FLEET MANAGEMENT
Is your fleet
GUZZLING PROFITS? Fuel costs are estimated to be the second largest expense in a fleet’s budget. Thus, the priority to reduce fuel spend is not new but, with unprecedented price hikes on the horizon, it’s time to refocus on efficiencies.
C
ollecting and analysing data, involving drivers and using analytics are the go-to ways to spur change, says Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive. “In a world vastly different to the one that existed when fuel-saving strategies first started, an updated approach is needed. Not only are corporate objectives important, but so are environmental and societal considerations,” Herbert explains. He runs through a list of important fuelsaving strategies: • Avoid idling: idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and emits more emissions than switching the vehicle off. Educate drivers on when to switch off and when idling is acceptable. • G et a fuel card: this provides data to keep track of whether fuel spend equals kilometres travelled. • Empty vehicles: require drivers to remove any unnecessary weight from their vehicles weekly. Every 50 kg removed from a vehicle improves fuel efficiency by 1% to 2%. • Correct tyre pressure: it is estimated one
out of four drivers travels with underinflated tyres. Underinflation can increase fuel consumption by 10% on long hauls and cause a 15% reduction in tyre life. Implement policies to monitor tyre pressure regularly, particularly in cold months. • C r u i s e c o n t r o l : t h i s c a n s m o o t h acceleration on highways and flatter terrain. With inclines and curves, however, cruise control will not be as effective as drivers in reducing fuel consumption. • 93 vs 95: higher-octane fuels do not always increase fuel ef ficiency as commonly believed. Instead, know when to use each type of fuel – e.g. naturally aspirated vs turbocharged engines and inland vs coastal driving. • Reduce speed: reducing speed by 20 km/h can help reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 15-20%. Online tools can calculate additional fuel spend over certain speeds and give drivers more insight on how speeding affects consumption. • Preventative maintenance: put fleets on regular maintenance schedules to spot issues before they become problems.
• Air-con policies: while an air conditioner can be more fuel ef ficient in cer tain circumstances, unnecessar y use can increase consumption by >5%. While it is unrealistic to ban air-con use, train drivers on how and when to use it. For example, the optimal temperature is around 22˚C, park in the shade or use sunshades to keep vehicles cooler, and avoid using the air con while stationary. • A erodynamics: conversely, wide-open windows on highways increase aerodynamic drag, resulting in a 10% decrease in economy. Anything that af fects the original aerodynamics of a vehicle must be correctly fixed as soon as possible to reduce drag. Avoid moving cargo on a roof, for example. Now, more than ever, Herber t says fleet managers need to do whatever necessar y to keep costs as low as possible. “Training initiatives like the Eco-Driving programme for fleet owners – available from MasterDrive – are a necessity, unlike previously where they were perceived as a bit of a luxur y,” Herbert concludes.
IMIESA March 2022
45
