Electronic Fuel Interface
- Enoch Poston
Electronic Fuel Interface is an add-on for the RTA Fleet Management Software. The Electronic Fuel Interface (EFI) option allows fueling information from an outside fueling system/program to be loaded into the RTA system, thus, eliminating the need for double entry. RTA can write interfaces for any fueling program that is capable of outputting the fuel data to a text file. The EFI program reads the data contained in the text file and then loads the transactions into the RTA system. The following things will occur automatically after the loaded data has been processed:
- EFI transactions are created
- Fueling transactions are created
- Fuel billing transactions are created
- Fuel tax records are updated
- Vehicle odometers are updated
- Vehicle mileages are updated
- Vehicle usage and costs are updated
- Pump meter readings are updated
- Tank usages are updated
Some of the items listed above may vary depending on how the RTA system is set up. For example, fuel tax records are updated only for vehicles that are flagged as fuel taxable.
Getting Started
Before using EFI, the following items should first be set up in the RTA system:
- Fuel types (MUF)
- Vehicle records, including the following fields (MVM)
- Average MPG
- Fuel taxable flag
- Cross-reference number
It is necessary to use the fuel type and vehicle records from the RTA Fleet Management Software in order to use the EFI option. Refer to the sections listed below in the RTA User's Manual for specific instructions on how to add fuel type and vehicle records. Refer to the sections later in this chapter for instructions on setting up vehicle cross-references.
- Getting Started: Fuel Types
- Vehicle Inventory: Adding a Vehicle
If you will be tracking fuel inventory and/or fuel taxes, the following items should also be set up:
- Tank records (MUM)
- Pump records (MUP)
- State tax tables (MUS)
Refer to the following sections in the RTA User's Manual for specific instructions on how to add tank and pump records or tax tables.
- Fuel Inventory: Fuel Pumps
- Fuel Inventory: Fuel Tanks
- Fuel Inventory: Setting up State Tables and Tax Rates
The following items should be reviewed prior to using EFI:
- Fueling parameters (SSM, Fuel Parameters tab )
- EFI load module (FFEM)
- EFI load settings (FFEM)
- EFI process settings (FFEM)
- Product codes (FFEM)
Refer to the sections later in this chapter for instructions on setting up fueling parameters and EFI items. Product codes may or may not be needed depending on the price setting in the EFI load module(s), as explained later in this chapter.