Fleet Fuel Management: 14 Ways to Improve Fleet Fuel Economy

2. Choose the Most Efficient Routes

Fleets that follow set routes for purposes like public transit and delivery shouldn’t overlook the importance of optimal routing plans. Managers working with these vehicles have ultimate control over route efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Instead of mainly relying on routing software to pick your itineraries, you can also use common sense and collect data.

While we have more advanced logistics technology than ever, it doesn’t always consider factors like:

• Distance vs. efficiency: Just because you found the shortest path by distance doesn’t mean it will use the least fuel. Road quality, traffic conditions, and speed limit also influence your MPG.
• Idling time vs. driving time: Whenever one of your vehicles idles, it has a mileage of zero MPG. While you can’t entirely avoid idling, you want to reduce it as much as possible. Remember to take busy times of day and stoplight frequency into account when you create a route.
• Your fleet’s MPG vs. average MPG: The data from software like FUELChex reflects your fleet’s fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, GPS and routing technology base their information on the average user’s fuel efficiency.
• MPG on flat vs. rough terrain: According to the EPA, its vehicle tests assume operation on flat ground, not hills or bumpy roads. A route with more challenging terrain will use up more fuel than the same one with flat ground.

4. Eliminate Extra Weight

Heavier vehicles and cargo also weigh down your MPG. You want your fleet vehicles to have the lowest weights possible to maximize their fuel economy. Make your fleet lighter by:

• Getting rid of unneeded items: If your drivers use their vehicles regularly, they can accumulate extra tools and materials. They need some of these items to do their jobs well, but anything else must go. Instruct them to check their vehicles every now and then, or schedule regular cleanouts to make it easier for everyone to remember.
• Reducing cargo weight and drag: When you load your vehicles with cargo, you have to consider both weight and aerodynamics. For example, the same weight of cargo will strain your MPG less when placed in the vehicle instead of on top. Use your fuel consumption data to see how you can distribute cargo weight among your fleet to maximize fuel economy. Remove external containers when not in use to lower wind resistance.
• Swapping in lighter vehicle parts: Depending on your budget and vehicle models, you can replace certain parts on your vehicles with lighter models. Many of these models come in aluminum, which can reduce your vehicle’s weight significantly.

6. Fill Your Tanks at Cardlock Stations

Fueling your vehicles at cardlock fueling stations like the ones provided by Shipley Energy can save you money and help you control your fleet’s fuel usage. The advantages of our program include:

• Convenient locations: You’ll find our cardlock fueling stations at strategic locations in the regions in which your drivers operate. Save time and mileage traveling to a different gas station. Thanks to our partnership with Pacific Pride, you will also find thousands of their locations across North America.
• Comprehensive purchase history: Every time someone purchases fuel through your cardlock account, you receive a detailed summary of the transaction. No need to shuffle through different receipts — you can find it all in one place. If you suspect one of your drivers steals fuel, you can use your records to pinpoint the issue. Or, you can find trends to curb spending where you don’t need it.
• Multiple payment methods: Our cardlock stations accept a wide variety of fleet fueling cards such as the PrideAvantage card. You can choose whichever compatible program you want, to get their benefits and ours.

8. Stick to Regular Fuel

The type of fuel you use for your fleet has a significant impact on your ROI. Just because you pay more for a certain kind of fuel doesn’t mean it will give you the best MPG. Meanwhile, choosing the lowest octane rating actually enhances profitability. Premium additives make fuel more volatile — they don’t necessarily make it more efficient. So, they don’t increase performance in vehicles meant to run on regular.

The majority of fleet vehicles have a design meant to take regular, unleaded gasoline. Read the owner’s manual for every vehicle model in your fleet before filling them up with premium fuel. While some vehicles require premium gas to run well, many more do not. Only use premium when you absolutely must. An on-site fleet fueling service like Shipley Energy can help you manage your fuel prices with flexible packages based on current pricing.

For added performance, you can choose a fuel with detergent additives. These types of gas keep your engine clean and let it work more efficiently with less strain on fuel levels. They also prevent dirt from building up and causing major engine problems that will cost you more in the long run.

10. Maintain Your Fleet

Keeping your vehicles in shape goes a long way towards increasing their fuel economy. Parts that don’t function at top capacity lower the vehicle’s MPG. Focus on maintaining the following components of your vehicle:

• Tire pressure: You can easily reduce your vehicle’s fuel consumption by making sure its tires have the right pressure. According to the EPA, proper inflation can improve mileage by as much as three percent.
• Engine: Simply fixing an out-of-tune engine can increase MPG by four percent. Meanwhile, bigger fixes can improve your mileage at a rate of up to 40 percent, depending on the severity of the problem.
• Oil: Just as you should with gasoline, you should use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Oil that features the “energy conserving” API performance symbol saves you even more mileage.
• Air filter: The benefits of replacing a clogged air filter depend on a vehicle’s age. Older vehicles with carbureted engines experience improved fuel efficiency and acceleration after replacement, but newer vehicles only get increased acceleration.

Regular preventative maintenance such as wheel alignment and oil replacement not only lower the risk of bigger problems, but also improve fuel economy on their own. Schedule every vehicle in your fleet for frequent maintenance to ensure peak efficiency. Maintenance costs much less than the extra fuel and repair costs associated with a lack of maintenance.

12. Communicate Effectively

Clear communication between fleet managers and drivers saves the entire team money and time. Instead of running into surprise traffic or driving back to the depot for the next job, a driver can get real-time updates on their route. Meanwhile, a driver can relay important information about delays and other issues back to the head office.

Technology makes getting in touch easier than ever. If you don’t already use technology to stay on the same page, consider devices like:

• Cell phones: Fleet managers who can’t afford advanced technology can keep track of each driver’s cell phone number. Call and text updates between each other or use an app like Fleetio to stay on the same page.
• Fleet fuel management systems: Software and devices made for managing business fleets have features such as interfaces inside the vehicles and data collection. You can give an assignment directly to a driver’s vehicle system so they can move on to the next job immediately. Location tracking allows you to determine which drivers have the closest locations to the next assignment on your list.
• Tablets: Tablets have features that overlap with both phones and computers, making them a little more complex than cell phones. Teams who need to stay organized will benefit from their larger screens and touch controls. Manage deliveries and other performance indicators while communicating important updates.

14. Fuel Your Fleet On-Site

Have you ever considered how the time your drivers spend fueling their vehicles impacts your costs? The wages you pay during fueling don’t go towards your jobs — they go towards the time used to fill up the tank. Since large vehicles take much longer to fill than standard cars, your employee has to spend many minutes off the road when they refuel.

If you want to know how much money you lose by fueling vehicles separately, use our online fleet fueling calculator.

Did your result surprise you? What if we told you that you could lower that number? Coordinating your fueling saves your company from paying wages for refills and eliminates the need to go out of the way to fill up. Investing in a service like Shipley Energy’s on-site fueling reduces downtime and increases profits.

Savvy fleet owners choose Shipley Energy because:

• We lend you the equipment: You don’t have to buy your own refueling equipment. Let us handle the liability.
• You can request remote monitoring: Our mobile skid tanks feature solar-powered monitors that notify us when your fuel reaches a certain level. We’ll send our dispatchers out to deliver more fuel to your business or site.
• We work with your schedule: Schedule your refuel times whenever you don’t plan on using your fleet. It doesn’t matter if you need us during the day or night — we can help 24/7.

Increase your fuel savings and fleet efficiency today. Count on Shipley Energy.