Fuel is a necessary cost component for every fleet management operation. Fleets quite literally run on fuel, so tracking each vehicle’s fuel consumption can aid in monitoring patterns and finding cost efficiencies.
Measuring and tracking fuel consumption will protect your fleet against fuel waste, loss, or theft. Having this information at your disposal will help you hold others accountable for fuel consumption and avoid additional costs resulting from overuse.
Here are some ways to improve your fleet’s performance by monitoring fuel consumption.
Main Factors Affecting Fuel Consumption
Several factors affect how much fuel a vehicle consumes. Here are the leading causes of higher fuel consumption:
- Frequent/extended use of air conditioning
- Being in traffic with the engine idling
- Humidity
- Roof Racks
Irregular or inadequate vehicle servicing can also be responsible for unnecessary fuel usage. Without proper maintenance, issues such as underinflated tires can contribute to additional fuel use.
Further, driver behaviors can also account for excess fuel consumption. Rough cornering, speeding, and hard braking are likely to burn extra fuel while on the road.
The Need for Fuel Efficiency
Make sure your drivers are aware of the need for fuel efficiency through regular communication. Provide updates on their driving habits and define areas of improvement. Set goals for drivers to achieve, and provide incentives for them when they accomplish these goals. Show your fleet the data you track and educate them on the financial benefits of improving fuel efficiency.
Emphasize how smooth driving improves safety and cost-effectiveness for everyone; it reduces accident rates and increases fuel efficiency. Remind drivers to avoid harsh driving practices and drive more carefully on the road so funds do not have to be spent on costs related to bad driving habits.
Best Practices for Fleet Fuel Tracking
Regular fuel tracking allows your fleet to create a baseline for fuel usage and continue to make improvements from there. When there is data to determine baseline fuel usage, it can help justify fleet budgeting and allow you to develop incentive programs for drivers.
When tracking your fuel consumption, you can also monitor engine operation time. This helps fleet managers identify when inappropriate use or excessive downtime is occurring to help keep track of your machinery’s use.
Other best practices include:
- Mapping efficient routes
- Driver fuel cards
- Evaluate your fleet’s size
- Fuel-efficient vehicles
- Source fuel costs
- Fleet management software
While you can’t predict fuel costs, you can control certain factors impacting them. When the company has a clear understanding of fuel usage, it can control profitability and improve efficiencies. Start tracking your fleet’s fuel consumption with Azuga. Schedule a demo today to get started.
