Truck loading
Tank truck loading at the rack, from gate entry through to a completed, documented movement.
Truck Loading & Load Rack Automation
Truck Loading Automation for Bulk Terminals
Every truck that pulls onto the rack is potentially a transaction waiting to go wrong. TLOAD automates the whole sequence — from the driver validation at the gate, to the controlled loading at the rack, and the measured quantity capture, to the final Bill-of-Lading (BOL) generated from what was actually loaded at the terminal.
Where truck loading actually costs you
Loading a tank truck seems like a simple process from the outside: product goes in, the driver leaves, and the transaction is complete. In reality, the hidden costs are usually found in the exceptions. A driver’s authorization may have expired. A load may be authorized for one product but delivered as another. A truck may be overloaded and require product to be removed. A loading rack may operate through a single bay instead of using available capacity efficiently. A quantity may be written down manually at the rack and entered into the ERP several days later, perhaps with a small error. At 6:00 a.m., a line of trucks may form at the gate because every transaction must be checked manually.
Individually, these issues may seem minor. Over time, however, they accumulate. By the end of the month, they can appear as gain-loss discrepancies that are difficult to explain, invoices that do not match what actually left the terminal, operational delays, and reconciliation efforts that require several people and several days to resolve.
Truck loading automation removes much of the manual involvement at each of these points. Instead of relying on operators to remember and enforce every business rule, the terminal itself validates the driver, order, product, quantity, equipment, and transaction conditions in real time. The result is a process that is faster, more consistent, more accurate, and easier to audit.
The automated loading sequence
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Driver and vehicle validation
Before any product flows, TLOAD verifies that the driver is authorized and that the vehicle is approved for the product being handled. A driver PIN entered at the loading rack ties the transaction to a specific individual.
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Load rack automation
TLOAD directly controls the loading rack and batch controller, executing the load against the authorized selected preset .
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Meter loading and scale capture
For liquids or fuels, TLOAD records the volume from the meter. For weight-based products, it captures the scale weight. In either case, the measured quantity is recorded automatically.
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Bill of Lading generation
At the end of the load, TLOAD generates the Bill of Lading (BOL) using the measured quantities. The driver reviews and signs the BOL, which is then printed and transmitted to the ERP system.
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Posting to SAP
The completed movement is passed to TMW Cloud, where it is validated, transformed as required, and posted into SAP/ERP as a complete business transaction. Thus physical movement at the terminal is accurately reflected in the ERP for inventory, financial, and audit purposes.
Loading operations TLOAD covers
Load rack automation
Direct control of loading rack equipment, so the authorized quantity and product are what get delivered.
Meter loading
Product volume is measured continuously at the loading rack as it flows and captured directly into the TLOAD transaction record.
Bulk loading
Designed for sustained high-throughput operations where loading-rack capacity is the constraint, TLOAD enables efficient multi-bay loading to increase throughput and reduce truck turnaround time.
Oil and gas loading
Refined fuels and hydrocarbon products moving out of refineries, fuel terminals, and tank farms.
Scale integration
Terminal scales connected into the same workflow, so weight based movements are captured automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is truck loading automation?
Truck loading automation is software that controls the loading of products into tank trucks at a terminal. First, it validates the driver, vehicle, and loading authorization before loading begins. Second, it controls the loading rack to ensure the delivered quantity matches the authorized amount. Third, it captures the actual measured quantity. Finally, it generates the Bill of Lading (BOL) to complete the transaction.
What is a driver PIN used for at a loading terminal?
A driver PIN is a credential entered at the loading rack to verify the driver’s identity before loading begins. It links the transaction to a specific authorized driver. It replaces the use of access cards.
What is the difference between meter loading and weight-based loading?
In meter loading, quantities are measured using a flow meter, such as a Coriolis meter. This approach is commonly used for fuel and liquid product loading. Weight-based loading uses a weighbridge to measure the vehicle’s inbound and outbound weight, calculating the net loaded weight. This method is commonly used for products such as asphalt. TLOAD supports both loading methods through integrated load rack automation and weighbridge integration, providing accurate, validated loading transactions for downstream ERP systems.
Can truck loading data post automatically into SAP?
Yes. Completed loading movements pass to TMW Cloud, which validates them and posts them into SAP as sales orders, goods movements, and purchase orders, with no custom ABAP in the SAP core.
Related
Cut the manual steps out of your rack
Show us how a truck moves through your terminal today, and we will show you which steps TLOAD automates and what that does to your turnaround time.
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