A SUPERMARKET giant has been forced to apologise to customers after a mistake with a fuel delivery meant drivers filled their cars with the wrong fuel.
The problem happened earlier this week at the filling station at Tesco in Ferndown.
One driver who filled up on Monday told the Daily Echo: “I filled up with unleaded instead of diesel.
“I can’t drive it now and it’s going into the garage to get fixed.”
A Tesco spokesman said: “We can confirm a handful of cars were affected by a fuel problem at our Ferndown store.
“We have apologised to the customers affected for the inconvenience, arranged hire cars and will pay for vehicle repairs.
“We would also like to reassure customers the petrol station is fully open and has no ongoing issues.
“The problem earlier this week was an isolated incident caused by human error when a delivery was placed in the wrong tank.”
Mis-fuelling can cost victims anything from around £200 to more than £3,000, depending on the damage done to the engine.
If the problem is realised before the engine is started, damage can be limited to draining the tank, but in the worst cases the entire fuel system can need replacing.
The tanker driver will probably get the blame, but do you know the receiving tanks were marked up correctly if at all, there will be an inquiry because if this hadn’t have been a fuel tanker, it could have been a chemical tanker which would be more serious.
Tesco will be getting used to these claims now after the last issue cost them big time
chris_g:
A SUPERMARKET giant has been forced to apologise to customers after a mistake with a fuel delivery meant drivers filled their cars with the wrong fuel.
The problem happened earlier this week at the filling station at Tesco in Ferndown.
Hi chris_g,
The title of your post seems to suggest that you know it’s the tanker driver’s fault, or have I read it incorrectly and you have some extra local knowledge? I also couldn’t tell whose fault it was from reading the report that you linked, unless I missed something, which is always possible.
There’s a proper procedure (including a requirement to keep records) for delivering fuel to fuel stations, which is that there’s usually/often an ‘attendant’ from the fuel station involved. Things like which product going into which tank and will the delivery fit into the receiving tank and leave enough ullage space are key requirements of that system.
All I’m saying is that it does look like human error, but it might not be the tanker driver’s fault especially if the delivery was ‘attendant controlled.’
Incidents like this generally serve to remind everybody concerned of the need to follow the system.
Wheel Nut:
The tanker driver will probably get the blame, but do you know the receiving tanks were marked up correctly if at all, there will be an inquiry because if this hadn’t have been a fuel tanker, it could have been a chemical tanker which would be more serious.
Tesco will be getting used to these claims now after the last issue cost them big time
Anybody can ■■■■ up. Its an easy mistake to make realy, both are the same fitting. But the tanker driver will probably get the blame because he hasn’t followed the correct procedure. Also if the tanks are not marked correctly then he should not deliver, and he would be backed by the company for refusing to deliver. However the bottom line is probably that he is on his own (DCD) having a bad day, rushing and not concentrating.
Wheel Nut:
The tanker driver will probably get the blame, but do you know the receiving tanks were marked up correctly if at all, there will be an inquiry because if this hadn’t have been a fuel tanker, it could have been a chemical tanker which would be more serious.
Tesco will be getting used to these claims now after the last issue cost them big time
Anybody can [zb] up. Its an easy mistake to make realy, both are the same fitting. But the tanker driver will probably get the blame because he hasn’t followed the correct procedure. Also if the tanks are not marked correctly then he should not deliver, and he would be backed by the company for refusing to deliver. However the bottom line is probably that he is on his own (DCD) having a bad day, rushing and not concentrating.
Hi steptoe,
I was thinking in terms of an ACD, which might then leave the tanker driver in the clear.
Wheel Nut:
The tanker driver will probably get the blame, but do you know the receiving tanks were marked up correctly if at all, there will be an inquiry because if this hadn’t have been a fuel tanker, it could have been a chemical tanker which would be more serious.
Tesco will be getting used to these claims now after the last issue cost them big time
Anybody can [zb] up. Its an easy mistake to make realy, both are the same fitting. But the tanker driver will probably get the blame because he hasn’t followed the correct procedure. Also if the tanks are not marked correctly then he should not deliver, and he would be backed by the company for refusing to deliver. However the bottom line is probably that he is on his own (DCD) having a bad day, rushing and not concentrating.
Hi steptoe,
I was thinking in terms of an ACD, which might then leave the tanker driver in the clear.
Few Supermarket forecourts are LCD deliveries these days, hope it was though for the drivers sake.
nick172sport:
i thought that delivering petrol needs assistance from staff off the forecourt netherless ive seen many hoyer drivers not using this procedure
People can do all sorts of things they’re not supposed to but when it goes ■■■■ up you’ll get hung out to dry!
nick172sport:
i thought that delivering petrol needs assistance from staff off the forecourt netherless ive seen many hoyer drivers not using this procedure
It depends on the site; some are what’s known as DCD which is driver controlled delivery, so he/she is on their own. Others are LCD which is licensee controlled delivery and then they must have a competent person from the site with them. If you have seen Hoyer drivers discharging on their own it will be on a DCD site.
steptoe:
… LCD which is licensee controlled delivery …
Ahh, so is LCD the new ACD, or does it have two names?
I dont know I have always known it as LCD, but I am happy to go with ACD. I cant find a ref to either in the ACOP though (Thrilling Saturday night). It just says Where the tanker driver is assisted; and, Where the tanker driver is unassisted.
Incidents like this generally serve to remind everybody concerned of the need to follow the system.
Anybody can ■■■■ up. Its an easy mistake to make realy, both are the same fitting. But the tanker driver will probably get the blame because he hasn’t followed the correct procedure. Also if the tanks are not marked correctly then he should not deliver, and he would be backed by the company for refusing to deliver. However the bottom line is probably that he is on his own (DCD) having a bad day, rushing and not concentrating.
