What makes your favorite movie stand out to you? Whether it’s plot twists or action scenes, it’s easy to forget that it’s often the work behind the scenes that sets this experience up for success. The same can be said about an efficient jobsite. People often notice the big equipment, but fail to consider the actions that keep the operation running, such as efficient refueling solutions.
“Fuel is the offensive lineman of the football team,” begins JD Holland, Ricochet Fuel Distributors senior sales executive. “Nobody cares about it until it’s not there. At Ricochet, our priority is to make refueling equipment as stress-free as possible.”
The team at Ricochet sources and matches assets to meet the needs of fleet managers, allowing them to manage jobsite refueling. As part of its focus to offer customers the best fueling solutions, Ricochet attends trade shows and events to continually research solutions. It was this drive for improvement that led to an encounter with on-site fuel tank manufacturer, Western Global. After experiencing the benefits of Western Global fuel tanks, it wasn’t long before Ricochet offered these on-site fuel storage solutions.
A NEW SOLUTION
In business since 1988, Ricochet built its reputation by offering fuel solutions through traditional round fuel tanks and wet hosing. This approach offered both benefits and drawbacks. Although wet hosing offers the contractor a hands-off approach to refueling a fleet, it also removes the control from the contractor and makes them reliant on third-party drivers for refueling. Opting for traditional round fuel tanks alleviates those concerns. However, this refueling option comes with its own drawbacks.
For example, the bulky design of traditional round fuel tanks makes transportation difficult. Additionally, traditional fuel tanks require a secondary containment pan for environmental protection that needs monitoring and cleaning as it fills with rainwater and debris. Regardless, wet hosing and traditional round fuel tanks have become the status quo in the fuel distribution industry because the benefits of these refueling solutions often outweigh the disadvantages. And so, it was for Ricochet until the company won a 500-gallon Western Global FuelCube at a tradeshow in 2015.
“A sales manager from Western Global began calling on us shortly after we won the FuelCube,” says Sam Brett, vice president of vendor relations at Ricochet Fuel Distributors. “After a few years, his persistence and constant flow of information took hold, and we were ready to commit to this new fuel storage solution. We’ve probably bought close to 10 truckloads at this point and haven’t looked back since.”
A BETTER ASSET
When outfitting customers with the best on-site fuel storage solutions for their needs, there are considerations to make beyond fuel tank capacity. Ricochet also considers geography, monthly fuel usage, and the type of fuel used. While most of Ricochet’s customers are familiar with standard cylinder tanks or wet hosing, they are often impressed with the added benefits of Western Global fuel tanks.
Enhanced Security
A perk customers first notice is the added security of Western Global FuelCubes. Traditional fuel tanks have pumps located in easily accessible areas for refilling equipment. Unfortunately, that means these fuel pumps are also susceptible to theft, so fleets employ cameras and bright lighting to protect the fuel supply. Each FuelCube includes integrated anti-theft technology that locks the tank to any user without a key card to unlock the dispense controls. Each access card is unique, allowing fleet managers to easily track details about how much fuel each machine uses.
Easier Maintenance
Traditional on-site fuel tanks require a secondary containment pan that catches rainwater and debris that comes around the fuel tank. This pan requires frequent monitoring and cleaning of external factors that accumulate. Western Global manufactures its FuelCubes with double-walled containment, which eliminates the need for the secondary containment pan. This also means a third party is no longer required to pump out a secondary containment pan before moving the fuel tank, which translates into cost and labor savings.
Small Footprint
The FuelCubes’ stackable square design makes efficient use of tight spaces. A single truckload fits more tanks, leading to fewer trips to the jobsite and allowing fleet managers to use multiple FuelCubes—even in areas with minimal space. For even more freedom with transportability, fleet managers can consider a TransCube Global fuel tank. This tank features the same cube shape as a FuelCube but offers the added benefit of being transportable while filled with fuel.
FUELCUBE EXPERIENCE
Both Holland and Brett have seen how FuelCubes have changed customers’ experience around the country.
“There are some dirt movers we work with who are on a jobsite anywhere from one to four months,” Holland explains. “They were originally using standard cylinder fuel tanks with secondary containment pans … We put a FuelCube on the jobsite for them to try, and within the first year they wanted to swap all their on-site fuel tanks for FuelCubes because it made their jobs so much easier.”
“We also have a large customer that’s on multiple jobsites throughout the country who vowed to only use FuelCubes after we introduced them,” Brett adds. “This not only benefits the fleet manager, but also makes things easier for our team at Ricochet because we can haul more tanks on our trucks and don’t have to worry about hiring another company to pump out secondary containment pans filled with water or oil.”
WINNING COMBINATION
When meeting customers’ needs, Ricochet attributes part of its success to a partnership with Western Global. One of Ricochet’s goals is to surpass expectations for customers, and collaborating with Western Global has helped meet this goal as the company delivers millions of gallons of fuel to customers across the United States.
“From providing quotes in a timely fashion and helping answer questions to maintaining inventory and short lead times, Western Global’s dedication to being ready with whatever we need has set both our team and our customers up for success,” Brett says.
Switching from traditional on-site fuel storage to FuelCubes has aided Ricochet in helping its customers achieve maximum efficiency and reliability.
“At Ricochet, we strive to provide quality products and excellent service to match,” Brett says. “FuelCubes bolster that image with technology and a design that surpasses the efficiencies of anything else on the market for the ultimate convenience for customers. You’d be surprised to hear all the calls we get from neighboring jobsites once our FuelCubes hit the ground. Everyone wants to learn more about them and find out how they can help their business reach the next level.”
Just as a stunt double or makeup professional enhance a character’s performance in a movie, Western Global’s fuel tanks work behind the scenes to improve jobsite productivity. As one of the go-to companies for fuel solutions, Ricochet sees Western Global’s FuelCubes not only as a benefit for business but as the beginning of a new standard for on-site fuel storage solutions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Lowe is the director of product and sales at Western Global Americas. Western Global is a global designer and manufacturer of tanks and equipment for fuel storage. Western Global offers a range of solutions for the safe transportation and storage of fuel. Western Global engineers industry-specific solutions to ensure success in all of its customers’ business endeavors.
Ricochet Fuel Distributors Inc. was founded in 1988 by Kelly Brett Roberts in Hurst, Texas. Ricochet Fuel has grown into a diversified multi-state fuel logistics company that offers a variety of petroleum products, services, and resources to its growing customer base. Find out more, visit www.western-global.com and www.ricochetfuel.com.
