Gasoline and diesel prices may be less volatile today than five years ago, but they account for enough of the annual fleet cost to prioritize reduction in fuel consumption. Here are 10 tips for fleet managers to reduce fuel consumption that apply to passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Thanks to GPS Insight for sending out a summary and link to this article published in Commercial Carrier Journal. There are several tips for fleets to reduce consumption by utilizing any number of strategies and technologies, and here are the first 10 on the list….
- Track traffic congestion: Besides the obvious problem of gridlock, the deceleration and acceleration adds to the problem. Check out state US Dept. of Transportation websites for information on potential construction projects and traffic on routes.
- Deploy GPS units and/or route-planning software: Finding the shortest, optimal routes can save 10 to 15 miles per week, per vehicle.
- Find the best fuel station: There are in-cab and dashboard navigation systems and smartphone apps with real-time data to help drivers find the closest locations and cheapest fuel prices on their route.
- Consolidate fueling networks: Working with fuel card providers can guarantee cost-reducing negotiated discount programs. Fleet managers are good about tracking the data to make sure they’re getting the best cost savings.
- Renegotiate fuel surcharge agreements: Commercial transportation carriers are utilizing technology to create surcharge programs with government agencies using lane-specific surcharge prices.
- Find freedom from weigh station and toll booths: Programs such as PrePass and electronic toll collection takes reduces idle time and stopping and accelerating excess consumption.
- Study your mpg: A good rule of thumb is tracking mileage that’s dropping more than a half gallon in a fleet vehicle. This can be due to maintenance problems, or other issues to analyze and bring improvements to.
- Look for recurring themes: Studying your fuel consumption reporting and related metrics will bring tools for spotting driving trends (especially speeding) and other factors that can influence excess consumption.
- Study your routes: Finding shorter routes, or even longer routes with less traffic congestion, reduce fuel usage for delivery and transportation fleets. Conducting trial runs on routes can occasionally makes for a positive difference for fleets in urban environments.
- Offer driver incentives: You’re capturing data on drivers and can compare them to their peers for a list of standards affecting fuel consumption. Offering them cash rebates and rewards for peak performance can make a real difference.
