Ben Thomas of UST Training recently returned from the PEI Trade Show in Atlanta with lots to share about what’s new in the world of UST systems. PEI reported that 1,575 attendees visited 641 booths and 245 educational sessions. The show, including the NACS side, is so big that attendees never really get to all the booths and can’t spend enough time at each one to feel like they’ve “seen it all.” Even so, there are some major (and minor) things to report back to UST professionals including Class A/B and C UST operators.

UST Training may not approved to offer Class A/B Training in every state and territory but we do have state-specific solutions for UST operators looking for the best possible option.

Using our three decades of UST expertise and our position as industry leaders in UST training, we are happy to guide you to the best option based on your company need and who we think the best state-specific choices are.

We are part of an informal network of national training solutions so let us make a referral for you. Need solutions in a large number of states? We have them.

Contact us at [email protected] or 866-301-8265.

Warren Rogers Associates (WRA) has been a pioneer in fuel storage management since the late 1970’s. And while many in the UST industry know WRA mainly for their contribution to SIR (Statistical Inventory Reconciliation) or CITLDS (Continuous In Tank Leak detection System), they offer an array of services aimed at helping UST operators not only look for leaks but manage inventory smarter for the business side of things.

We encourage Class A/B UST operators to learn more about sound inventory management principles. Check out the WRA web page for more information and watch their new video on YouTube.

We also often refer UST operators to WRA where their site’s total monthly throughput exceeds the third party certification’s standards, making leak detection results uncertain.

If you’re like me, your friends and family don’t always understand exactly what a UST professional does when you try to explain it to them.  And because so much of what we’re interested in is underground, it’s hard to easily visualize this world of pumps, sumps, fittings, piping and tanks.

I found this great video on YouTube which explains the basics. This might be helpful for UST inspectors and Class A/B UST operators for training new employees. Check it out!

Bob Renkes, Executive Director of the Petroleum Equipment Institute, recently announced his retirement after serving PEI for over 37 years. Bob has been a guiding voice in the UST industry for decades and he will be sorely missed.  We at UST Training have had the pleasure of knowing Bob for many years and have come to rely on Bob, and by extension the entire PEI staff, as the ultimate go-to source of credible and knowledgeable information and news about petroleum equipment. Ben Thomas of UST Training has the pleasure attending Bob’s retirement recognition at this year’s PEI Show in Atlanta.  Check out the video PEI staff made to honor Bob’s achievements and amazing career. Thanks Bob!!

Hey UST Operators of America: here’s something UST-related but kind of fun as well. I’ve only been to the Tea Cup station in Zillah, Washington. Anyone been to the others?

Fuel Up At America’s Coolest Gas Stations

This just in from the Petroleum Equipment Institute’s Tulsa Letter…It’s good news for Class A/B UST operators who will be performing the 30-day walkthrough inspections, coming soon to a state near you.

“PEI’s UST System Inspection & Maintenance Committee (Committee) met September 8 in Chicago and updated all but one section of PEI’s Recommended Practices for the Inspection and Maintenance of UST Systems (PEI/RP900).

Would you believe lack of proper UST operator training tops the charts of UST violations in the US? A recently published report about the state of national UST compliance shows some curious results, especially about UST operator training violations. The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) Tank Subcommittee’s UST Task Force with assistance from the US EPA published the study UST COMMON COMPLIANCE VIOLATIONS REPORT – FY 2014.

According to the study “The intent of this report is to provide a national perspective with regard to which UST violations are discovered in greatest frequency and may require additional attention.”

While much of the report was eye-opening in regards to things like what’s not working with release detection, we focused on the part about UST operator training. The report further states: “The FY 2014 dataset represents the responses of 31 States and one local agency, and accounts for nearly 43,000 UST inspections.  For 2014, Operator Training was the top violation category with 81% of the States reporting it in their top eight violations; this is followed by Release Detection Pressure – Piping at 75%, Release Detection – Tank at 69%, Spill Prevention at 63%, Corrosion Protection at 59%, Financial Responsibility at 53%, and Other/State Specific at 50%.”

At UST Training we constantly look for new and interesting ways to help Class A/B and C UST operators be the best they can be. But we also have many subscribers and associates who are UST technician nationwide as well.

As a proud member of PEI, we’re happy to showcase four new training tools for hiring UST technicians.

Service Technician Recruitment

The four tools include video clips, an aptitude test, training course manual and a training exam. Check it out!