Keeping Fleet Fuel Costs Low

A decade ago, when fuel prices hit nearly four dollars during the recession, many wondered if they would ever enjoy lower-priced, more affordable gas again. Though we have enjoyed cheaper fuel for several years, prices are again hitting the high threes and low fours, straining budgets and frustrating drivers around the country.

As a fleet manager, keeping your fuel costs low is one of your greatest struggles. With so many vehicles under your control and the large amount of miles your drivers travel, minimizing your fuel costs are a top priority.

Though you can’t control the cost of fuel, you can improve the efficiency of your fleet’s use. Use the tips below to save on fuel and improve your fleet’s bottom line.

1. Utilize your telematics

The farther your vehicles travel, the more fuel they use. Though you can’t cancel deliveries or jobs, you can optimize the driving involved. With your telematics, you can offer your drivers the best routes to take with every trip. Whether they have to navigate traffic in big cities or find the shortest distance between destinations, your tracking devices can determine the routes that minimize both drive time and fuel use. With this real-time, up-to-date navigation help, you can keep your fuel usage low.

2. Train your drivers

Ultimately, your drivers are responsible for the amount of fuel used. Though a few extra minutes of idling or a detour to an out-of-the-way restaurant may not seem like much to a driver, when multiplied across numerous drivers and multiple trips, this fuel use adds up. By training your drivers to recognize the actions that waste fuel and monitoring driver behavior across your fleet, you can decrease the amount of wasted fuel and improve your budgeting.

3. Keep up with maintenance

The more problems your vehicles have, the less efficient they run. When your tires are low on air or your vehicles have to run harder to make up for engine problems, they use increasing amounts of fuel. To avoid these costly issues, keep up with your fleet’s preventative maintenance. Follow oil change schedules and carefully monitor your DVIRs. Keeping your vehicles in their best shape can improve fuel use, as well as extending vehicle life and limiting large failures, creating a win-win situation for all.

How do you manage your fleet’s fuel costs?