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.

Collecting 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. • Get 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. • Cruise control: this can smooth 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 efficiency 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 efficient in certain circumstances, unnecessary 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. • Aerodynamics: conversely, wide-open windows on highways increase aerodynamic drag, resulting in a 10% decrease in economy. Anything that affects 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, Herbert says fleet managers need to do whatever necessary 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 luxury,” Herbert concludes.