What causes excess fuel?

2023-04-27T08:23:39.857Z

High prices. It can be difficult to control your fuel expenses when you can't predict how gas prices will react to global trends. High gas prices have been a significant issue in the wake of the pandemic and the energy crisis resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, so some fleets have struggled to keep up with the ever-rising cost of fuel. Local availability.

Much of the price of fuel is incredibly dependent on what is available in your area. If your fleet is based in a more rural area, you may not have the same access as other companies to competitive prices from different suppliers.

Driving habits. Driver behavior can have a significant impact on fuel economy. Small things, such as idling and lack of route optimization, can add up over time to significant losses in your fuel economy. Maintenance issues.

If your vehicles are not in top condition, they can cost you fuel due to mechanical problems. Whether it's due to age or general disrepair, an asset that isn't fully up to speed under the hood can turn into a gas guzzler.

Fuel theft. It's entirely possible that poor fuel card practices are driving up your fuel bill every quarter. If you don't keep a close eye on your fuel purchases, you could end up inadvertently paying the bill for fuel that isn't used for your fleet operations. The easiest way to offset excess fuel is to find ways to reduce costs without compromising your operations. Here are some of the best ways to reduce fuel costs without sacrificing efficiency:

Find ways to make fuel purchases more predictable. For some fleets, purchasing fuel in bulk can be a great way to create some level of standardization in their fuel purchases. When you work with a third-party supplier, your fuel will be delivered to you on a recurring basis at a fixed price, meaning you won't have to deal with any variability at the pump.

If buying in bulk isn't an option for you, you can at least standardize where you buy your fuel. Consider the stations in your area and on your fleet's routes and evaluate which ones tend to have the best prices consistently. You can even take advantage of some suppliers' loyalty programs.

Invest in a fuel card. Fleet fuel cards can give you a lot of visibility into fuel purchases that receipts alone won't give you. You'll be able to see exactly how much is spent at the pump, when it's spent, making it much easier to track down possible fuel theft or simply poor fueling practices. Many fuel cards can even be synced with other fleet management software, allowing you to not only track how much is being spent on fuel, but also to see how it relates to your total cost of ownership and usage data.

Analyze driver behavior with telematics. Making sure your drivers are working to maximize fuel efficiency instead of compromising it is critical to staying within your fuel budget. Telematics devices are now synonymous with fleet management, and you can use the data you get from these devices to track routes, idling, downtime and other data points that can show you if drivers are making decisions that could impact fuel consumption.

Stay on top of inspections and preventive maintenance. The best way to ensure fuel efficiency is to make sure your assets are working properly, and the best way to do that is with daily vehicle inspections and regular preventive maintenance. Inspections allow you to anticipate potential problems as soon as they are noticed by drivers, and a strong preventive maintenance program keeps vehicles within manufacturer guidelines to maximize fuel efficiency.