5 ways to help cut fleet fuel costs
Managing a fleet of vehicles can come with some challenges, with one of the most significant being fuel costs. With fuel prices fluctuating, finding ways to reduce fuel consumption is crucial for fleet managers. Fortunately, there are several ways to help cut fuel costs without compromising your fleets operational efficiency.
The following are 5 ways to help cut fleet fuel costs:
1. Vehicle Maintenance
Proper vehicle maintenance is essential for optimal fuel efficiency. A well-maintained vehicle not only performs better but also consumes less fuel. By scheduling maintenance checks, you can identify and address any issues that may arise. This also helps to keep your fleet on the roads by detecting any issues that might result in a vehicle breakdown before they happen.
Key maintenance tasks include:
Checking the tyre pressure – Under inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption, as well as compromising the safety of the vehicle. Make sure to check the tyre pressure regularly and check what your vehicle specifies as the perfect tyre pressure level. You can usually find the recommended tyre pressure level in either the vehicle handbook or in the sill of the driver’s side door.
Replacing your air filters – Dirty air filters can restrict airflow to the engine, leading to decreased fuel efficiency. You should replace air filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Route optimization
Optimising routes is another effective way to reduce your fleet fuel costs. By using route planning software and telematics, fleet managers can identify the most efficient routes for their drivers. Telematics solutions can integrate with Google maps to offer real-time travel information, helping your drivers to avoid traffic and roadworks.
3. Fuel cards
Fuel cards are an invaluable tool for managing your fleet fuel costs. Fuel cards offer several benefits, including allowing you to purchase fuel at a fixed weekly price, detailed reporting and enhanced security.
Expense tracking – Fuel cards provide detailed reports on fuel purchases, such as the location and time at which fuel was purchased, allowing greater control over fuel expenses.
Security – Fuel cards are PIN protected and can be linked to a specific vehicle or driver, reducing the risk of unauthorised purchases or fraud.
4. Driver monitoring and telematics
Monitoring driver behaviour can have a significant impact on fuel efficiency. By tracking factors like speeding, idling and harsh braking, fleet managers can easily identify areas for improvement. This allows you to implement training and encourage better driving habits within your fleet, resulting in:
Fuel Savings – Encouraging drivers to adopt more fuel-efficient driving habits, they will use less fuel and result in savings on fuel costs for your fleet.
Safety – Monitoring driver behaviour can improve overall safety, reducing the risk of accidents and the associated costs.
Compliance – Ensuring that drivers comply with laws and regulations when driving can help to avoid penalties and fines.
5. Electric Vehicle Adoption
As the UK prepares for decarbonization, electric vehicles (EVs) offer businesses the opportunity to reduce fuel costs and environmental impact by adopting EVs into their fleets.
The advantages of switching to electric vehicles include:
Lower operating costs – Electric vehicles tend to have lower operational costs, as well as lower servicing and maintenance costs when compared to traditional diesel and petrol vehicles.
Environmental benefits – EVs produce zero emissions, reducing the carbon footprint of your fleet.
There are many ways to help cut fleet fuel costs. If you think that fuel cards, telematics solutions and communications with Cambrian Fuelcard Services could help your business, contact us today on 0800 6126132 to discuss the benefits with one of our highly-trained sales advisors.
Useful Links
To find out about our range of fuel cards click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/fuel-cards/
To learn more about our selection of telematics devices click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/telematics/
Click here to find out more about Cambrian Fuelcard Services – https://www.cambriancards.com/about-cambrian/
