8 Minor Modifications That Will Maximize Your Fleet’s Fuel Mileage

Upgrading to more efficient vehicles is the ultimate solution to cut fuel costs. However, fleet modernization isn’t the be-all and end-all of fuel management — sound policies are.

Anyone in charge of stretching the mileage of tractor-trailers, delivery vans or executive sedans must consider these eight minor modifications to craft effective fleet management policies.

1.     Review Fleet Reports Routinely

Rule number one is to measure key fuel efficiency metrics such as fuel consumption, miles per gallon of fuel and miles per driver. Data comes from various sources, including odometer readings and fleet card receipts. The more granular it is, the more data-driven decision-making is possible.

Modern technologies make these metrics easier to track than ever. Fleet fuel management solutions include global navigation satellite systems and telematics devices, which collect location data and translate it into information ordinary people understand. Cell phones, tablets and other communication devices enable real-time updates between multiple parties, automatically leaving digital trails for review.

Compiling granular data from various sources and generating reports are necessary for analytics. Insights from these allow professionals to assess the fleet’s current fuel efficiency, identify patterns and establish benchmarks to which fleet managers should compare trends.

2.     Set Realistic Fuel Efficiency Goals

After understanding vital fuel efficiency metrics, target objectives to improve them. The goals should be SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

In other words, fuel efficiency goals should apply to specified, quantifiable metrics that can make a noticeable difference. They should also have end dates to instill a sense of urgency in drivers and note when to review the numbers. More importantly, these goals should be possible to accomplish within the given time frames. Otherwise, they may doom drivers to underdeliver, causing frustration among all parties.

The SMART strategy ensures everyone can consistently hit minimum fuel efficiency targets. Small wins are powerful motivators, leading to larger fuel efficiency victories.

Adjust goals when they’re too ambitious and raise them when they’re too easy. Keep recalibrating targets if necessary to achieve maximum fuel efficiency without compromising business.

3.     Embrace Driver Training

Fuel-efficient driving is an acquired skill, so equip fleet vehicle drivers with critical knowledge to achieve their goals. Explain how every driving maneuver affects fuel economy, enlightening drivers on the effects of their microdecisions behind the wheel.

Teach them how to behave appropriately on the road in various situations. This way, they can kick any bad habits they may have — such as idling, aggressive acceleration, frequent changing of gears and abrupt braking — and be more mindful when transporting cargo. Only some fleet vehicle drivers are willing to learn, so hire trainable people to form a reliable group and nail teamwide fuel efficiency goals.

4.     Launch Performance-Based Rewards

Offering incentives does sweeten the pot. It creates healthy competition among drivers and makes hitting fuel efficiency goals exciting.

The downside to offering rewards — financial or nonmonetary — is it can be unsustainable. Incentives can yield significant results immediately but can lose their effectiveness afterward. The key is to commit to performance-based rewards over the long term since removing them can disincentivize good driving practices.

Cheating is another cause for concern. Some drivers may take it too far and fudge their numbers to get ahead of their peers. Toxic competition can cause hatred among employees, so ensure fairness and crack down on fraud to promote integrity. Foster a culture of harmony, emphasizing everyone ultimately wins when they meet and exceed goals. Think twice about putting high performers on a pedestal and work constructively with underachievers to prevent resentment.

5.     Ensure Truck Roadworthiness Before Deployment

Mindful drivers can only do so much to minimize fuel waste. Fleet vehicles must be in good shape to ensure they operate optimally.

Roadworthy trucks, vans and cars are fuel-efficient vehicles. Aligning the angles of wheels — especially after hitting a curb or getting involved in a traffic accident — enables the fleet truck to exert less effort to operate.

Moreover, ensuring adequate tire pressure promotes efficiency, as fuel economy declines on average by 3.3% when moving cargo with underinflated tires. Although such a decrease seems minimal, it inflates diesel costs by a whopping $2,400 per power unit for every 125,000 miles.

Watch out for considerable tire tread wear, too. Severely worn-out tires are not only unsafe but also have lower rolling resistance, forcing the fleet vehicle to use more fuel to move forward.

6.     Minimize Gross Vehicle Weight

Traveling light is the best way to reduce the gross vehicle weight without swapping out parts. Moving more freight per journey seems efficient, but heavier loads require more fuel. Overloading can also increase wind resistance, leading to higher energy consumption due to more drag.

Generally, loading cargo inside the vehicle instead of placing it on top maximizes mileage. Freight weight distribution is also a determining factor. It’s more of a science than an art — experiment with different distribution strategies and let historical fuel efficiency data reveal the most energy-saving ones.

7.     Simplify Speed Management

Speed limits exist to promote public safety. By extension, they also help improve fleet mileage because speeds above 50 mph negatively impact fuel economy. The challenge for drivers is remembering these limits as they cross state borders.

This predicament may be less of a concern when drivers take the same route repeatedly, but it’s another story when they must traverse unfamiliar highways. Incorporating intelligent speed assistance into fleet vehicles is a neat solution. This in-vehicle technology can notify drivers of speed limit changes, alert them when they accelerate excessively or engage speed resistance when necessary.

8.     Prioritize Instant Feedback

Implementing technologies optimized for monitoring driver behavior is essential. They ensure drivers abide by fleet fuel management policies when in transit. Knowing someone is remotely watching their actions can be enough for them to behave accordingly without supervision, but not always. They may cut corners or ignore shorter route recommendations due to preoccupation or fatigue. Instant reminders go a long way.

In-vehicle coaching is instrumental in enforcing fuel-efficient driving policies. Fleet managers can provide more extensive feedback to drivers at headquarters. However, instantaneous feedback allows drivers to modify their undesirable behaviors immediately.

Visual or auditory warnings can inform them when they idle for too long, step on the gas pedal too much, or brake too hard without causing undue distraction. Responsible drivers wouldn’t trigger the same warnings repeatedly, as it would reflect poorly on their performance. As a result, real-time feedback encourages mindfulness throughout the journey.

Minor Policy Modifications Translate Into More Mileage

Unchecked fuel consumption can turn assets into liabilities. While gaining remarkable savings without upgrading to lighter, more aerodynamic and inherently efficient fleet vehicles can be challenging, these suggestions will surely deliver noticeable results.