By RAM Tracking on 8 Sep 2023

Fleet fuel management

As the cost of fuel constantly rises in the UK, fleet managers and businesses look for ways to reduce their spends, cut fuel waste, and create a more efficient operations.  Fuel is one of the most significant recurring expenses for fleets. Optimising fuel efficiency within your fleet can lead to substantial cost savings for your company.

Whilst you have no control over the price of fuel and the market can be volatile, there are some things you can control that will help reduce your spend on fuel. RAM Tracking customers can save £300 per vehicle per month with our fleet management solutions.

1. Reduce fuel waste caused by driver behaviour.

Poor driving habits, such as prolonged idling and aggressive driving tendencies, can lead to a substantial increase in your fuel costs. The growing cost of these wasteful behaviours can amount to higher annual expenses.

A fleet fuel management solution can give you valuable insights into your fleet vehicles' fuel consumption and energy utilisation. This information can assist you in guiding your drivers toward reducing excessive idling and other behaviours that contribute to fuel wastage. These tools enable you to generate reports on fuel usage and establish alerts that notify you when your drivers engage in:

• Idling.
• Speeding.
• Aggressive driving.

This allows you to identify problematic areas and establish targets focused on maximising your business's efficiency.

Common aggressive driving behaviours, including:

• Excessive acceleration.
• Abrupt breaking.
• Coasting.
• Cruising.

Can negatively affect fuel efficiency across your entire fleet and eat away at your profitability. While each driver's actions may appear irrelevant individually, their collective impact can significantly raise fuel costs and reduce the lifespan of your vehicles. By monitoring these driving habits, you can gain valuable insights into your fleet's driving patterns, create driver training programs, and incentivise positive behaviour.

2. Plan proactive maintenance schedules.

The aggressive driving behaviours described earlier can lead to accelerated wear and tear on your fleet vehicles, resulting in the need for maintenance sooner than perhaps anticipated. When vehicles are not in optimal condition, they tend to consume more fuel, further increasing operational costs.

However, by implementing proactive and predictive maintenance schedules, you can enhance the overall performance of your fleet vehicles while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption.

Incorporating scheduled preventive maintenance into your fleet management strategy does not have to disrupt your schedules, as it can be conveniently performed:

• During slower periods.
• After hours.
• When drivers are on holiday.
• When providing drivers a replacement vehicle.

Fleet management technology offers a valuable tool for this purpose, allowing you to set up alerts based on either time intervals or mileage thresholds. Moreover, as systems are directly linked to your fleet vehicles' engines, they can promptly notify you when potential issues begin to surface. This early warning system plays a crucial role in minimising wear and tear, ultimately leading to reduced fuel consumption and extended vehicle durability.

By adhering to proactive maintenance practices aided by fleet management solutions, you can ensure that your vehicles remain in optimal working condition, all while making more efficient use of fuel resources.

3. Route optimisation

Using a fleet management solution to closely track and manage your fleet's movements and usage provides you with a powerful tool to ensure that your operations are as efficient as possible. Here's how this technology can help:

• Optimising route efficiency: Fleet management systems provide real-time data on the current location and status of your vehicles. With this information, you can make informed decisions about routing. By selecting the most efficient routes for each job, you can significantly reduce the time and fuel wasted on unnecessary detours. This not only minimises fuel consumption but also improves overall operational efficiency.
• Job assignment: Assigning jobs to drivers who are closest to the job location means that drivers won't need to embark on long journeys to reach their assigned tasks. This reduces both fuel consumption and travel time. It also enhances customer service, as jobs can be completed more swiftly.
• Traffic avoidance: Get real-time traffic information, enabling your fleet to navigate around congested areas and traffic jams. By avoiding heavy traffic, your drivers can maintain a consistent speed and minimise idling time, further reducing fuel consumption and wear on vehicles.
• Reducing speeding: Fleet management can also monitor and report on driver behaviour, including speeding. When drivers are given ample time to reach their destinations without the pressure of tight schedules, they are less likely to exceed speed limits. This not only enhances safety but also contributes to improved fuel efficiency.

Incorporating fleet management software into your fleet strategy empowers you with the data and tools necessary to make intelligent decisions that optimise route planning, reduce fuel consumption, enhance driver safety, and ultimately drive cost savings. It's a comprehensive approach to fleet management that considers every aspect of efficient and eco-friendly operation. RAM Tracking customers have seen productivity increase by 15% with appropriate route optimisation.

Conclusion

A well-implemented fleet management solution can revolutionise operations by providing real-time insights and tools to enhance efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and promote safer driving practices.

• Optimising routes.
• Assigning jobs based on proximity.
• Avoiding traffic congestion.
• Reducing speeding incidents.

This technology empowers fleet managers to make informed decisions that lead to cost savings and improved operational performance.

The benefits of fleet management software extend far beyond simple fuel efficiency gains; they encompass enhanced customer service, reduced maintenance costs, and increased overall profitability.

As technology continues to evolve, harnessing the power of telematics in fleet management remains a vital strategy for businesses seeking to stay competitive and environmentally responsible in the ever-changing landscape of transportation and logistics.