortunately, our fuelWRAp system is highly scalable, so we’ll be able to continue to support them with all their leak detection, task and document management, compliance and fuel monitoring needs, now and into the future.”
Using fuelWRAp, travel center and conventional convenience store support staff can minimize their time spent each day identifying and addressing issues such as […]
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tony Caputo
Warren Rogers Associates
800-972-7472, ext. 853 tcaputo@warrenrogers.com
Media Contact: Lynn Butler RDW Group
401-521-2700 lbutler@rdwgroup.com
Woodman’s Markets Selects Warren Rogers for Fuel System Compliance,
Wet-Stock Management & Forecourt Diagnostic Services
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — (July 07, 2024) Woodman’s Markets, a major Midwest supermarket, convenience store, vehicle care, and car wash retailer, with 19 locations throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, has selected Warren Rogers Precision Fuel System Diagnostics as their provider of fuel system compliance, wet-stock management, and forecourt diagnostics.
Woodman’s Markets (www.woodmans-food.com) will utilize the Warren Rogers fuelWRAp system, which uses real-time data and leverages the flexibility and smart analytics of the cloud to help fuel retailers continuously track every drop of precious fuel inventory — as it makes its way to their sites, enters the tank, flows through each fuel line, and reaches the meter — even at the most complex, high-throughput sites. In addition, Warren Rogers will provide customized auditing and operational reports along with the compliance documentation required to meet all state and federal regulations.
“When it comes to fuel management and compliance, Warren Rogers has such a great reputation for reliability, efficiency and precision,” said Nick Popp, director of store development at Woodman’s Markets, Janesville, Wisconsin. “Their extensive background and expertise, combined with their fuelWRAp real-time system made this the ideal choice for us, especially as it relates to technology improvements and positioning ourselves for future growth.”
William Jones, president and CEO of Warren Rogers added, “We’re delighted that Woodman’s has selected us as their service partner. Their long history and dedication to providing superior products and services in Wisconsin and Illinois are truly impressive. We’re excited about working with Woodman’s as they continue to grow. Fortunately, the fuelWRAp system is highly scalable, so we’ll […]
Fuel operators are under constant pressure every day to make the right decisions related to the operation of their stores……Improve foodservice, build more and larger stores, upgrade equipment, remodel stores, add EV, and much more. However, there are some areas of the business where improvement can occur with minimal capital outlay while increasing the efficiency of your current fuel forecourts. These benefits also pay off in the areas of increased customer satisfaction and bottom-line profitability.
Often, fuel operators upgrade dispensers and tank monitors and build larger locations when increasing the efficiency at their current locations could be a more cost-effective solution. Optimizing the equipment at current locations can be both a short-term and long-term solution to overall company health.
Some areas to focus on for immediate benefit and ROI are:
Dispenser flow rate optimization
Targeted dispenser filter changes and maintenance
Dispenser downtime monitoring
Fuel system STP and manifold performance
Dispenser flow rates can only be improved if you have technology in place to accurately measure your transactions. The days of using stopwatches and once-a-year flow checks during meter calibrations should be far behind us. Many monitoring solutions today offer transactional flow rates; however, the key is the curation of the data before acting. Transactional flow rates can be all over-the-board when you review numerous single transactions in real-time. Curation is key and can be performed by more-robust monitoring solutions. The review of dozens or hundreds of transactions can truly indicate when slowing flow is occurring or a sub-par low maximum flow rate is taking place.
The customer and financial benefits come with targeted filter changes, discovering slowing flow before it becomes noticeable to the customer, and lowering your on-site maintenance and filter costs. Today, when a store manager […]
Posted by Fuels Market News | October 1, 2014
Warren Rogers Associates will feature its continuous fuel monitoring system that provides in-depth analysis, a superior level of accuracy and customized reporting, in booth 6005 at the PEI Convention and National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) trade show , Oct. 7 – 10 in Las Vegas, Nev. They will demonstrate the system which employs Continual Inventory Reconciliation Analysis (CIRA), and real-time reporting.
The Warren Rogers System is ideal for multi-site fuel retailers that sell high volumes of fuel including convenience store chains, supermarkets and hypermarkets, as well as travel centers and truck stops.
The latest iteration of the Warren Rogers system features patented (US Patent 8666683) methods and equipment including an on-site processor that can detect and alert the customer to a line leak or fuel dispenser theft while a pressurized piping system is in flow. Depending on the configuration of the system, it can also be used as a control device to rapidly shut down fuel flow if such problems occur. According to the company, they developed this patented technology to provide customers with a greater level of control and enable them to act rapidly and prevent loss.
According to Bill Jones, president and CEO of Warren Rogers, “There are so many factors that can affect a fuel retailer’s efficiency and profitability these days. Theft, delivery shortages, inaccurate meter calibration, equipment tampering, equipment failure, are all real concerns and our customers want to know about issues as soon as possible, not at the end of the day or at the end of the week. Our hardware and software, coupled with our expert staff, aims to provide the most accurate and complete picture of a customer’s fuel operation.” He adds, “We take […]
Warren Rogers provides precision fuel management solutions for various industries, including retail fueling, convenience stores, commercial fleets, and government agencies. Our services include fuel inventory management, loss detection, compliance monitoring, and precision fuel system diagnostics. Warren Rogers’ technology helps optimize fueling operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure regulatory compliance for their clients.
We excel in helping such operators improve their forecourt performance. Common complaints from customers fueling their cars in the forecourt may include:
1. Slow dispensing speed: Customers may complain about slow fuel dispensing, leading to longer wait times and inconvenience.
2. Malfunctioning equipment: Issues with the fuel pump, payment terminals, or other equipment can frustrate customers and disrupt their fueling experience.
3. Inaccurate fuel metering: Customers may raise concerns about discrepancies between the amount of fuel dispensed and the amount charged.
4. Dirty or unkempt facilities: Customers may be dissatisfied with dirty or poorly maintained gas station facilities, including restrooms, trash bins, and outdoor areas.
5. High fuel prices: Complaints about high fuel prices compared to nearby gas stations or expectations based on market trends.
6. Lack of available fuel types: Customers may be disappointed if a gas station doesn’t offer the type of fuel they need, such as diesel or premium gasoline.
7. Poor customer service: Negative interactions with gas station staff, including rude behavior, slow service, or unhelpfulness.
8. Safety and security concerns: Issues such as inadequate lighting, lack of surveillance cameras, or a perceived lack of safety measures can deter customers from returning to a gas station.
While Warren Rogers cannot fix every issue noted above, we can put a dent in the Top 3! Learn more about fuelWRAp and all we do at www.warrenrogers.com.
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By Tony Caputo, Warren Rogers Precision Fuel System Diagnostics
IGM_MAY_JUNE_2024-WRA Article Continuous Reconciliation
In today’s retail fuel industry, numerous factors can impact efficiency and profitability. Concerns such as theft, delivery shortages, inaccurate meter calibration, equipment tampering, and equipment failure are all legitimate worries for operators. Most fuel retailers prefer to be promptly informed about these issues rather than discovering them at the end of the day, week, or month. However, many lack the necessary technology or accounting processes to receive timely alerts regarding loss-related issues, if they receive any alerts at all. Consequently, numerous fuel retailers resign themselves to the belief that “loss is inevitable” in the fuel business, resulting in significant annual write-offs due to “fuel shrinkage.”
Fortunately, today’s hardware and software solutions, complemented by expert third-party assistance, offer avenues to attain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of retail fuel operations. Modern monitoring solutions can scrutinize even the smallest fluctuations in inventory, unusual driver behavior, dispenser inactivity, and other patterns. These insights are invaluable as they can help identify compliance issues and mitigate profit reductions.
At its most basic level, in an ideal scenario, there exists an equilibrium between the fuel delivered to a fuel station’s tanks, the amount dispensed, and what remains in the tanks by day’s end. Any deviations from this balance typically yield adverse effects on the financial outcome. Regrettably, numerous risks are constantly present in the operations of a functioning convenience store or travel center. For fuel operators managing dozens or even hundreds of locations, the cumulative financial impact can swiftly reach into thousands or even millions of dollars. Each risk poses the potential for undiscovered or challenging-to-detect financial losses for the business.
The potential sources of loss on an Underground Storage Tank […]
Archived article, PetroPlaza, originally released 10/1/2000
https://www.petrolplaza.com/knowledge/2019
In an interview with Jaime Kammerzell, Dr. Warren Rogers discusses his early years as a United States Naval Aviator, his involvement in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the US Naval War College, and his current career as president of Warren Rogers Associates, Inc.
Last update: October 1, 2000
Author: Kammerzell Jaime
Statistics reconcile the facts-
Dr. Warren F. Rogers is recognized as the leading authority on statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR) to detect leaking underground storage systems. How did this retired Navy Commander and former teacher at the prestigious Naval War College arrive at this position? The answer, plus some interesting comments on the future use of SIR, are found in this interview of Dr. Rogers.
Where were you born?
I was born in New York City, but my family moved to Ireland when I was an infant and I remained there until I was 21.
Why did you return to the United States?
When I applied for a passport at the American Embassy in Dublin, I was informed that a condition for getting the passport was that I enter one of the armed services—I was subject to the Korean War draft. I had the option of going to Paris and joining the Air Force there for a couple of years or returning to the United States, which I did, and entering the Navy. My original intent when I entered the Navy was to complete the shortest possible tour of duty, get out and get on with my life. But after I’d been in the Navy for awhile, I found I enjoyed it, particularly when I was given the opportunity to enter flight training. So I went to Pensacola, Florida and became an aviator. After […]