ARTICLE | 5 MIN READ

Propane Tank Monitoring for Fuel Dealers 

Propane Tank Monitors enhance efficiency, boost customer satisfaction, and cut costs for propane delivery companies. Explore the benefits of real-time data, optimized routes, and improved inventory management.

Propane Tank Monitoring

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How do modern propane fuel dealers boost customer satisfaction and efficiency without increasing expenses? The solution is simple—propane tank monitoring tools that sync with fuel delivery software. If you want to get the buzz on propane tank monitors, this is the only guide you’ll need to understand what they are, what they do, and why they matter for modern fuel dealers. 

What Are Propane Tank Monitors? 

An LP tank monitor tracks the level of propane remaining in a tank. The mechanics vary—some use ultrasonic sensors, some measure pressure, and some evaluate weight—but the goal is always to accurately measure the propane tank level.

Instead of sending a driver out to manually measure propane levels or relaying will-call information, fuel dealers can enjoy 24/7 monitoring with tank monitors. Tank monitors send data to your team in real-time, keeping your dispatchers posted when it’s time to schedule a propane delivery or refill.

Cargas Energy Tank Monitor Integration Guide

Learn how Cargas Energy integrates with tank monitors so you have one place to manage every tank for every customer.

VIEW INTEGRATION GUIDE

How Propane Tank Monitoring Helps Fuel Dealers 

Propane tank monitors offer operational efficiency to fuel dealers to save time, improve customer satisfaction, and ensure data accuracy.   

Optimize Ticket Pulls & Dispatching

Without a means of remotely monitoring the exact levels in propane tanks, fuel dealers rely on K-factor and other forecasting metrics to generate an estimate. These estimates have a high margin of error, particularly when based on messy historical data and unpredictable weather. This means dispatchers may pick the tanks with the lowest estimated fuel levels when other tanks are at or near empty. 

By deploying propane tank monitors, the dispatcher can see which tanks are low on propane and create a route optimized for critical deliveries. That means drivers can fill critical tanks and dispatch at the exact time required to get the largest drop size without a runout.

Improve Delivery Efficiency

Once routes are built based on tank monitor readings, drivers can see exactly how much fuel they’ll need to hit all the day’s stops. This means drivers don’t have to worry about refueling halfway through the day—or the back office can add a convenient fueling stop to the driver’s itinerary.

Reduce Wear and Tear

Although tank monitors do not directly measure K-factor and similar metrics, the rate at which propane depletes from a tank can indicate problems with the tank or the HVAC system. Suppose a driver or back-office tech notices an uptick in deliveries to a particular tank. In that case, they can keep an eye on the tank monitor reading to determine whether servicing is necessary. 

As for tanks with variable usage—like those at vacation homes—tank monitors offer additional visibility to ensure that dispatchers have transparency into tank activity.

Eliminate Runouts

The last thing any propane dealer or customer wants to see is an empty tank. Tank monitors take the guesswork out of propane levels with error-prone forecasts, meaning dispatchers can prioritize tickets for the tanks that are at a critical level. Plus, fuel dealers who integrate automatic customers’ tank monitors with fuel delivery software can set up alerts; when tanks hit certain levels, such as 30% full, tickets are generated to ensure fills are scheduled promptly.

Customer Satisfaction & Retention

The inconvenience of runouts and the cost of excessive deliveries can take a toll on customers just as much as fuel dealers. With more than 11 million U.S. households relying on propane for at least one function, there isn’t much wiggle room for negative customer experiences. But by preventing runouts with reliable tank monitoring, fuel dealers can keep customers happy.

Integrating Tank Monitors with Your Fuel Delivery Software 

Fuel dealers can integrate propane tank monitors into more sophisticated propane delivery systems that offer remote monitoring and management capabilities through smartphone apps or web interfaces. These advanced systems may also provide additional features, such as predictive analytics, to forecast propane usage and optimize delivery schedules. In short, a propane tank gauge is best used as a small component of a larger operational system.

For instance, fuel delivery software like Cargas Energy integrates with tank monitor providers like Otodata to report fuel readings in real-time. Dispatchers can use this information to prioritize tickets and routing without jumping between systems.

Are Tank Monitors the Future? 

Tank monitors are one of the most popular tools deployed by modern propane and heating oil businesses. In fact, over the past few years, our annual Technology Trends in Fuel Delivery Benchmarking Report has found tank monitors to be one of the top investment areas for fuel dealers. 80% of respondents to our 2024 survey reported that they either maintained or increased spending on tank monitors, while the remainder did not use tank monitors.   

Tank Monitor Company Partners 

You need a partner who understands how tank monitors tie into your delivery operations and business software. So why not partner with an organization that handles it all? 

Cargas Energy is a suite of proprietary fuel delivery and HVAC service applications that manage every aspect of the modern energy business, including customer service, cylinder exchange, wholesale, payment facilitation, point of sale, reporting, and tank monitoring. Our ever-growing network of integration partners helps you expand the software with critical features. 

If you want to use the top fuel delivery tool for customer satisfaction and boost your gallons per mile delivery rates, contact the Cargas Energy team and see how far we can take you.  

Cargas Energy Tank Monitor Integration Guide

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