If you own a fleet of vehicles, you are aware that fuel costs make up a big part of your overall running costs. Therefore, reducing fuel usage is a good way to neutralize the effects of high fuel prices.
In addition, improving your fleet’s fuel efficiency has numerous environmental and financial advantages. The following are some tried and tested strategies to help you reduce your fleet’s fuel cost and make every gallon count.
Stop unnecessarily vehicle idling
Idling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, can use up to a quarter gallon of fuel every hour. Additionally, idling for only thirty seconds can use more fuel than actually restarting the car engine. Remember that the amount of fuel consumed in idling will largely depend on the size of the vehicle engine as well as the air conditioner use.
Vehicle idling happens when a driver is training new employees, loading or unloading the vehicle, or warming up the engine. Idling not only wastes fuel but also leaves deposits that can damage the vehicle’s engine. What’s more, idling largely contributes to air pollution.
Reduce out-of-route miles
Are you sure that your drivers are following the recommended route or are they making any detours? By getting rid of all the irrelevant miles, you will be able to gain benefits when it comes to fuel consumption and expenses. Fleet maintenance software is the best solution if you want to manage your fleet drivers’ routes appropriately. Using this software will also help you monitor the fuel efficiency of your fleet and make its management seamless.
Monitor driver behavior
Many people think that they are excellent drivers. However, when good driving is considered, there is always room for improvement and this also applies to your fleet drivers. Keep in mind that poor driving habits can cost your business a substantial amount in terms of fuel and even vehicle maintenance. Habits like harsh cornering, aggressive acceleration, and the time spent past the speed limit will all cost you more on fuel.
Therefore, it will be a good idea to invest in driver education programs to help lower fuel costs. During this training, drivers will be taught everything about proper vehicle operation, safety, proper handling, and seasonal driving techniques.
Use fuel-efficient vehicles
Using fuel-efficient vehicles is another excellent way to reduce the fuel consumption cost of your fleet. You can decide to sell your old vehicles and get new fuel-efficient ones. The amount of money you can save will depend on your current fleet and the ones you want to get.
However, if you aren’t ready to sell them, you can modify them. Consider diesel vehicles as they are more fuel-efficient than gasoline vehicles.
Reduce vehicle weight
A heavier vehicle will need more power to move. Therefore, vehicles that are heavy and overloaded have a bigger rolling distance and inertia, which can both increase their fuel consumption. Therefore, it will be best to nurture the habit of getting rid of unnecessary items and loads in your fleet of vehicles to avoid overworking them. Apart from saving fuel, removing unnecessary load will prevent wear and tear of the vehicles, thus prolonging their lifespan.
Bottom Line
With the escalating cost of fuel, fleet managers must make an effort to achieve low operational costs and keep irrelevant expenses in check to maintain the fleet company’s general productivity. The above steps will help you lower the operational cost of your fleet and make every gallon of fuel count.
Make sure that your fleet utilizes fuel efficiently. You can do this by reducing vehicle weight, tracking the vehicle’s fuel consumption, and using fuel-efficient vehicles to make a constructive difference.