5 Things to Know about Fuel Management

Fuel is one of a fleet operation’s largest expenses. Because of this, getting fuel costs under control and monitoring them closely is important to keeping your operation on budget.

Use these tips to better manage your fleet operation’s fuel expenses.

Perform Regular Preventative Maintenance

Scheduling regular PM for your fleet vehicles allows your operation to check vehicles’ odometer readings and compare it to the amount of fuel used by each vehicle. This can help your operation track how much fuel each vehicle is using in relation to how many miles it’s been driven. This allows fleet managers to identify if any drivers are using fuel for their personal vehicles.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

Keeping tires inflated to the appropriate measurement will not only keep the vehicle functioning properly and save on the tires’ wear and tear, but it can also reduce fuel spending. According to FuelEconomy.gov, fleets can improve their gas mileage by an average of 0.6 percent per vehicle (up to 3 percent in some cases) by keeping tires inflated to their proper pressure.

Monitor Driver Behaviors

Using technology like telematics can help fleet operations reduce fuel spending by better monitoring driver behaviors. Habits like excessive idling, speeding and aggressive accelerating can also contribute to wasted fuel. Identifying these behaviors and addressing them with drivers can help lower fuel costs for your operation.

Watch the Weight of Each Vehicle

Heavier vehicles will use more fuel while being operated. To lower fuel costs, keep watch of how heavy of loads vehicles are carrying on their routes.

Use Fleet Management Software

Fleet management software can help operations keep better tabs on fuel management. The software can help managers quickly see how much fuel each individual vehicle is utilizing, and measure the fuel against the length of the vehicles’ routes.