Improving the fuel efficiency of a company’s fleet of vehicles can have numerous financial and environmental advantages, especially with rising fuel prices.
Fuel is one of the most expensive and toughest expenses to estimate and control. As a result, vehicle fleet managers must apply fuel-efficient policies, technologies, and maintenance procedures to preserve fuel, maximise efficiency, and reduce vehicle emissions.
Best Practices
Managing a fleet’s fuel usage, even for a few vehicles, can be stressful. The following are some strategies that can help our fleet insurance clients lower fleet fuel expenses and increase operational efficiency…
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Monitor driving patterns
Certain driving habits, like speeding, might have an impact on fuel usage. This is one of the benefits of fleet telematics that we touch on again later. According to Department of Transport data, fuel consumption climbs 14.9% between 60 and 75 mph. Monitoring speeding, braking, and acceleration patterns can reveal if drivers are following safe driving habits or operating inefficiently.
Cut engine idling
Idling can result in the waste of fuel. Furthermore, it may be prohibited in some cases. The Highway Code, for example, specifies that drivers shall not leave a parked car alone with the engine running or leave a vehicle motionless on a public road unnecessarily. Drivers should do the following to reduce fuel and oil waste:
- Turn off the engine while waiting or making deliveries.
- Turn off the engine while stuck in traffic.
- Avoid idling to warm up the engine.
Improve route efficiency
Using a sat-nav to ensure operations are streamlined and drivers don’t waste time and fuel travelling back and forth can increase route efficiency. Refuelling without significant deviation should be considered in advance as well.
Check Fuel Costs
Talking of service stations, the price per litre of the service station on route should also be under consideration. A few pence per litre per tank, multipled by each fleet vehicle over the course of a year will equate to a substantial amound. Many companies also explore the benefits of fuel cards for this reason.
For a long time Asda was the UK’s cheapest supermarket for fuel. Is that still the case?
Remove unnecessary weight from vehicles
According to automotive servicing and repair company KwikFit, every extra 50kg of weight in a vehicle can increase fuel usage by 1%-2%. If an organisation has numerous vehicles, this can quickly add up to hundreds of litres of fuel. Only necessary items or equipment should be transported by drivers.
Schedule maintenance
Preventive and routine maintenance may save fuel costs, increase the lifespan of fleet vehicles, and assure driver and community safety.
Check the tyre pressure
Tyres should be inflated to near-recommended pressure levels; underinflated tyres can reduce a vehicle’s average miles per gallon significantly. Checking the tyre pressure should be a mandatory component of the pre-trip safety check because it not only reduces the cost per mile but also allows the vehicle to respond appropriately in dangerous situations.
Dispatch the closest vehicle
By knowing the nearest vehicle to assign to a new appointment, business margins and fuel economy can be increased. Fleet-tracking software can aid in the automation of dispatching.
Leverage a fleet telematics solution
A fleet telematics solution can assist managers in gaining data and insight into fleet condition in terms of individual vehicle performance and overall operations, allowing them to make fuel-efficient modifications.
Provide driver performance incentives
Fleet managers can encourage efficient driving by providing incentives such as recognition or special privileges to drivers.
Implement driving training
Drivers’ knowledge of fuel efficiency on the road can be increased by providing them with training on fuel-efficient habits. It can help students be more aware of things like accelerating with low ratios, changing gears early, driving at slower speeds, and learning to read the road more effectively.
Conclusion
Fleet operations can cut fuel expenditures by developing policies and processes that monitor and reward fuel-efficient behaviour. Contact us today for more risk management advice.