Fuel costs still remain one of the biggest costs associated with operating a commercial vehicle fleet, one that can equate to up to 30% of the total operating costs. Therefore, finding ways to improve fuel efficiency should be high on the agenda for fleet managers looking to save their business money.
Here are 6 ways to reduce fuel costs and improve fleet efficiency:
- Decrease Unnecessary Idle time
Unnecessary idle time of a vehicle is becoming more apparent to businesses. According to the Driving for better Business report, two minute idling uses the same amount of fuel as that required to drive one mile. But what causes unnecessary downtime? There are many reasons why a vehicle will remain idle, when it doesn’t need to be:
- Warming up the engine longer than necessary
- Leaving the engine running during stops or deliveries
- Keeping the engine running in order to operate radios and equipment in the vehicle.
Decreasing idle time can be a real money saver. The use of telematics can help track vehicles and record driver behaviour. Telematics has become a means to smoother, more efficient driving, which saw economy improve by 2.5mpg — or around 11% — in a sample pool of 89 vehicles (Fleetnews)
2. Plan more efficient routes
There is no getting away from the fact that starting, stopping and idle time for any engine is using up fuel. So accurate routes and planning can be a major factor when it comes to the fuel consumption of a vehicle. Many fleets of vehicles will have frequent stops throughout the day, and of course, these can be subject to change. So accurate route planning, taking into account road closures or traffic accidents, to ensure that the least amount of mileage is covered, while still enabling the productivity of the vehicle is an excellent way to reduce the fuel consumption.
3. Better Maintenance… and don’t forget your tyres.
Fleetnews.co.uk highlighted that unplanned maintenance work, that puts a vehicle off the road can cost a business between £1,500 — £3,000 per day. Proper maintenance is also important in the fuel economy equation. This again will multiply with the savings per gallon across the entire fleet. Here are some important maintenance areas to remember with regard to fuel economy:
- Replace fuel filters at the proper intervals
- Keep all axles aligned to minimise rolling resistance
- Repair vehicle body damage
- Use recommended grades of motor oil
Also, as we previously talked about in our article about Mitigating Driver safety, Tyres running at the wrong pressure aren’t just a safety concern but also wear much faster. Additionally, they increase fuel consumption to a degree that many fleet managers find surprising. According to AutoTrader, driving with under-inflated tyres can reduce fuel economy by up to 10%. Tyre pressures should be checked regularly and before long journeys. Consider issuing drivers with handheld tyre pressure monitors and make it part of their responsibility to frequently check their tyres.
4. Improve Driving Behaviour
Go easy on the breaks: It’s a known fact that harsh braking uses more fuel, with subsequent increased acceleration and gear changes using up even more. Being fully aware, anticipating potential hazards and taking preventive measures early will reduce the number of occasions drivers need to apply heavy pressure to the brakes.
Also, keeping the right speed limit can save you a lot on fuel expenses. Ignoring the law, could shave a bit of time off your journey by travelling above the speed limit, although you may arrive earlier, the car will be using more fuel and cost the business up £7 extra in fuel. But is arriving 20 minutes early worth 3 points on your license?
5. Fuel Card Integration
Fuel cards are an efficient and money-saving way of managing the cost of a fleet. For many fleets, the primary purpose of a fuel card has always been to ensure that drivers can fill-up at the best possible price in the most straightforward way. Integrating fuel cards into your GPS fuel tracking system will give fleet managers visibility and control over fuel spend. Businesses that use fuel cards have access to reduced fuel premiums.
6. Downsizing Vehicles
This may not be possible for some businesses but downsizing vehicles can significantly reduce fuel spend. If you don’t utilise all the space that a van provides, why not downsize to a smaller vehicle which will help reduce costs. The downsizing trend coincides with many manufacturers introducing model ranges that optimise the use of available space, while simultaneously improving fuel consumption.
Driver education and reinforcing best practice tips and advice among your fleet can only benefit the other fuel efficiency initiatives you put in place. Not only will this result in a reduction in fuel usage, but will also improve driver safety.
