The Bad and the Ugly of Fleet Vehicle Idling

27 Dec 2018

Many people are under the mistaken impression that vehicle idling doesn’t really do any harm. Unfortunately, that simply isn’t the case. Not only does it waste a lot of money in fuel consumption, but, according to the AARP, excessive idling can also damage your “cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust system.”

For fleet vehicles, the problem is even larger than that. Primarily because it is compounded by every vehicle in your fleet. But, also, because businesses that have fleets often spend more time on the roads. Which means they spend more time idling.

The Bad for Fleet Vehicle Idling

In addition to the potentially costly damaged mentioned above, North Carolina’s WBTV reports that car idling has the other effects on your vehicles as well:

Burns through oil, requiring more frequent oil changes.
Causes excessive pollution by producing more emissions (when compared with turning the engine off when stuck in traffic and/or waiting).
Drains car batteries without allowing them to recharge.
Reduces vehicle performance over time and may cause them to stop working completely, resulting in even more major repairs.

These things sound bad enough in their own rights. And they are. But that’s not all that’s bad about fleet vehicle idling. Especially for the companies that own these fleets of vehicles.

The Ugly About Fleet Vehicle Idling

Idling vehicles can be dangerous. Especially if they are idling in a poorly ventilated area. They may even cause death through carbon monoxide poisoning. Cars should never be left idling in confined spaces, especially if there are any passengers in the vehicle. Always pull out to an open area before idling a vehicle, or turn it off altogether instead of idling, in order to avoid unnecessary tragedies.

When it comes to fleet vehicles, prevention is the best cure. Educate your drivers about the costs and risks of idling fleet vehicles and create policies against leaving vehicles idling in stopped traffic, while waiting for pickups or drop-offs, and in countless other situations. Enforce these policies by investing in GPS fleet tracking to monitor individual drivers idling times. GPS can help your organization monitor a wide range of driver behaviors in addition to idling to reduce fuel costs and so much more.

Here at LiveViewGPS, we invite you to learn more about GPS fleet tracking and how you can use it to reduce your fleet idling problems and the costs associated with them. Our website has a plethora of information about how GPS fleet tracking can improve not only your fleet’s idling problems, but other inefficiencies as well. And you can also call us at 1-888-544-0494 to speak to one of our GPS fleet tracking specialists.

Using GPS tracking is a small step your organization can take that will help to solve many common problems.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.