UKPIA (UK Petroleum Industry Association) has launched its new Safe Loading Pass Scheme (SLPS), a safety scheme for road fuel tankers.

First established in the UK in 1989, the scheme has been revised by a cross-industry team, comprising representatives of the UK Petroleum Industry Association, the Tank Storage Association and the Freight Transport Association.

The new scheme ensures that common standards are in place for workshops and technicians carrying out inspections on road fuel tankers prior to entry to terminals. In addition, it provides a new web-based portal for the registration of inspections and a mechanism for terminals to query vehicles’ passes electronically.

The scheme is a requisite for entry into all fuel terminals operated by members of the UK Petroleum Industry Association and the Tank Storage Association. The Freight Transport Association manages the scheme on behalf of UKPIA.

Peter Davidson, director safety, commercial & projects, said: “The redevelopment of the scheme is a credit to all involved. The SLPS now well reflects the changes in our industry and it is more widely adopted by downstream oil distribution terminals. It also sets higher standards, thus providing confidence to terminal operators that road tankers entering their terminals to load fuel are safe to do so.”