A petrol attendant serves customers at a fuel forecourt: dispensing fuel, checking oil and water, cleaning windscreens and handling payment. South Africa is one of the few countries where forecourts are fully attended by law, which makes this a large and visible occupation.
This guide sets out petrol attendant duties and responsibilities and how the role changes by site. It is part of the wider job duties guide.
What Does a Petrol Attendant Do?
A petrol attendant greets the driver, confirms the fuel type and amount, dispenses it, offers and performs the oil, water and tyre checks, cleans the windscreen, takes payment and gives correct change or a card slip.
Two duties carry real consequence. The first is fuel type: putting petrol into a diesel vehicle causes expensive damage and is one of the few errors on a forecourt that cannot be quietly fixed. The second is cash handling, because attendants work with cash in the open and are accountable for their float at the end of a shift.
Safety is the constant background. A forecourt is a fuel storage and dispensing area, and no-smoking, spillage, static and engine-off rules exist because the consequences of ignoring them are severe.
Petrol attendant job descriptions cover three things at once: dispensing and vehicle checks, cash and payment handling, and forecourt housekeeping and safety. Sites differ mainly in how much convenience store work is added on top.
Key Petrol Attendant Duties and Responsibilities
- Greeting drivers and confirming the fuel type and amount required.
- Dispensing fuel accurately using the correct nozzle and pump.
- Checking oil, water, brake fluid and tyre pressure when requested.
- Cleaning windscreens and offering additional forecourt services.
- Processing cash and card payments and issuing correct change and slips.
- Balancing the float and cashing up at the end of the shift.
- Recording pump readings and completing shift documentation.
- Selling and upselling oil, additives and forecourt products.
- Keeping the forecourt, pumps and bins clean and free of spillage.
- Enforcing safety rules including no smoking and engines switched off.
- Reporting pump faults, leaks, spillages and safety hazards immediately.
- Assisting the site with deliveries, dips and stock checks as directed.
Daily Tasks of a Petrol Attendant
- Start of shift: receive the float, record pump readings and check equipment.
- Through the shift: serve vehicles, dispense fuel, do checks and take payment.
- Between customers: clean the pump area, restock cloths and clear litter.
- Quiet periods: assist with deliveries, tank dips and forecourt housekeeping.
- End of shift: record closing readings, cash up and hand over to the supervisor.
Petrol Attendant Skills and Competencies
- Accuracy on fuel type: confirming before the nozzle goes in, every time.
- Cash handling: correct change under pressure and a float that balances.
- Customer service: the reason regular drivers choose one forecourt over another.
- Safety discipline: forecourt rules applied to every customer without exception.
- Physical stamina: standing outdoors in all weather for a full shift.
- Honesty: the role is trusted with cash in an open environment.
Petrol Attendant Duties by Workplace or Industry
Highway and Truck Stops
High volumes, diesel and fleet card transactions, long-distance drivers and heavy vehicles requiring different handling and larger fills.
Urban and Suburban Forecourts
Regular local customers, peak-hour queues, more convenience store interaction and an emphasis on service speed.
Rural and Small-Town Sites
Smaller teams mean attendants also handle the shop, deliveries, dips and general site duties.
Fleet and Depot Fuelling
Duties centre on recording vehicle numbers, odometer readings and litres against fleet accounts rather than taking payment from the public.
In every setting the attendant is the only staff member most drivers deal with, which is why fuel brands measure the role on service scores as closely as on cash accuracy.
Petrol Attendant Duties for a CV
Give shift takings, service record and cash accuracy. Use the duties for a CV guide for the method.
- Served up to 220 vehicles a shift at a high-volume highway forecourt.
- Handled cash and card takings of up to R60 000 per shift with no shortages.
- Achieved consistent top scores in mystery shopper service assessments.
- Maintained forecourt safety and cleanliness standards on every shift.
Related Job Roles and Responsibilities
These guides cover the roles and next steps most closely related to this one.
- Cashier duties and responsibilities
- Customer service duties and responsibilities
- General Worker duties and responsibilities
- Store Assistant duties and responsibilities
- Retail, sales and customer service duties
Frequently Asked Questions About Petrol Attendant Duties
What are the duties of a petrol attendant?
Greeting drivers and confirming fuel type, dispensing fuel accurately, checking oil water and tyres, cleaning windscreens, processing cash and card payments, balancing the float and cashing up, recording pump readings, selling forecourt products, keeping the forecourt clean, enforcing safety rules and reporting faults and spillages.
What qualifications does a petrol attendant need?
Usually Grade 10 to 12, basic numeracy and a clear criminal record. Training on the pumps, payment systems and forecourt safety is provided on site.
Are petrol attendants covered by minimum wage?
Yes. Petrol attendants are employees covered by the National Minimum Wage Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the motor sector has its own bargaining council arrangements. Confirm current rates with the Department of Employment and Labour or the MIBCO.
Who is responsible if the wrong fuel is put in?
It depends on the facts and is usually dealt with between the customer, the site and its insurers. This is exactly why attendants are trained to confirm the fuel type verbally with the driver before dispensing.
Duties vary by site and brand. Check your job description for the specific scope, particularly cash accountability and shop duties.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026