Fleets should tighten security around fuel in response to the sudden price jump affecting petrol and diesel caused by the war in Iran, says FleetCheck.
The fleet software company points out that historically, moments such as this have caused peaks in fuel crime – and car, van and truck operators should be vigilant.
Barrie Wilson, strategic relationship manager, said: “There are a number of ways fleets can be affected by fuel crime but essentially, the risks fall into two categories – forms of fraud committed by employees and theft from parked company vehicles.
“These require very different solutions but both can be expected to potentially increase following the quite dramatic price rises we have seen recently.”
Driver fraud was an area where carefully monitoring of fuel records and mileage was essential, Barrie said.
“The danger here is that employees either purchase additional fuel or syphon it from their company vehicles. To detect this, it is essential that distances covered and miles per gallon are accurately recorded and assessed – something that can be done easily using fleet software. Any sudden drop in fuel economy can be a cause for suspicion.
“Effective deterrence can be as simple as letting drivers know that you are scrutinising fuel expenditure and mileage, and any significant fuel theft will result in not just dismissal but the police will also be notified.”
Theft from cars and commercial vehicles was a risk even where locked caps were fitted and modern fuelling systems used, he explained.
“It’s rare in 2026 that fleets operate vehicles where theft is as simple as unscrewing the cap and syphoning fuel. However, the damage caused by thieves, such as forcing the flap or cap, is often much more expensive to rectify than the actual fuel loss.
“There are no easy answers here but a good idea is to issue guidance to drivers asking them to take care when parking vehicles, especially overnight. Cars, vans and especially trucks parked in the shadows in remote locations are more likely to be targeted.”
