When it comes to fuel spending, there are several things that can be done to help save both fuel and money. From building a whole new fuel-efficient model to simply avoiding too many stops, it comes down to either improving the fuel economy of already existing vehicles or acquiring new vehicles that are more fuel efficient. Strategies for saving on fuel can be broken down into six categories:
Matching the right vehicle to the right route
Choosing the right vehicle for the task is very important. For example, one could select alternative fuel vehicles for shorter routes and assign lighter vehicles to longer routes.
Keep an eye on idling and smarter shifts while changing gears
The fewer times your engine is started, the less fuel your vehicle will consume. Changing gears sooner will also help lower your overall revolution per minute, resulting in lower gas consumption. When looking at GPS tracking system technology, in-vehicle buzzers and alerts can notify drivers to turn their engine off when the vehicle has been put into “Park”.
Speed restrictions
Reducing and restricting your speed is another method for reducing fuel waste. The implementation of speed restrictions in fleet management is very helpful when it comes to saving fuel. This is due to the fact that slower speeds require less fuel, ultimately resulting in lower fuel expenditure. Telematics technology can also help drivers reduce fuel consumption by reminding them to slow down and stay within the speed limit.
Curb Aggressive Driving and Idling with GPS tracking systems
Aggressive driving leads to greater fuel use, which includes speeding, accelerating, harsh braking, and even sharp corner turning. It’s important to change driver habits so as to improve vehicle economy. With idling, unnecessary consumption equates to unnecessary costs, which is only amplified when a business operates more vehicles. Reminding drivers to turn off their engine can have huge paybacks in both the short term and long term.
Switch to alternative fuels
Switching to alternative fuels can be very beneficial. It can help save on fuel expenses because alternative fuels are cheaper per gallon than regular oil. Not only is the fuel cheaper, but the maintenance fees are lower as well.
Rely on right sized engines
Downsizing to vehicles with smaller engines can save a lot on fuel. FedEx has purchased trucks with right sized engines and are now 70 to 100 percent more fuel efficient than the trucks that they replaced, this according to Automotive Fleet (May 2013, p. 20).
Lighten the load
Finally, having a lighter vehicle load can help contribute to the saving of fuel. The lighter the vehicle, the more fuel efficient it will be. Car manufacturers now build vehicles with composite body parts, which significantly decreases the weight of the vehicle.
Here at Geotab, we are dedicated to helping businesses realize a solid return on their GPS tracking system investment. Getting better MPG usages lies at the heart of what we do, as there are many contributing factors for reducing overall fuel expenditure.
