As a fleet manager, you already know that fuel costs are one of your biggest variable expenses. That’s been especially true as gas prices have increased to near-record levels. Still, there are things you can do to manage fleet fuel costs and keep those expenses in check. Integrating these five tips into your day-to-day fuel strategy can save you up to 15% on your bill. Let’s take a look.  

 

1. Maintenance Matters

Proper vehicle maintenance is essential to reducing fuel consumption and improving overall efficiency. Make sure your vehicles are up-to-date on oil changes and tire rotations, as well as other required preventative maintenance services like air filter replacements and belt tension checks. Also, ensure that all tires are at their recommended inflation levels; underinflated tires require more energy to move the same weight, resulting in increased fuel consumption. Properly inflated tires alone can improve fuel economy by up to 3%.

 

2. Monitor Your Drivers 

The behavior of your drivers has a major impact on the efficiency of your fleet’s fuel usage. Encouraging drivers to shift into higher gears earlier and accelerate gently dramatically improves fuel economy. You can also encourage drivers to avoid aggressive driving by installing GPS tracking systems to monitor driver behavior and offering incentives or rewards for good driving habits. 

 

3. Explore Alternative Fuels

If possible, consider switching some or all of your vehicles to alternative fuels such as biodiesel or compressed natural gas (CNG). These fuels tend to be cleaner burning and more cost-effective than traditional gasoline or diesel fuels, so they can help reduce and manage fleet fuel costs while also being better for the environment. 

 

4. Utilize Telematics

Telematics allows you to track and analyze data related to driver performance and vehicle health in real-time, which helps you identify areas where efficiencies can be improved that may otherwise go unnoticed. By using telematics systems with features such as idle time tracking and route optimization tools, you will have access to valuable insights that can help you improve driver performance and manage fleet fuel costs. 

 

5. Reassess Routes Regularly

Reassessing routes regularly is another great way to save on fuel costs in your fleet operations; even small changes such as avoiding congested roads or taking alternate routes when traffic is heavy can make a big difference over time. Utilizing GPS technology for route planning is key here—it allows you to plan efficient routes quickly based on current traffic conditions while also providing insights into potential savings opportunities along the way. 

 

Reducing fleet operating costs is an ongoing challenge, but these tricks will help manage fleet fuel costs over time without sacrificing quality or safety standards. By following these five tips—proper vehicle maintenance, monitoring driver behavior, exploring alternative fuels, utilizing telematics solutions for route planning, and reassessing routes regularly—you will be well on your way towards saving money on fuel costs while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of your fleet operations. 

 

For more information on how to cut your running costs, talk to a GPS Trackit Fleet Advisor today.