Managing Fuel Consumption for Your Fleet
With the rising cost of fuel, managing fuel consumption is a top concern for fleet managers. Here are some helpful tips and tools that you can use to keep fuel costs in check.
Tire Pressure
The simplest and easiest adjustment that fleet managers can make to have a positive impact on fuel consumption is regular tire pressure maintenance. For every 1 PSI below the tire’s recommended pressure, you could be losing as much as 0.2% in fuel efficiency. While 0.2% might seem like a small fraction, multiply that by miles and by the number of trucks in your fleet and you can really start to see the savings.
Not only will this simple tip prevent excess expense at the pump, but it will also save on the wear and tear of your tires. VLC’s TripDawg solution provides a way to integrate your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) so that your fleet dashboard views can quickly alert you to tires that need attention.
If you are not a current TripDawg customer, simply include a tire pressure check on your morning or pre-trip checklist and have those tires checked and inspected with the rest of the vehicle. An integrated TPMS system can be added to your telematics fleet management tools by simply calling VLC for details.
Tire Pressure and Fuel Consumption Reports
Tire pressure and fuel consumption reports will help you manage your fuel costs. These reports cover fuel consumed, distance covered, and fuel economy across a chosen time period. This will help owners and fleet managers identify the fuel efficiency and performance across the whole fleet or target specific vehicles. The ability to easily review and examine the fuel economy of your transportation assets will help you uncover what actions are needed to improve efficiency and slash fuel costs.
The Right Vehicle for the Job
Does your fleet have a diverse set of jobs, from short trip city driving to longer haul deliveries? Assigning the right vehicle to the given job is another critical step in fuel conservation. Alternative fuel vehicles are great choice for short, last-mile deliveries. As you see the impact that hybrid or EV vehicles can have when hauling lighter loads or traveling in city traffic, you can justify changes that will allow you to pair the job with the proper vehicle. This is another place that TripDawg analytics can help you fine tune your fleet operations.
Limit Speed and Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving, including operating vehicles at higher speeds, will consume more fuel. Whenever possible limit top speeds on the road by setting your telematics device to issue in-cab alerts. Often, when we drive long distances or spend a lot of time on the road, the speed of the vehicle seems to creep up over time. Set company policies about maximum vehicle speed and use telematics rules to manage vehicles within these policy levels. TripDawg provides a means to set these rules and provide fully customizable reporting so you can visualize and take action to keep aggressive driving under control. Not only will you save on fuel, but also on maintenance as accelerating and braking hard can impact the life of your vehicle components.
Conclusion
If you are a current TripDawg customer and unfamiliar with all of the ways that your telematics device can help you save on fuel, then contact us today for details. We will show you how your electronic logging devices can assist with cost reductions.
If you have yet to make a commitment to a full-featured telematics reporting system, then think about the savings it will bring you today, and for years to come. At VLC, your telematics system is never out-of-date. We keep you updated and informed of all the latest capabilities and reports. Monitor and manage your fleet, improving cost, productivity, and sustainability. Learn more about TripDawg and all its potential cost savings today.
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
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Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
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530-384-3884