Fuel saving tips every business should know
Avoid rush hour traffic and congestion
No one likes to be stuck in traffic, but for businesses operating a mobile workforce the issue is more than just a frustrating inconvenience. Traffic jams can hugely impact the efficiency of your business; missed delivery times resulting in poor customer relations or lost custom, added stress for drivers, and increased vehicle wear and tear, as well as increased fuel spend.
There are tools and applications available which can help drivers avoid traffic jams, such as e-route. The main function of these mapping tools are to help drivers locate the nearest fuel station which will accept their business fuel card. However, additional features also allow drivers to see real-time traffic congestion.
Avoiding congested roads is certainly preferable, but sometimes it isn’t always possible. If you do find yourself in a jam, the best thing to do is to pay attention to the traffic ahead. Stopping and starting uses a huge amount of fuel, so leave plenty of room and travel at a steady slow speed, rather than accelerating and braking which uses a lot of fuel.
Make your vehicle more aerodynamic
The ‘drag’, or air resistance on your vehicle can increase your fuel consumption, so the more aerodynamic your vehicle, the easier it will travel and so use less fuel. This won’t matter so much while driving through towns and cities as you don’t travel as fast, but when you are out on the open road, along highways and motorways there are things you can do to combat drag.
Simple actions like closing windows and sunroofs can help, and removing any roof attachments such as ladder-racks. If you must use roof attachments, make sure they are fitted correctly and opt for the most streamlined possible to help minimise wind resistance.
Ease off the accelerator
More revs equals more fuel use, as does frequent harsh braking. Adopting safer driver habits can help you avoid unnecessary acceleration, and reduce wasted fuel. If you see traffic stoppages ahead, take your foot off the accelerator and drop gears as the vehicle slows. Once things begin moving you can get back to cruising speed while the car is still moving, which uses far less petrol than stopping and then starting again.
Vehicle tracking can give you a bird’s eye view of your fleet at all times, making it quick and easy to manage all your drivers. You can deal with breakdowns or accidents immediately and even check the driver dashcam footage or speeding incidents from your mobile phone.
As a free comparison site, iCompario can help you find the right system for the right price.
