When you get on a roller coaster, you first get strapped in and as soon as the ride starts you get taken through all the ups and downs of the track whether you want to or not. With the fluctuating fuel prices of today, controlling a fleet fuel budget can be much like a wild roller coaster ride. Unfortunately, unlike the roller coaster at the theme park, the fuel price roller coaster can be frustrating.
Fleet managers need to realize there are factors that affect their fuel budget that they can and can’t control. Here is a list of a few factors.
You Can’t Control:
The Price
Oil is traded on a global level and goes through a long list of processes to get to your gas tank. You personally can’t control the price of fuel because you don’t have any say in the researching, refining, transportation, or marketing cost. As a fleet manager you are faced with the fact that you need to get fuel to keep your fleet operating whether it cost $2 per gallon or $5 per gallon.
You Can Control:
Driver Behavior
Driver behavior is perhaps the number one factor that affects your fleet’s fuel efficiency. For example, excessive idling, quick acceleration, and speeding are all bad driver behaviors that cause a decrease in mpg (miles per gallon). The best way to monitor driver behavior is by using a fleet GPS system, which will give you live data such as who is accelerating too quickly or who has been idling too long. It will also show you data such as average mpg for a route or how much fuel was used along a route. You can encourage your drivers to drive more efficiently by using incentives such as a contest where the driver with the best average mpg for the week gets a $20 gift card.
Fleet Maintenance
Improperly maintained vehicles can also be a cause bad mpg. Here’s a list of general maintenance items you should be checking;
- Tires: Make sure tires are inflated to manufacturer recommendations. Under inflated tires cause greater surface friction, which makes the engine work harder and use more fuel to achieve the same speed.
- Air Filter: Make sure your air filter is always clean and is replaced at the proper intervals. A dirty air filter will make your engine work harder to achieve the same performance which uses more fuel.
- Oil: Make sure your oil is changed at the right intervals for proper engine lubrication. Without the proper engine lubrication, the engine will have to work harder to maintain the same level of output.
Using the Right Vehicle
I know it may sound obvious but don’t put a small load in a semi-truck when you can put it in a small box truck. Always make sure that you are getting the most out of every vehicle you load.
Choosing the Right route
Every mile that is not towards your destination is a wasted mile. Consider planning your routes around traffic if possible to avoid idling time on the road. The best way to make sure you are optimizing your routes is to use a fleet GPS system. The GPS system will give your drivers the best route to take depending on traffic, construction, etc..
Where You Buy Your Fuel
If you are purchasing your fuel at truck stops or retail fuel stations make sure you are checking for the best fuel prices along your route. Learn how to find the cheapest fuel.
Fuel Usage
If you can’t track every drop of fuel that your fleet uses, then you may be paying for unauthorized transactions, driver theft, or third party theft. The best way to control fuel usage is to implement a fleet fuel card program. Fleet cards will give you the controls to not only prevent theft, but also give you the data to monitor your fuel usage at the point of purchase and after a period of time.