The fuel pump attendant

If you have a car or drive one for that matter, you'd probably seen one, complained to one or even gave a tip to one. They work in shifts and one might say it's an old boring job manning the pump but its a gig that is vital for the transport system in any country.

Well to be honest it looks and sounds like its a boring gig. I mean look you wait around a vehicle comes and you serve them right? I find and look at all forms of jobs as adventures regardless of how clean or dirty or how high or low it seats in the employment scale.

The fuel service station pump attendant is a job where I would want to try do for a a day if given the chance. I see it as an exciting service delivery mechanism where you meet different people everyday and your regulars as well.

It's all calculated efforts, it's maths, it's socialism, it's customer service and it's working a few machines. In Lae alone there is about seven fuel stations and a few along the highway too and you as a vehicle owner would definitely have a favorite stop over. This may be for various reasons like a fuel card, location (eg: it might be closer to home), the only one in your town or for the service they provide as a package.

My favorite fuel Service Station in Lae

My favorite would definitely be the Puma Energy station on Coronation Drive operated by a family from Manus. Why? Well their service is swift, quick, reliable and very professional.

My favorite will not be yours so bear in mind. I like the hype at which these attendants work with even the ladies and boss comes out every now and then to lend a helping hand. I hardly wait more then five minutes to be served unless there is a long que. Besides the air-conditioning in the shop is probably the coldest anywhere in Lae. These Manus people sure love the cold.

Working the Fuel Pump

We all think its an easy job but one attendant may served up to 50 cars in a day. Safety here is of paramount because they are dealing with highly flammable liquids. The first thing that they do is basic knowledge on what vehicles take petrol and what vehicles take diesel. They can also identify that on the colour of the vehicles tank lid (so I'm told).

Another task at hand is managing a minor traffic jam at the service station during peak hours. Working the pump is a hideous task first they approach the vehicle owner to see what he wants or how much fuel he wants. Most of us go for the amouth example K20 worth of fuel while some go for the litres example 20 litres.

Then they have to wait for the pump to be cleared by the cashier inside before pumping begins. Once that is done they punch in the amount and wala we are on the way. They make sure your tank is open and then fill your ride up making sure they close the lid afterwards. Then if you need a receipt they hand you one but if you're like me we just disregard that.

Imagine you do that for 50 plus vehicles everyday for seven days a week with the hype these boys at Coronation put in. You have to find motivation somewhere to do it. These guys have become good buddies of mine and No I don't get a discount if that's on your mind.

But because I appreciate the job they do. They keep all the cars on the road but yet we don't pay much attention to them. I acknowledge every thing they do and correct them if something is not right.

The next time you visit a service station smile and give these people credit. They are the ones keeping your car on the road with fuel, they hardly complain. They just go about doing their job which most of us don't see as important. Give them a tip or just thank them.

I know we each have a bad incident at the service station but look that might have happened only once. You might have been cheated or given the wrong change or even wrong fuel or contaminated fuel. None the less let appreciate the work of a fuel pump attendant!