5 Reasons Every Fleet Manager Should Care About Fleet Sustainability

A fleet manager's job is full of challenges. Whether it's increased environmental regulations or rising fuel costs, there's a lot that can get in the way of success. While a fleet manager may have a full plate, there’s one thing they should care about: Fleet sustainability. Here are five reasons why fleet sustainability should be on every fleet manager’s mind:

1. Cost Savings
2. Reputation and Brand Image
3. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
4. Environmental Stewardship
5. Future-Proofing

Cost Savings

It's simple math, really. Greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fuel, and fuel costs money. The more fuel a fleet burns, the more costly it is for the fleet to run. A sustainable fleet is one that lowers its costs by burning less fuel. Fleet sustainability can have a significant impact on cost savings for a company in a few key ways:

1. Fuel Efficiency: Sustainable fleets are often designed to be more fuel-efficient, which can lead to significant cost savings in fuel expenses. By investing in more fuel-efficient vehicles and optimizing routes, companies can reduce fuel consumption and save money on fuel costs.
2. Maintenance Costs: Another part of fleet sustainability is its focus on maintenance. Sustainable fleets tend to maintain and service their vehicles regularly, which can extend the life of the vehicles. By keeping vehicles in good condition, companies can reduce the frequency of repairs and replacements, leading to cost savings.
3. Insurance Rates: This really depends on which insurance company a fleet deals with. But insurance companies often offer discounts to companies that operate environmentally-friendly vehicles, which can lead to cost savings for the company.

Reputation and Brand Image

Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, and companies that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability are more likely to be viewed positively by consumers. When a fleet commits to following sustainable practices, they become more attractive to potential customers and stakeholders. It's a win-win, really. A sustainable fleet spends less money on fuel while at the same time drastically reducing emissions and improving their reputation. That way, they're increasing profitability while also helping the environment and boosting brand equity.

While this applies to companies in numerous industries, it’s essential for fleets because of the amount of emissions they produce. It's also worth mentioning that a growing number of fleets are already making an effort to become more sustainable, working diligently to lower their emissions in the upcoming decades. If a company's fleet wants to keep up with competitors, they have to embrace fleet sustainability.

Read more about how sustainable fleet management boosts brand equity.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Fleet sustainability is becoming increasingly important in meeting government compliance requirements, particularly in the areas of emissions and fuel efficiency standards. While regulations can vary from state to state, emissions standards across the country are becoming increasingly strict in an effort to reduce air pollution and combat climate change. By following sustainability best practices, a fleet can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and meet government emissions standards.

It's not uncommon for government departments to require company fleets to report their greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. By investing in sustainable fleets, companies can reduce their emissions and improve their reporting, ensuring they are in compliance with government reporting requirements.

Environmental Stewardship

Corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship are becoming more and more important in today's business landscape. Sustainable fleets can help reduce air and water pollution, and reduce habitat destruction associated with traditional transportation methods. Here are a few ways fleet sustainability can help a fleet manager be stewards for the environment:

• Reduced Carbon Emissions: When fleets embrace sustainability by either switching to more efficient vehicles or modifying their current vehicles with fleet management software, they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. By lowering carbon emissions, a vehicle fleet manager can help fight the effects of climate change and reduce the impact on the environment.
• Waste Reduction: For a fleet manager, wasted fuel is wasted money. A more fuel-efficient fleet burns less fuel, resulting in less waste and more efficient use of resources. In other words, fleet sustainability helps fleet managers improve efficiency, save on fuel costs, and reduce their environmental impact.

Future-Proofing

There's a limited supply of fossil fuels on the planet, and they won't last forever. That's a cold hard fact. As petroleum resources become more and more scarce, the associated costs of relying on them will grow. To add to that, international relations and trade agreements can often change and fluctuate, leading to swings in the global price of fossil fuels. 

All of this, put together, makes it even more important for a fleet manager to care about the sustainability of their vehicle fleet. Companies that operate sustainable fleets will be better positioned to adapt to changing conditions. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources, companies can ensure they are not negatively impacted by increases in the price of fuel or disruptions in the supply chain.

How Derive VQ Can Help

Now that you know why fleet managers should care about fleet sustainability, you may be wondering how you can create a sustainable fleet for your company. Certainly, switching your fleet vehicles to electric or hybrid vehicles is an option. But that can be prohibitively expensive, both in the upfront costs of purchasing new vehicles and in the costs associated with maintaining multiple types of vehicles as the fleet transitions. Fleet management software like DeriveVQ is an option that allows fleet managers to create a more sustainable fleet quickly in the interim. DeriveVQ provides fleet vehicles with these options:

• Idle Reduction: Lowers engine idle RPMs to reduce fuel consumption while idling.
• Eco Adjustment: Smooths out shifting patterns to reduce fuel consumption while driving.
• Speed Governor: Limits the vehicle’s top speed to match your fleet’s policy.

These combined features effectively improve fleet vehicle fuel efficiency, directly leading to a more sustainable fleet. If you're ready to lower your fleet's fuel costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve fleet driver safety, learn how DeriveVQ can help.