A good fleet manager will know how much they have spent on fuel. But reducing fuel costs can be much more tricky. With the help of Chevin Fleet Solutions and their infographic we have here compiled 4 tips in effective fuel management that can help you cut your spend and reduce fuel usage.
1. Look at Fuel Purchasing
Companies that operate a large fleet and buy substantial amounts of fuel will benefit from buying wholesale fuel and running it out of their own fuelling station. Companies who own a small-medium sized fleet may benefit from using a fuel card, benefits include:
2. Vehicle Choice
A logical starting point when choosing a vehicle for yourself or your fleet is the official MPG figure, however the validity of these figures provided by manufacturers are often debatable; according to expert motoring publication, autoexpress.co.uk, “Emissions Analytics data collected from more than 1,300 tests since 2011 in the UK, Germany and US has found economy is 29 per cent lower on RDE (Real Driving Emissions) than current lab checks” so bear that in mind.
3. Plan Routes
A tip when planning routes is that the shortest route is not always the most efficient/fuel effective; a shorter, hilly route will use more fuel than a slightly longer route on a level, straight road with no traffic lights.
Logical thought is a handy skill here, for example if you are based in Newcastle and have a meeting in Leeds on Thursday, and a meeting in Bradford on Friday, there needs to be a few questions asked from an operational point of view; if possible one of these meetings should be moved because of the short distance between Leeds and Bradford.
4. Driver Behaviour
If all other factors are covered, the only thing that can have a significant effect on fuel consumption is driver behaviour. Data collected from Chevin show that a poor driver can increase the costs spent on fuel by 21% when compared to an average driver and by 31% when compared to a good driver.
Below are a few tips that you should either adopt yourself, or train your drivers to integrate into their driving habits:
All these tips are well summarised in the infographic produced by Chevin.
Driver apps and telematics can offer your or your fleet in-depth reporting on vehicle performance and driver behaviour. Key aspects to look for when choosing are: