How to Maximize Fleet Fuel Savings This Spring
30 Mar 2015Spring is here, and with it comes opportunities for small businesses with commercial vehicles to save money on fuel. You can use these same tips to save money on gas when you take the family on vacation this summer.
Take advantage of Daylight Savings Time. Make the most of extended daylight hours. Keep your drivers on the road longer to make the most of good driving conditions.
Reduce the weight. Trucks and cars used for business can become traveling storage bins. All that extra weight causes the vehicle to use more fuel. Do a spring cleaning, getting rid of excess paperwork, samples, personal belongings and other non-essential detritus. Remove the sand bags you put in the trunk for winter driving conditions.
Look for the best price. Gas prices vary by locality. Make the most of even a few cents per gallon–it adds up. Use apps that direct you to the lease expensive gas stations in your area.
Go slower. This is one of the best ways to save gas. The faster you go, the higher the effect of aerodynamic drag. Driving 62 mph instead of 75 mph reduces fuel use by 15%. According to the Federal Trade Commission, every five miles per hour over 60 mph will cost you a quarter extra for each gallon of fuel you use.
Don’t idle. Turn off the engine if you’ll be stopped more than a minute. It takes less fuel to restart than it does to idle. It’s also better for your car’s engine and for the environment.
Buy an energy-efficient vehicle. If you’re in the market for a new car or truck for your business, make sure you get one with high fuel efficiency. For cars, the smaller it is the better. And one with a manual transmission is best of all.
Use cruise control. Though many people have it, not too many use it. When you maintain a constant speed for long distances, you can save gas and therefore money.
Keep your vehicles maintained. Don’t put off preventive maintenance like tune-ups and oil changes. It’s a false economy because these can help you avoid problems that affect fuel efficiency. Dirty air filters, sputtering spark plugs and low fluid levels can all cause you to use more gas.
Don’t open your windows when you drive. At highway speeds, open windows increase the drag on your car. This can reduce fuel economy as much as 10%.
Utilize GPS fleet tracking. GPS fleet tracking enables you to monitor employee driving and kick idling to the curb.
Reduce your use of air conditioning in the vehicle. Your A/C system requires your engine to work harder, which can increase fuel use by as much as 20%. Remember that the defrost selector also makes use of the air conditioner on most vehicles.
Inflate your tires. Fuel consumption increases by one percent for each 2 PSI that a single tire is under-inflated. Multiply this by four tires, and it can add considerably to your gas bill.
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