As a courier you will be very busy delivering parcels as you will presumably be paid based upon the number and size of the parcels that you do deliver to both residential and business customers in your area. Needless to say, you will need to put fuel in your courier van and this is something that you may well do on a daily basis.

Well, did you know that there are reportedly tens of thousands of motorists who put the wrong type of fuel in their tanks on an annual basis? Of course, you may say that it is not something you will ever do but there is no guarantee of this as the majority of people make a mistake or two in life.

It is so easy to pick up the wrong fuel nozzle and before you realize put the wrong type of fuel in your courier van’s fuel tank. Many years ago, the writer of this post, put £5 of petrol in his company’s works diesel car and had to call out a breakdown company to recover the vehicle to a company specializing in draining and cleaning out the fuel tank. It took several hours.

Can you imagine the impact on your courier business if you were off the road all day?

Not only would you have the additional expense of having, at very least, to have the fuel tank drained and cleaned out but you may not be able to deliver any parcels to people thus loosing income and potentially also loose some goodwill and future work.

If you do happen to put let’s say petrol in your diesel tank then do not turn on your ignition. Push the van to a safe part of the forecourt and seek help perhaps through either your courier insurance provider or your breakdown cover. If you have started the engine then turn it off as soon as it is safe to do so and seek help.

You may not be aware but some courier insurance companies may provide misfuelling cover as standard within the policy but some may offer it as an optional extra. If not then you may be able to arrange a separate misfuelling cover policy. Do check exactly what cover is provided, is there a maximum amount that the insurer will cover you for and is there an excess payable should you claim on the policy.