March 2022 has seen the largest ever increase in fuel prices in the UK - with much of this being attributed to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine.
So, with fuel accounting for approximately 60% of a fleet’s total operating cost, it’s now more important than ever for fleet managers to try and implement ways in which they can effectively try and reduce fuel costs.
Here, we explore some simple strategies to help fleets improve their fuel efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
1. Route planning
Planning and choosing the quickest route can significantly increase the efficiency and productivity of fleets while also reducing costs. Using a fleet management software system can calculate the fastest route to a driver’s destination based on real-time traffic data. Being stuck in traffic accounts for not only time wasted but also fuel wasted - a vehicle uses about a quarter of a gallon of fuel for every 15 minutes it remains idle!
2. Monitor driver behaviour
Fleet safety and driver training is key to improving fleet efficiency. However, some of the major causes of poor fuel efficiency can be attributed to dangerous driving and poor driving habits. Fuel economy and the efficiency of a vehicle are very much dependent on how a driver behaves behind the wheel - speeding, irregular gear changes, hard braking and engine idling can all have a negative impact on fuel economy and affect the efficiency of the entire fleet.
3. Maintenance management
Keeping your vehicles in good condition with regular maintenance is crucial. Therefore, It’s no surprise that vehicles that undergo regular services generally, run better and are more fuel-efficient than those that aren't regularly checked.
Replacing air filters, changing oil, checking tyre pressure or just fixing any type of vehicle maintenance issues can improve mileage and the lifespan of vehicles by up to 40%.
4. Vehicle telematics
Telematics can play a hugely important role in helping businesses improve the efficiency of their fleet. By providing actionable insights about fleets in real-time, fleet managers can track a vehicle’s location, monitor drivers’ performance, measure fuel consumption as well as effectively manage journeys and plan the optimal routes to ensure the fleet is running as efficiently as possible,
5. Understanding the vehicles in your fleet
Choosing the right vehicle for the right job is often overlooked as a key factor when it comes to economising on fuel. Across many businesses, it's a common problem to either over-spec or under-spec a vehicle for the job. Understanding the fuel usage of the vehicles in your fleet, the vehicle's age and loads of the vehicles can all contribute to minimising fuel expenses. For example, choosing electric vehicles for shorter routes and choosing petrol/diesel lightweight vehicles for longer routes can reduce fuel costs - the lighter the vehicle loads the more fuel-efficient it will be.
Improve your fleet’s fuel efficiency with Prolius
Reducing fuel expenditure is vital to the overall success and profitability of a fleet. Irrespective of the size of the fleet, implementing a unified fleet management system can improve fleet performance and overall business operations. Prolius can provide insight into driver efficiency, vehicle performance, journey planning, vehicle maintenance and fuel consumption across your entire fleet operation.
The Prolius fleet management system offers a wide range of features and integrations to increase fuel efficiency and reduce costs as well as ways in which you can influence driver behaviour to be more efficient by consuming less fuel.
To learn more about how Prolius can help make savings across your entire fleet, start your free trial today.