Contracting for Astro Gas and Learning the Petroleum Business (Story)

Type: story

Date: 1986-09-01

Category: Astro Gas, Astro Gas, Origins, Oregon

Participants: Randal Schwartz, Mr. Dyk

Contracting for Astro Gas and Learning the Petroleum Business
Following my layoff from Sequent Computer Systems in the summer of 1986 and deciding to go independent, I partnered with a contracting staffing agency ("body shop") to secure client work.
The Client: Astro Gas and Mr. Dyk
- The agency placed me at Astro Gas, a prominent local independent gas station chain in Oregon owned and operated by Mr. Dyk (president and owner).
- While the agency took their standard cut (roughly 50% of the billing rate), this project provided critical revenue and proved to be an invaluable deep-dive into an entirely new industry.
Automating the Paperwork and Logistics
- Astro Gas was managing complex logistical numbers almost entirely on manual paperwork.
- My task was to design and build software systems to automate their business operations:
  - Computing real-time profits on hauling fuel across distribution routes.
  - Calculating precise margins for blending different grades of gasoline.
  - Tracking retail inventory, sales volume, and accounting for their network of gas stations.
- Through this gig, I learned the detailed economics and mechanics of the wholesale petroleum and retail gas station industry.
This successful project helped stabilize my early independent consulting business before I transitioned to long-term contracts at Tandem Computers and Intel.
See Employee 64 at Sequent and Turning Self-Employed.

These facts are as Randal recalls them, but much time has passed for most of this. If you find a factual error, please email realmerlyn@gmail.com.

Contracting for Astro Gas and Learning the Petroleum Business