Tank lorry VTS and route deviation: the dealer's duty under MDG

Short answer

Under the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024), the dealer follows the tank lorry carrying the outlet's supply on VTS, using the link provided. If a deviation shows, the supply location is told immediately, before the lorry is accepted. Further action follows once the deviation and the oil company officials' instructions have been recorded MDG 1.5(vii). After an unusual deviation in time or route, decant only on further instructions MDG 2.3. A supply location may not fill a lorry whose VTS is missing or not working as prescribed MDG 3.2.

The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024) are the oil companies' rules for their dealers, and bind dealers through the dealership agreement. This page is a plain-language explanation by MDG Services (a brand of VRUOOM Private Limited). It is not the official text and is not connected with or approved by IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL or any government body, so please check the current guidelines and circulars on the oil companies' own websites and with your oil company officer before you act.

Checked against the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (Ver. 1, effective 24.10.2024) on 15 October 2026. Published by MDG Services on 29 October 2026.

What the dealer does

Watch the lorry on VTS, through the link provided MDG 1.5(vii).
Report any deviation at once to the supply location, before you accept the lorry MDG 1.5(vii).
Record what you saw and the oil company officials' instructions; further action follows from them MDG 1.5(vii). General practice, not an MDG rule: a dated note with the time, what the link showed and whom you told.
After an unusual deviation, decant only on further instructions MDG 2.3. The rest of the receipt order is on receiving a tanker.

What VTS covers

The system generates deviation reports and alerts on time and route, and both the supply location's officers and the dealer can see them MDG 3.2. A supply location must not fill a lorry whose VTS is missing or not working as prescribed MDG 3.2. For ex-MI supplies, dealers or their representatives may watch the lorry being filled, and a dealer may also accompany it to the outlet MDG 3.2. MDG does not define ex-MI, so ask your oil company if your supply is covered.

An example

This is an illustration. A diesel lorry due at 3:00 PM shows at 2:00 PM standing 30 minutes off its usual route. The dealer calls the supply location at once, notes the time and whom the call went to, and decants only once the oil company's instruction arrives MDG 1.5(vii) MDG 2.3.

What MDG does not say

MDG says only "the link provided" MDG 1.5(vii) and does not say how big a deviation must be to count. Ask your oil company how you get the link and what it treats as a deviation.

Questions dealers ask

01What is VTS at a petrol pump?

MDG does not spell out the letters. General knowledge, not MDG text: VTS usually means vehicle tracking system. In MDG, the dealer follows the lorry through it and it generates deviation reports and alerts MDG 1.5(vii) MDG 3.2.

02What is tank lorry route deviation?

MDG says the deviation reports and alerts cover deviations in time and in route, and sets no number of minutes or kilometres MDG 3.2. Its note to 2.3 speaks of an unusual deviation in time or route MDG 2.3.

03Can a supply location fill a tank lorry that has no working VTS or GPS?

No. The supply location must not fill a lorry whose VTS is not installed or not working as prescribed, and it is responsible for the GPS running smoothly MDG 3.2.

04Is there a penalty for not monitoring the VTS?

Chapter 5 does not list it as an irregularity. For anything not listed, the oil company's competent authority acts after an enquiry, following natural justice MDG 8.5.4, and an irregularity must be established first MDG 8.5.2.

Read the official text: Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (PDF on Bharat Petroleum's website) (also published on iocl.com).

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Tank lorry retention sample: how to draw, label and keep itHow to draw, seal, label and keep the tank lorry retention sample under Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024), and what follows if it is missing.

Oil company duties under MDG: what a dealer can expectWhat MDG 2024 requires of the oil company: depot quality checks, water dips, 30-day samples, invoice details, tanker checks, GPS, sample kit, training.

Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024) glossary: terms and full formsA to Z meanings of the short forms and terms in MDG 2024 that a petrol pump dealer meets, such as MDG, OMC, RO, MS, HSD, MPD, NANO and reference density.

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