According to AAA, you’ll find no relief at the gas pumps these days. Prices of gas are rising continuously across the United States. In fact, $2.77 a gallon is the national average price for gas which went up five cents since last week. The average about a year ago was $2.39 a gallon and the average in New York State is about $2.83 a gallon; also up five cents from the following week. AAA says the rising gas prices are because of increasing crude prices, a tightening of gas supplies,  and an increase in gas demand.

Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy analyst, debated that the pump price is skyrocketing because of not just increased demand, but also because the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) isn’t opening the spigot.

How Fleets Can Reduce Fuel Costs

Today, most truck fleets aren’t using a fuel purchase optimization system, despite diesel rising past $3.00 a gallon in certain locations. Believe it or not, saving just a few more pennies on fuel each day here and there can really quickly add up. There are also steps you can take as a fleet manager to help reduce fuel costs, including:

1. Teach and Enforce Fuel-Efficient Driving Behaviors

When it comes to fuel efficiency, your driver’s driving behaviors cost more than you might realize. Safe drivers following the road rules who don’t speed and avoid aggressive driving behavior will save your fleet business a lot of money in terms of fuel costs. It might take some time to ingrain these good driving behaviors that will net the biggest savings. But it worth doing it.

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Prompt deliveries improve customer satisfaction to a large degree. Believe it or not, your only option for improving the speed of your deliveries is not to hire more delivery drivers for your business. In fact, there are seven ways you can boost speed without bringing a single new person into the fold. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Reduce Paperwork for Drivers

This one adjustment can make huge changes to the efficiency of drivers and help save massive time between deliveries. Plus, it spares you the need to store and manage countless unessential documents for your business. The more you can digitize and process paperwork electronically, the more time it stands to save.

2. Use GPS Fleet Tracking to Optimize Routes

Route optimization is one of the most important things you can do to find extra time in your day to keep your delivery schedules on time and on target. This eliminates double coverage and coverage gaps ensuring that the deliveries scheduled are more likely to happen on time.

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When your teen is ready to start driving, one important decision is finding the ideal vehicle. The right vehicle could also help your teen make wiser choices while on the road and protect them in the event of a crash. Here are five tips to follow when you’re buying your teenager’s first vehicle.

1. Set a Budget for your Vehicle Buying

The cost of a new vehicle could be a bit intimidating, particularly when you’re a teen (or even your teen’s parent) and you only have a certain amount to spend. And, even when it comes to cheaper cars3, it still can feel like buying one is impossible. However, you have various financing options available to help which means owning a car is within reach. If you or your teenager can afford a couple hundred a month, the chances you’ll find a vehicle that meets your financial needs is quite possible.

2. Ensure Safety

To ensure your teen stays safe, you’ll want to consider these tips:

• Avoid vehicles that have a performance-type, sporty image that could potentially encourage your teen driver to test the performance and speed.
• Pickup trucks and SUVs might seem like a safe choice due to their weight and size, but really the chances of them rolling over during a crash is more likely. The SUV’s high rollover rate and teenage driver’s high accident rate could make a fatal combination.
• Look for a vehicle with other air bags along with the passenger and standard driver airbags. Curtain and side airbags provide an extra crash protection measure.
• Later-model full- or mid-size passenger vehicles are ideal choices because they provide sufficient weight along with up-to-date safety features. Small vehicles provide less crash protection due to their weight/size.
• When you find a vehicle that appears to be a decent choice, check the safety ratings with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Check for certain safety features like Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control and intelligent seat belt reminder features that will remind your teen driver and their passengers to buckle up.

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