Inst of Couriers Challenge Codes for fuel rationing

Electronic proof code

An IOC web portal for the fuel station to check in real time

As diesel holds around one ninety and the war remains, talk of fuel rationing is key amongst final mile van drivers. During COVID our sector was recognised as critical infrastructure, getting deliveries to door when the Govt restricted vehicle movements. Branded vans were rarely confronted at roadside. The drivers most challenged operated plain vans. During COVID IOC generated a paper-based driver challenge code for all drivers to show authorities if challenged. Preparing for potential fuel rationing, IOC has prepared a similar, but more modern, electronic challenge code for bona fide drivers to present at their fuel station if the worst scenario lands.

Design goals - Above all, the system’s ease of use at the point of challenge at the fuel station is of the highest importance. The design adopted here is meant to make the process for the attendant as near to one-touch as possible. No text entry is required by the garage employee, only a menu selection, a single button press and a visual confirmation of the driver’s registration plate.

The driver pre-enrols with the secret pin of the employer they are working for before they ever get to the till. This is a simple process that should take less than 1 minute.

Once at the till, all the attendant has to do is

• Scan the branded QR-code offered by the driver – this will take the attendant to the IoC Challenge portal
• Once on the portal, the attendant only has to select the company name the driver says they are working for, and then
• Press the ‘Challenge’ button on the portal screen.
• If a good code is presented, then all that remains is to verify the registration number on the challenge screen with the vehicle that the driver arrived at the forecourt in.
• If a bad code is presented, then the transaction can be denied.