Sometimes reviewing fuel purchase history can cause a minor panic attack—“we spent how much on gas last month!?” Fuel prices appear to always be increasing, with no drop-off in sight. Since our dependency on fuel doesn’t seem to be diminishing, you can help to make your fleet more efficient by encouraging your drivers to be more aware. Believe it or not, driver behavior has a large impact on how efficient a fleet is. According to an EPA study, driver conduct contributes to 30% of a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. This means that if you can somehow improve driver behavior, it can result in greater fuel economy and in turn, a lower fuel bill.
So what can be done to improve driver behavior? A fleet management solution can not only provide visibility into how drivers are handling company vehicles, but also shed light on wasteful practices.
Here are 4 ways that a fleet intelligence solution can help you battle your fuel bill…and win:
Fleet tracking can help cut back on speeding
Fleetmatics fleet tracking allows you to set speeding limits and be alerted when these thresholds are exceeded. According to the US Department of Energy, every 5 mph driven over 50 mph is like paying an additional $.25 per gallon at the pump. It is very easy for fleet managers to set a speeding policy, but it can be difficult to enforce. GPS vehicle management provides the real-time data needed to make decisions that can help make a direct impact on your fuel spend.
Vehicle tracking can help shine the light on unnecessary idling
Many fleet owners and managers do not believe that their fleet has an idling problem. However, reducing vehicle idling by any amount can help cut back on fuel spend. Even reducing idle time by just 15 minutes a day can add up to big savings for a small or medium business.
A fleet management solution can help improve routing practices
Your fuel bill inflates when your team racks up excessive miles between jobs. Poor routing can lead to lost time, added miles, and lower fuel economy. In addition, inefficient routing also can create angry drivers and even angrier customers. With vehicle tracking, a fleet manager can instantly identify the closest available driver and choose the most efficient route for the driver.
Fuel card integration helps match fill ups and locations
Fuel card reporting makes it easy to gut check a business’s fuel card usage. Get the visibility into where drivers buy gas and match it with odometer readings. Additionally, see whether or not a company vehicle is getting the refill.
When it comes to your SMB’s fuel bill, enlist drivers to help keep fuel costs under control. Your business can be more fuel efficient if your team is on board to improve driving behaviors.