With average fuel prices becoming more unpredictable in recent years, more supervisors want better fuel economy out of their fleets. Fleet managers must actively seek out ways to get the best fuel mileage possible. It turns out that the most effective solutions are also some of the simplest.
These 14 approaches to improving commercial fleet fuel efficiency will help you reduce costs and downtime. Use a few of them or completely overhaul your fuel policies to increase your profits.
Check out these 14 tips on improving fleet fuel economy. Click on a link in the outline below to jump to that section in the content.
Check out these 14 tips on improving fleet fuel economy. Click on a link in the outline below to jump to that section in the content.
Specialized fleet fuel management software like FUELChex monitors your fleet’s fuel usage. FUELChex gives you real-time access to information about every gallon of gas your fleet consumes. It includes features such as:
To get the most out of your data, use strategies like:
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:
One way fleet drivers can use less fuel is to avoid aggressive driving. Your drivers may try to travel at faster speeds or pass cars as much as possible to make their driving more efficient. However, aggressive driving practices actually decrease MPG. Driver monitoring and training that encourages them to drive sensibly reduces the risk of accidents and makes them accountable for their fuel consumption.
Promote wise driving habits such as:
It takes an investment to implement driver training or monitoring, but you’ll soon find the returns worth it. The data out there suggests that an extensive driver training program could improve your fuel efficiency by as much as 20 percent. You may be surprised by the impact that factors such as acceleration, speed changes, and braking have on MPG.
Whether or not you decide to pay for a training program, you can also install electronic engine monitors. These devices track performance and driving behaviors for each vehicle. Use the data provided by engine monitors to incentivize smart driving or guide future training sessions.
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:
You may often hear about efficiency in the winter when you research ways to improve fleet fuel economy. Our behavior in the colder months does have an impact on fuel usage, but so do our summer habits. Both rolling the windows down and turning on the air conditioning can lower MPG.
However, you want your drivers to feel comfortable when they do their jobs. Consider these solutions:
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:
If you have a business fleet for a company that’s not focused on driving, you have more control over the way your employees use your vehicles. When your fleet serves as the foundation for your business, such as in trucking or transport, you generally have one driver for each vehicle. However, offices and other companies without these kinds of activities can efficiently manage who rides each vehicle.
Get the most mileage out of your fleet with the following strategies:
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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.
We touched on traffic monitoring in a few previous sections, but it has such an effect on fuel economy that it deserves its own section. Both you and your driver can keep traffic in mind while doing your jobs to ensure you maximize your MPG. Fleet managers can factor traffic into their fuel efficiency plan by:
Meanwhile, your drivers can take traffic into account with the following approaches:
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:
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.
If you plan to add to your fleet or replace older vehicles, you have a prime opportunity to maximize your fuel economy. Current models have more fuel-saving features than ever. When you shop for new vehicles, remember to consider:
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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:
An on-board diagnostics dongle can help you pinpoint vehicle issues without a high budget. If you only want to use technology to check vehicle performance, you can buy one of these devices at a low cost. Depending on the product you choose, you can get information about vehicle problems or additional data on driving habits.
To analyze the dongle’s readings, you use a smartphone app meant for people of all skill levels. Then, you can use the knowledge you get from the dongle to address fuel efficiency problems like broken parts and aggressive driving.
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:
Increase your fuel savings and fleet efficiency today. Count on Shipley Energy.
Check out our fleet fueling product page or contact us to learn more about our fleet fueling solutions.