12 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Components
12 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Components
September / October 2018
From humble beginnings delivering fuel by horse and wagon in 1926 , SA White Oil Company has grown into one of the largest fuel and DEF distribution centres in the state of Georgia
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Third-generation owned SA White Oil Company overcame DEF-transport pump reliability challenges with the installation of Blackmer SX1b-DEF sliding vane pumps
For SA White Oil Company “ providing unparalleled customer service ” is more than just a company mantra ; it ’ s a family tradition and a way of life . In fact , it ’ s one of the main reasons why the company has grown from its humble beginnings – delivering fuel by horse and wagon – into one of the largest fuel and diesel exhaust fluid ( DEF ) distribution centres in the American state of Georgia . Headquartered in Marietta , SA White Oil Company was founded in 1926 thanks to the dreams and dedication of its founder , SA White . With his wife ‘ Willie ’ doing the books , White started the business with a grocery store and a few gas pumps , and quickly expanded the operation to include a fuel distribution centre located on a modest thoroughfare known as Atlanta Road . In 1955 , when White ’ s daughter , Suse Ann , and son-in-law , Wally Gresh , picked up the reins of the business , the company transformed from a commissioned agent business to a distributor business , and first began delivering fuel straight to customers . The company also expanded operations to include the delivery of heating fuel for homes , and began specialising in providing fuel for commercial customers onsite , a focus the company has kept ever since . Today , the company is still located in its original headquarters with sister company Mobilized Fuels , Inc , operating 24 hours a day , six days a week , primarily serving customers within a 150-mile radius around Atlanta , with jobbers in South Georgia , Alabama and Tennessee . Between the two companies , they operate 25 fuel trucks that deliver 80 million gallons of fuel a year . Additionally , the two use four refueller tank trucks that provide fleet refuelling deliveries of both diesel fuel and DEF . In total , these trucks deliver more than 5,000 gallons of DEF each week directly to customer sites and equipment , supplying between 5-20 gallons of DEF per truck .
Three strikes and you ’ re out
Not only is SA White Oil Company a truly family-owned and operated business , even the mechanics responsible for keeping the company ’ s mobile delivery fleet in top working condition are a father-son team : Earl ( the father ) and son Evan Noble . “ It ’ s mine and Evan ’ s job to keep the delivery trucks and transport trailers running ,” said Earl Noble . “ Without these trucks , we can ’ t do what ’ s right by our customers , and for us , it ’ s all about customer service and exceeding expectations . So whether it ’ s delivering fuel or
topping off a truck with DEF , it ’ s our responsibility to make sure our customers ’ trucks are ready to go when the drivers show up in the morning to make their deliveries .” To help ensure that its mobile tankers continue to run smoothly day after day , the company believes in using only the best equipment available . And the responsibility of finding this equipment falls on the shoulders of the father-son team , ensuring that every piece of equipment that goes on one of the tankers is ideally suited for the company ’ s needs . This includes the pumps the company uses to transfer DEF . “ DEF is so important these days ; it ’ s a huge part of our business ,” said Evan Noble . “ It ’ s needed for almost every truck – everything from landscaping equipment to produce haulers . It ’ s everywhere . So , we need to make sure we are using good DEF equipment , especially the pumps . If you use the wrong kind of pump and the DEF gets contaminated , it will shut down the truck and ruin the engine .” While necessary , delivering DEF can be challenging , and needs to be handled by equipment and transports specially designed for hauling the product . DEF is incompatible with materials such as copper and brass , and can lead to corrosion . This means that any transport used to haul DEF , as well as its wetted components , needs to be made of stainless steel or approved plastics . This ensures the fluid won ’ t become contaminated during its handling and transfer . By extension , the pumps required to load DEF onto the transport and off again into a storage vessel or truck , must also be compatible with DEF ’ s unique characteristics . However , not all DEF-compatible pumps are created equal . Many DEF pumps are categorised as low-cost , short-service ‘ throwaway ’
Along with sister company Mobilised Fuels , SA White delivers 80 million gallons of fuel a year and more than 5,000 gallons of DEF product each week
pumps , which use inadequate designs and , in many cases , are constructed of cheaper plastic materials . Improper pump design can cause the equipment to lock up , shut down or leak , resulting in costly downtime or a messy clean-up . This is a lesson that Earl and Evan had to find out the hard way . Prior to finding their current pump solution , the two-man team was using a brand name 12-volt transfer pump to deliver DEF . While the pumps are suitable for DEF applications , they can be extremely noisy , and their design and method of operation can cause the pump to shut down and overheat when used continuously . In addition , the pumps usually can ’ t provide the flow rates most DEF haulers need . “ Before , we were using whatever pump fit our application because we just didn ’ t know that there was a better quality pump out there ,” said Earl . “ The pumps we originally installed seemed to work fine for the smaller tanks when they didn ’ t have to pump that much . But when it came time to make more consistent deliveries , the pumps couldn ’ t handle that much pumping . If we ran the pumps too long , the 12-volt motor on the pumps would overheat and not turn back on until they were cooled down , especially in the summertime when it was hot . These are time-sensitive deliveries and our drivers can ’ t be waiting for the pumps to cool down or be replaced .” In addition to material compatibility , another important consideration is pump reliability and longevity . Pumps that use parts which are not as robust as the industry standard are more likely to wear out or break down faster . When these operational problems occur , the result is higher costs for maintenance , repair , replacement