By RAM Tracking on 28 Dec 2022
Being the second largest contributor to global CO2 emissions through fuel combustion, the transportation industry is in a position where it must be pressured into implementing more sustainable practices to rectify the damaging ramifications it has on the planet.
Keep reading to learn more about the eco initiatives your fleet can enact to reduce your carbon footprint.
In previous years, businesses that have operated fleets have tended to focus their efforts on profitability rather than sustainability. But now, that is finally starting to change.
Being an industry that heavily contributes to the economy and human convenience, road transport is not going anywhere anytime soon, which is why innovative measures must be taken to reduce its environmental impact. Eco initiatives will not only reduce environmental impact, but they are also economically beneficial, increasing efficiency and profit by working at the same, if not a faster rate whilst reducing unnecessary fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear, thus reducing overall reparation costs.
CO2 emissions from the road transport sector increased by an atrocious 75% between 1990 and 2015, which is the equivalent of 2.4 billion liters of fuel consumed. If this rapid rate were to continue, we would be facing an environmental crisis like never before, witnessing habitat destruction, mass extinction of species, intense weather (superstorms, droughts and heatwaves) and agriculture failure leading to global food shortages and famine. This is why global action, especially within the transport sector, is needed imminently.
Utilizing technology to reduce your fleet’s emissions is one of the steps that should be taken. Doing so will also act as adequate preparation for the increase in eco-friendly legislation that are being introduced across the world.
Ensuring that you have maximum efficiency in managing your fleet not only benefits the environment, but it saves you money. By taking advantage of telematics systems, you will be able to keep track of all your vehicles, noting your drivers’ behaviors, engine diagnostics and vehicle activity; all of which will allow you to identify where inefficiencies lie and improvements need to be made.
Being able to track the vehicles in your fleet is useful in a number of ways. One such reason is that it allows you to keep track of your drivers’ behaviors. If they are often idle (the vehicle is turned on but not moving), this may indicate that they are turning on the vehicle before they are ready to drive off, they are taking longer breaks than allocated, or aren’t turning their vehicle off when making deliveries.
Leaving a vehicle idle means it is releasing emissions into the atmosphere and wasting fuel, despite not actually moving. If any of your drivers seem to be regularly idle for large periods of time that aren’t traffic-related, then it is a good idea to speak with them, or offer educational programs for them to partake in, regarding how and why it is important to reduce unnecessary idle time.
Vehicle tracking systems also allow you to find the quickest routes for your drivers. Telematics systems allow you to get real-time traffic information, so if there is an issue that is causing congestion, you will be able to easily re-route your vehicles and automatically calculate the quickest route for them to take from their current location to their intended destination. This reduces fuel consumption by minimizing the chances of being stuck in traffic and traveling the shortest route possible, which simultaneously maximizes efficiency.
Another benefit of telematics systems is that they allow you to view a breakdown of carbon emissions and fuel consumption for all your vehicles. In monitoring these, you can explicitly see your fleet’s emissions and how it contributes to poor air quality. Once you have these diagnostics, you are in a better position to take initiative in reducing this impact.
Switching from fuel vehicles to electric vehicles is the next best way to make your fleet greener. On average, electric vehicles emit up to more than 3 times less CO2 than petrol and diesel equivalent vehicles, with zero tailpipe emissions. This is reduced even more so when renewable energy is used to charge them.
Not only are electric vehicles beneficial for planetary health, but for human health, also. Research shows that a single diesel van could cause the healthcare system up to $30,000 in its lifetime from the health issues that are caused by its emissions polluting urban areas.
If you are looking to boost productivity, maximize efficiency and minimize fuel costs, RAM Tracking has GPS fleet tracking for your business. Our fleet management software solutions are available across the US and Canada for businesses of all sizes.
If you’re looking to go green, contact us today to learn more about the fleet and vehicle telematics we have to offer.
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