With the CV Show 2024 now drawn to a close, Merridale are now looking forward to the Road Transport Expo which is due to be held at NAEC Stoneleigh on 4-6th June 2024.

They will be showcasing their complete MX range of refuelling equipment and management products, as well as their web-based reporting software, Merridale FuelWorks.

If you are attending this year's RTX at the NAEC Stoneleigh on the 4th until the 6th of June, be sure to find Merridale on stand GR37a to discuss how the range of Merridale products can benefit your company. You can also contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.

The Tow Show, held annually, is a premier gathering for professionals in the towing and recovery sector, featuring an impressive array of industry players. It serves as a platform for companies to showcase their products and services, foster relationships with customers, and stay ahead of the curve in a highly competitive market. Merridale Ltd recognized the immense potential of this event and spared no effort in preparing for a standout presence.

One of the key highlights of Merridale's exhibition at the Tow Show was their impressive booth. Designed to be inviting and informative, it drew visitors in with fuel management equipment on show and experts were on hand to explain the features and advantages to attendees.

At the core of Merridale Ltd's success was its ability to address the pressing needs of the towing and recovery industry. Their fuel management systems are tailored to meet the specific demands of a sector where fuel is a critical resource. With rising fuel costs and environmental concerns, Merridale's solutions provided an innovative way to optimize fuel usage, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. These benefits resonated strongly with attendees who were seeking ways to improve their operations.

Merridale Ltd also seized the opportunity to engage with current and potential customers on a personal level. Their team of knowledgeable professionals took the time to understand the unique challenges faced by towing and recovery businesses and offered tailored solutions. This personalized approach not only deepened existing relationships but also forged new partnerships.

Perhaps one of the most significant achievements for Merridale Ltd at the Tow Show 2023 was the enthusiastic response from attendees. The positive feedback received from professionals across the towing and recovery spectrum underscored the relevance and impact of their products and services.

As Merridale Ltd continues to pave the way for fuel efficiency and sustainability in the industry, their remarkable success at the Tow Show 2023 serves as a testament to their commitment and vision for the future.

To find out how a Merridale solution could benefit your business, contact the sales team on 01902 350700 or sales@merridale.co.uk

The show has played an important part in the development and growth of Merridale who, apart from last year, have been represented continuously there since they entered the market in 1995 with the UK’s first fuel management software designed for Windows-based office computers.

Since then, a lot has changed for Merridale in terms of its equipment and technology. In what marks their 27th year of operation, they continue to be a market leader for fuel management manufacturing and are at the forefront of quality and design. Their products now include storage tanks, tank management and pump systems, and a range of software.

According to sales director, Stephen Hannan, the CV Show has been vital in shaping how Merridale adapt and improves their products by offering a platform for discussion between developers and fleet operators.
“Primarily we are concerned with the fleet operators’ operational requirements. We must talk directly to them to understand their priorities. By demonstrating our latest products at the CV Show each year, we can obtain valuable feedback from potential users which can help to shape our future development and investment.”

With bulk fuel theft being an ever-increasing concern, Merridale’s complete fuel and tank management systems, alongside their FuelWorks software, now include stock depletion detection. This alerts you immediately via SMS or email of an unexpected drop in fuel level, meaning that you are made aware of any severe leak or theft from the tank, irrespective of where you are, buying you valuable time in preventing further loss.

“The scope of Merridale’s products has grown from basic reporting systems to sophisticated data analysis and fuel management solutions. On the hardware side, we have a full range of depot refuelling equipment and tank management systems, which include theft and depletion detection. Merridale’s willingness to listen to the needs of current and potential customers enables us to incorporate such features and ensure we remain the go-to fuel management solution for all fleet operators.”

Designed in-house by Merridale, FuelWorks is a web-based application that allows users to monitor fuel usage, efficiency and stock, predict restocking requirements and evaluate environmental impacts, therefore enabling fleet owners to adhere to FORS reporting standards.

The ability of FuelWorks to be accessed through a web browser on any device gives the user complete flexibility and accessibility, eliminating the need for any software to be installed on office computers. This means that users can access the vital data they require, from anywhere, at any time.

If you are attending this year's CV Show at the NEC between the 24th and 26th of May, be sure to find Merridale on stand 4G35 to discuss how the range of Merridale products can benefit your company. You can also contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.

One of the main areas of growth for Merridale was its web-based fuel management software, FuelWorks. Last year saw even more new and existing customers invest in the package than any other year.

2021 also saw a spike in Merridale’s Tank Management systems, which may be connected to rising fuel prices and the growing number of attacks on bulk storage systems. Steeper prices, in general, have also led to more customers committing to routine inspections and calibrations, and extended warranty schemes, to protect their equipment against costly failure and ensure it remains in good condition.

To reflect the ever-increasing number of enquiries we have now expanded our sales team, and to deal with the subsequent increased workload we have formed a dedicated inspections and calibrations team to carry out annual and bi-annual appointments.

The main strength of Merridale is the policy of carrying out all design and development in-house. This ensures continuity and compatibility and means customers are not faced with the issue of “obsolescence” in the same way that is found with many alternative suppliers. The majority of Merridale’s equipment, even going back to the mid-’90s, is still supported and when older parts have become unavailable, we have developed upgrade routes to ensure continuity of support.

Merridale continually develops new systems and software based on customer requirements. Our experience in this field has meant that we have built up a high degree of understanding of the needs of the fleet market and can provide systems that meet the differing requirements of each company.

Going forward, the biggest challenge for the future will be the declining use of fossil fuels. Whilst this may eventually impact the number of diesel pumps that need to be manufactured, there will be an ever-increasing demand to monitor and report on the alternative fuels.

To find out how a Merridale fuel and tank management system could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.

Wolverhampton-based building suppliers, Carvers, have been using Merridale’s fuel management systems for over 15 years and have first-hand experience of this.

We once had an unfortunate scenario where one of our drivers stole fuel from us by taking the truck home and syphoning some out. We were able to spot this and catch him when we noticed an unusual change in his MPG on Merridale’s software. Without that, who knows how long that could have gone on for.

Operations director, Bryan Purslow, said “We once had an unfortunate scenario where one of our drivers stole fuel from us by taking the truck home and syphoning some out. We were able to spot this and catch him when we noticed an unusual change in his MPG on Merridale’s software. Without that, who knows how long that could have gone on for.”

However, the risk of theft isn’t only posed to your fleet though, with large thefts being made more often directly from depot bulk-storage tanks. These thefts are far more sophisticated and involve long-term planning, resources, and a vehicle capable of transporting the large volumes being stolen. This type of attack is usually repetitive, with thousands of litres being stolen every few days. If not detected quickly, this can continue for weeks resulting in tens or hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel being stolen.

Last month, Merridale were contacted by a long-standing Merridale fuel pump user to discuss adding a tank management system to their package following a recent theft. Thieves gained access to their tank’s contents by drilling through the inspection plate and made away with over £7000 worth of fuel before being disturbed. Given the position of the yard and the location of the tank, they were conscious of the continued risk and needed a way to help prevent future thefts.

Merridale’s tank management systems include stock depletion detection, to alert you immediately via SMS or email, of an unexpected drop in fuel level. This means that you can be alerted to any severe leak or theft from the tank, irrespective of where you are, buying you valuable time in preventing further loss.

To find out how a Merridale fuel and tank management system could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.

Whilst a quality fuel management system will accurately show how much fuel has been deposited in the vehicle, capturing information on the distance the vehicle has travelled is much harder without error. Traditionally it has been the responsibility of the person, usually the driver, to record and manually enter the vehicle odometer entry. This will naturally lead to incorrect results, whether they were entered intentionally or by accident. 

Since entering the market in 1994, Merridale has been aware of this issue and introduced various measures to remedy these errors as technology advances. There are three distinct ways in which these issues have been addressed over the years:

Manual Entry using Merridale’s “iProve” method of verification

This feature has been available on all Merridale systems since the earliest model in the 90’s. It is based upon the fueller manually entering an odometer record that is validated and checked to ensure that the value entered is plausible. 

Because the basic design of even the earliest Merridale systems was based upon using a ‘smart’ device to record vehicle identity, it has been possible to create a system using the Merridale-developed iProve (Individual Programmable Odometer Verification). This permits fleet operators to set and adjust a distance value for every vehicle across the fleet individually. 

Essentially, the user-definable set-up may be configured to ensure that manual entries are not permitted that are lower than the previously entered value and do not exceed a maximum limit that is set up by the fleet operator individually for each vehicle. Coupled with a blocking system to ensure that drivers do not deliberately enter spurious values, the system is far more dependable than contemporary systems that either let fleet operators only set a common maximum distance over the entire fleet, or could not cope with the differences between miles, kilometres or hours run.

Some early systems from some of Merridale’s competitors allowed any value to be entered without verification. Drivers quickly became aware of this, and deliberate false readings were often entered to deceive the system.

Data capture from vehicle management systems

As technology permitted and engine management systems became more sophisticated, it was found that it could be possible for odometer information captured by these systems to be transferred to the fuel management system. It was also found that it was possible to measure distance travelled by the vehicle by having a readout from either hubometers or axles. All methods of data extraction involve having a device fitted onboard the vehicle and wired to the source of information.

Several methods of extracting and transmitting this information to the fuel management system have been developed by various fuel management companies over the years. These include transmitting data via modified nozzles using local proximity connection or by infra-red pairing, plug-in cable connection between vehicle and fuel management, and manual transfer of data using a portable data capture device. 

Where Merridale have differed is that the transponder system, developed by Merridale and used reliably with several significant fleet operators, transferred this data wirelessly. This avoids the need for extensive pump nozzle and tank filler modification or the potential for deliberate miscapture that can be associated with handheld transfer devices. 

Data capture from third party systems already fitted to the vehicle

As such systems became increasingly sought after, Merridale turned its attention to looking at third-party systems that would capture the vital odometer information needed to calculate performance figures. Some systems did this, and the data was held on the third-party servers. 

Merridale found that if the third-party data capture system offered customers access to this data, in many instances Merridale’s system could record accurately how much fuel was put in the vehicle tanks and match this to odometer records recovered from the third-party server. Providing that the odometer readings captured by the third-party system were accurate, the figures generated would be far more accurate than when using systems that record fuel usage information using an algorithm of engine management. The Merridale system differed in that it looked at exactly how much fuel was placed in the vehicle.

Most existing Merridale systems can be upgraded to incorporate any of these methods without the need for replacement. Should you wish to discuss further how Merridale enhancements can improve your data, please contact the Merridale sales team on 01902 350700 or visit merridale.co.uk.

• Farmers will be allowed to use it for agricultural equipment.
• Marinas and harbours will be allowed to use it for fuelling boats (except private pleasure craft in Northern Ireland).
• Railways will be allowed to use it in locomotives.
• Local authorities will be allowed to use it in agricultural vehicles used for grass/verge/hedge cutting, gritting, and snow clearance.

It is the responsibility of all fleet operators who currently use red diesel to determine whether the new legislation applies to them or otherwise.

As a leading supplier and service provider to the fleet industry, quite a significant number of companies have approached Merridale for guidance. From our perspective, where changes do apply, fleet operators appear to be faced with three main choices. These are:

• To close or “mothball” the existing red diesel storage facility and utilise any existing white diesel facility.
• To modify the existing red diesel storage facility to store white diesel and use it as a stand-alone facility.
• To modify the existing red diesel storage facility and to interconnect the storage tank formally used for red diesel with the existing white diesel storage tank.

Each of these will cost fleet operators to some degree and it is anticipated that this will place significant demand upon the pump & tank industry. It is important to note that it has been indicated that government is not prepared to create amnesty periods and that all conversions MUST be completed by 1st April 2022.

To close or “mothball” the existing red diesel storage facility and utilise any existing white diesel facility.

It is almost certain that the Environmental Agency will not be prepared to let you simply cease usage and leave in situ and since diesel was reclassified as flammable, any quantity of unused diesel that you store will probably be of interest to DSEAR and your insurance companies.
Unless you have a significant quantity of red diesel still stored, it would probably be of no interest to your fuel supplier for them to purchase this from you due to the reprocessing that this would require. We would, however, still suggest you approach them to see if they do provide this option.
The likely outcome is that you will need to employ specialists to clean the tank, dispose of all remaining product, and uproot the storage tank for authorised disposal. Where such tanks are in very good order, there may be a market to sell these to refurbishers.

To modify the existing red diesel storage facility to store white diesel and use it as a stand-alone facility.

So far, this is the option that most companies have indicated that they are considering most. However, fleet operators would be expected to employ a specialist contractor to remove residues, clean out the tank, and flush with fresh product. As suggested by the following government report.
‘Registered fuel suppliers that switch a fuel tank from red to white diesel will need to flush out the tank and supply lines until no trace of marked rebated fuel remains.’ This will help to ensure compliance and minimise the risk that white diesel that has had the full duty rate paid on it is contaminated with the red diesel marker.’
The action does not finish here. Unless the tank is to be used for the same fuelling purposes as previously, the fleet operator may also need the services of a specialist equipment contractor, such as Merridale, to reprogram existing fuel and tank management systems, as well as any driver and vehicle identifiers. We would also recommend that all line, pump, and nozzle filters are cleaned or replaced, and appropriate labels and descriptors are fitted.

To modify the existing red diesel storage facility and to interconnect the storage tank formally used for red diesel with the existing white diesel storage tank.

Many fleet operators may wish to interconnect the former red diesel tank with the existing white diesel tank so that their overall storage capacity is not compromised.
To do this, the fleet operator will firstly need a specialist to carry out everything detailed above, to modify the use from red to white diesel. Additionally, there would need to be a specialist pump and tank pipework company to interconnect the outlet lines from both tanks, including the fitting of appropriate non-return valves. This can be a simple matter though, where the existing facility consists of multi-compartment storage tanks or two tanks very close together, so pipework can be interconnected easily.

Merridale services

Where Merridale pumps, fuel, and tank management systems are concerned, Merridale will be happy to assist you with conversion. We will be establishing a booking period for these services and introducing guidelines to reconfigure identifiers in the new year, with more information on that to come closer to the time.
We may also be able to consider minor pipework alterations to interconnect tanks. To discuss your options, please contact the Merridale sales department on 01902 350700.
Where product removal, tank uplift, and major pipework are required, fleet operators should contact suitable contractors to schedule works as appropriate.

Wolverhampton-based building suppliers, Carvers, have been using Merridale’s fuel management systems for over 15 years and have first hand experience on how the package can alert you to theft.

Operations director, Bryan Purslow, said “We once had an unfortunate scenario where one of our drivers stole fuel from us by taking the truck home and syphoning some out. We were able to spot this and catch him when we noticed an unusual change in his MPG on Merridale’s software. Without that, who knows how long that could have gone on for.”

The risk of theft isn’t only posed to your fleet though, with large thefts being made more often directly from depot bulk-storage tanks. These thefts are far more sophisticated and involve long-term planning, resources, and a vehicle capable of transporting the large volumes being stolen. This type of attack is usually repetitive, with thousands of litres being stolen every few days. If not detected quickly, this can continue for weeks resulting in tens or hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel being stolen.

Merridale’s tank management systems include stock depletion detection, to alert you immediately, via SMS, of an unexpected drop in fuel level. This means that you will be alerted to any severe leak or theft from the tank that occurs, irrespective of where you are at the time.

Fridlington Farms, which supplies potatoes to the likes of Walkers, McCain’s & Mercian have been using Merridale’s systems since 2019. Their assistant manager, Callum Stark, told us about the difference it has made already.

"The week after installing the system, we had a break-in at the farm. They managed to get away with tools and equipment, but they could not get to the diesel. If they would have been a week earlier, we'd have had no way of stopping them from emptying the tank. I even found that the tank management system had sent an alert to my phone warning me of irregularities as the attempted theft was happening."

To find out how a Merridale fuel and tank management system could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.

Since then, a lot has changed for Merridale in terms of their equipment and technology, but they continue to be a market leader for fuel management system manufacturing and are at the forefront for quality and design. Their products now include storage tanks, fuel and tank management, fuel pump systems, and a range of software. Designed in-house by Merridale, FuelWorks is a web-based software that allows users to monitor fuel usage, efficiency and stock, predict restocking requirements and evaluate environmental impacts, therefore enabling fleet owners to adhere to FORS reporting standards.

According to sales director, Stephen Hannan, the CV Show has played an important role in how Merridale have adapted and improved their products by offering a platform for discussion between developers and fleet operators.
“Primarily we are concerned with the fleet operators’ operational requirements. We must talk directly to them in order to understand their priorities. By demonstrating our latest products at the CV Show each year, we can obtain valuable feedback from potential users which can help to shape our future development and investment.”

“The scope of Merridale’s products has grown from basic reporting systems to sophisticated data analysis and fuel management solutions. On the hardware side, we have a full range of depot refuelling equipment and tank management systems, which now include theft and sudden drop detection. Merridale’s willingness to listen to the needs of current and potential customers enables us to incorporate such features and ensure we remain the go-to fuel management solution for all fleet operators.”

If you are attending next year's CV Show at the NEC between the 8th and 10th June 2021, be sure to find Merridale on stand 4G41 to discuss how the range of Merridale products can benefit your company. You can also contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.

Merridale FuelWorks, a market-leading web-based fuel management service, is the choice of many large fleet operators and local authorities, with over 1400 sites already in the UK. Each week more fleet operators switch to FuelWorks, and take advantage of this low-cost subscription-based service, securely hosted by Merridale.

The ability of FuelWorks to be accessed through a web browser on any device gives the user complete flexibility and accessibility, eliminating the need for any software to be installed on office computers. This means that users can access the vital data they require, from anywhere, at any time. FuelWorks can also monitor tank levels and predict low stock, sending email alerts as needed.

The software has been designed in-house by Merridale to be as user-friendly as possible, without sacrificing any functionality. Merridale also offers unrivalled levels of support and training, with initial training being available remotely, and a helpdesk on hand to offer ongoing support.

Other features include secure encrypted https connections, multiple users across multiple sites, real-time capabilities, a range of reporting features (including fuel, cost, vehicle and driver performance, and environmental impact), tank stock reconciliation and costing, stock low prediction and email alerts.

John Hadaway, fleet manager at Linburg Coaches, who has used FuelWorks since 2013 said “I can’t think of a time I’ve looked at our reports and wished FuelWorks could tell me something more. It seems to cover everything. It’s great having access on any device too, rather than being limited to a single computer.”

Fleet operators who wish to upgrade existing Merridale equipment to use FuelWorks need not worry about replacing existing hardware to do so. Merridale can upgrade the majority of existing systems to make them compatible with FuelWorks, no matter how old the system is.

To find out how Merridale FuelWorks could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.