In the high-demand world of mining logistics, every litre of diesel counts. When one of South Africa’s trusted transport companies noticed a concerning spike in fuel consumption from a single truck in their fleet, alarm bells rang. The rest of their fleet reported standard consumption levels, yet this particular truck was refuelling more often — far more than what the job demanded.
With no immediate fuel theft alerts on the Landmark FuelSecure system, the anomaly seemed mysterious. But the client’s instincts told them something wasn’t right. They reached out to the Landmark FuelSecure team — and what unfolded was a textbook example of how data-driven fuel tracking can expose what’s hidden in plain sight.
The Client’s Profile
This client operates a fleet of heavy-duty trucks responsible for transporting mining machinery to and from operational mining sites across South Africa. These transport vehicles frequently refuel at both their private yard depot and third-party fuelling stations during long-haul routes.
With rising fuel costs and tight operating margins, the company takes fuel management seriously. That’s why they invested in Landmark FuelSecure’s comprehensive fuel monitoring system, which combines advanced in-tank fuel probes with intelligent software that tracks and analyses every litre dispensed into their fleet vehicles.
The Initial Concern: A Vehicle with a Fuel Appetite
In May 2025, the fleet manager flagged an outlier. One vehicle was using significantly more diesel compared to others completing similar routes. With the Landmark FuelSecure system showing no fuel theft or leakage alerts, it was difficult to determine the root cause at first glance. Was it a mechanical issue? A routing inefficiency? Or was there something more intentional at play?
Rather than making assumptions, the client reached out to Landmark FuelSecure’s support team for a deeper investigation.
The Deep Dive: Where Data Told a Different Story
The Landmark FuelSecure team began by analysing the fill-up logs of the vehicle in question, pulling data directly from the onboard fuel probes and comparing it against manual fill-up slips provided by the client. The analysis focused on all fuel activity during May 2025, zeroing in on discrepancies between the volume of fuel recorded by our sensors and the amounts claimed on paper.
What we found was both revealing and concerning.
On 12 May 2025, a slip from a fuelling station showed a fill-up of 600 litres. But our sensor data indicated only 248.97 litres were actually deposited into the truck’s fuel tank.
Then, just three days later on 15 May 2025, another fill-up slip recorded 600 litres, while our fuel probe detected a fill of only 179.58 litres.
Both transactions occurred at the same fuelling station — and both discrepancies pointed to something beyond coincidence.
Uncovering the Truth: Collusion and Fraud
With clear data in hand, the client reviewed the patterns and matched timestamps, locations, and personnel. The evidence painted a stark picture: the driver and a fuel attendant had been colluding to divert fuel into external containers during fill-ups.
Once the correct amount was pumped into the vehicle, the remaining diesel — which the client had paid for — was siphoned off and likely sold elsewhere. In just those two transactions, the client suffered a direct financial loss of R13,675.20.
And if the pattern had continued undetected, the annual cost of this fraud could have reached hundreds of thousands of rands.
Resolution and Results: Data Leads to Justice
Thanks to the precision of Landmark FuelSecure’s fuel tracking system, the client was able to take swift action. Armed with digital logs, comparative data, and irrefutable time-stamped proof, they moved to discipline the involved staff and report the incident to law enforcement.
The Landmark team continues to support the investigation by supplying verified evidence needed to aid prosecution — helping the client build a strong legal case against the perpetrators.
More importantly, the client has since instituted a tighter audit process across their entire fleet, with Landmark FuelSecure software now being actively monitored in real time for even the smallest discrepancies.
Why This Story Matters: Fuel Security is Business Security
For businesses operating in fuel-intensive sectors — from mining and logistics to construction and agriculture — fuel theft isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It’s a profit killer. What makes it more dangerous is how easily it can go unnoticed when relying on manual processes, trust, or inconsistent monitoring tools.
Landmark FuelSecure bridges that gap by offering:
- Advanced in-tank fuel probes for real-time volume tracking
- Customisable alerts and reporting to flag anomalies
- Integrated platform tools for cross-verification with receipts and transactions
- Expert investigation support when suspicions arise
As this story proves, it’s not always a question of if fuel theft occurs — but how soon you can detect and stop it.
Could You Be Losing Fuel Without Realising It?
Whether you run five vehicles or fifty, hidden fuel loss can have a major impact on your bottom line. Don’t wait for the problem to spiral.
Partner with Landmark FuelSecure for a fuel management solution that gives you control, clarity, and peace of mind.
