For Immediate Release:

November 19, 2014

 

       Weights and Measures

County checking fuel oil trucks for accuracy

Inspect for accuracy of volume and price

FREEHOLD, NJ – Homeowners may feel they spend too much on fuel oil to heat their homes as the temperatures drop - but annual inspections to measure the accuracy of fuel oil delivery trucks in Monmouth County have turned up very few violations.

The County’s Division of Weights and Measures check fuel oil delivery trucks for accuracy of volume and price.

“Inspectors at the County Weights and Measures department work tirelessly for the Monmouth County consumer,” Freeholder Serena DiMaso said. “Homeowners can be assured they are getting what they pay for. Inspectors check the meter on the each truck to ensure it is calibrated properly and actual volume being pumped is correct. The work they do touches the lives of consumers every day.”

This year’s inspection comes as the average price for home heating oil throughout New Jersey this week is $3.48 per gallon as noted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Like any other weighing or measuring device in Monmouth County that is used in trade, fuel oil delivery trucks must be inspected and tested by the County’s Division of Weights and Measures every year. The first round of inspections are conducted in October.  Re-inspections continue throughout the winter months.

 

“Most oil truck meters are accurate,” said Ben Peluso, superintendent of the Division of Weights and Measures. “The majority of the oil companies and individuals who operate these trucks are honest. However, from time to time, violations do occur. In that case, a truck is condemned and cannot deliver fuel until the problem is resolved and the truck re-inspected.”

 

So far, of the forty-eight trucks inspected, only five failed the test.

 

In addition to checking weighing and measuring devices such as scales and fuel oil delivery trucks, the county assures the accuracy of every consumer product sold by weight, measure, count, volume or time. Every device used in trade and almost every product sold in the marketplace is regulated in one way or another by Weights and Measures.

 

Depending on the nature of any violation that is found, the Division of Weights and Measure may issue a summons and penalty may be assessed.  

 

Results of this year’s fuel oil truck inspections won’t be available until all inspections and re-inspections are completed.

 

Consumers who may have a concern or question about a fuel oil company should call the Monmouth County Division of Weights and Measures at 732-431-7362.

 

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