Top 3 Impacts to Fuel Efficiency in Your Fleet

Finding ways to save money in your fleet is always a high priority, even when fuel costs at the pump are low. But oftentimes fleet managers turn to driver training as the answer to making their vehicles more fuel-efficient but at Derive we look to the vehicle itself to take on that responsibility.

Let’s cover three behaviors in your fleet that are contributing to poor fuel efficiency and higher than necessary fuel bills, as well as highlight some ways to reduce these costs.

1. Idling

Did you know that idling for 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting the engine?

Many fleets have vehicles that are spending hours idling and burning through fuel as their operations require the vehicle to be on and ready to go or provide power at a job site. But an adjustment of lowering the idle RPM from 600 RPM to 520 RPM can improve fuel efficiency by 6-12% or more and still provide the juice necessary for other vehicle operations.

2. Speeding

Traveling 65 mph uses 10-15% more fuel than driving 55 mph and we all know every fleet has a driver or two with a lead foot. Let’s say you have a 100-vehicle fleet and each vehicle clocks in 15,000 miles per year and the price at the pump is $3/gallon. At 55 mph you’re spending $500,000 per year on fuel, but up each vehicle’s speed by 10 mph and you’re now spending $550,000 per year.

By installing speed limiters you’re telling the engine’s computer to not go above a certain speed, and those lead foot drivers could drop a brick on the gas pedal but your fleet vehicles will never speed again – saving you money on fuel and speeding tickets.

3. Harsh braking

Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by up to 30% highway and harsh braking takes its toll on your fuel efficiency and brakes and brake pads, which could result in costly repairs down the road.

Harsh braking can also be a symptom of distracted driving or speeding, signaling that drivers aren’t following driver or safety policies which could also be contributing to higher than average fuel costs or maintenance costs.

Combat these fuel guzzlers by lowering your vehicle’s idle RPM, installing speed limiters, and investing in driver training and telematics that automatically alert the driver to their bad behaviors.

Interested in reading more on improving fuel efficiency in your fleet? Read our guide to enhancing fleet vehicle performance now!