Today fleet management has emerged as a critical part of the business world, thanks to the role it plays in ensuring things keep moving as planned. Be it for long-distance shipments or intra-city movement of goods, fleet management is what makes sure that logistics and the supply chain remain on track. Now, this may make running a fleet seem like an intriguing proposition, but the truth remains that most companies struggle considerably with one key factor: Fuel costs. Yep, they constitute roughly one-third the cost of running a fleet. Understandably, companies are keen to reduce those costs and if you are one of them as well, here are some tips that will come in very, very handy in your endeavors.
1. Select the right vehicle:
It is vital to pick a vehicle for the fleet depending on the kind of material you typically transport. A mismatch will immediately and considerably drive up your fuel costs.
2. Better route planning:
This is simple logic — if you travel on a route that doesn’t have as much traffic and will involve fewer impediments such as potholes, the more you will save on costs. Use an AI-enabled route planner to help determine a route that is ideal for your fleet vehicles.
3. Minimize distance traveled:
This one also has to do with route planning — the less the distance traveled, the more you will save on fuel. Technology-driven route planners can be of excellent help here.
4. Monitor driver behavior:
Fuel efficiency is not just about the road and the vehicle, but also how the vehicle is being driven. To ensure that your drivers are performing well in this regard, we recommend monitoring their driving behavior to identify any problem areas, if at all and quickly remediate them as well.
5. Track fleet fuel usage:
Another important way to minimize your fuel costs is by ensuring that vehicles are being used exclusively for the intended purposes. Modern fleet management solutions are GPS enabled and also make use of cameras to help companies make sure that the vehicles in their fleet are not being misused by drivers for any other reasons besides in service of the job assigned to them.
6. Maintain vehicles properly:
A vehicle that is in proper shape and is regularly serviced consumes far less fuel than a vehicle that is plagued with issues.
7. Keep an eye on the tires:
Tyres in good condition are critical for two things: Ensuring safety and achieving optimal fuel efficiency.
There is no denying that when it comes to managing and running a fleet, one of your biggest bills is going to be for fuel. However, the tips we have listed above will go a long way in ensuring that it is not always so. Furthermore, you can also take up a fleet fuel management solution, tailor it according to your business's unique requirements, and save even more with fuel costs while also ensuring top-notch and seamless management of your entire fleet. And when you do, make sure you hire a qualified service provider to help build the solution for your company.
Kaushal Shah manages digital marketing communications for the enterprise technology services provided by Rishabh Software.