In recent months, fuel prices have been rising significantly . Therefore, it's necessary to adopt strategies to avoid waste. However, saving fuel and reducing fleet expenses isn't always possible.
As announced by Petrobras , there will again be an increase in gasoline and diesel prices for distributors , of 5,18% and 14,26% respectively.
Therefore, one of the missions faced by fleet managers will become even more complicated. After all, according to Diário do Nordeste , fuel costs currently represent an average of 40% to 50% of logistics costs.
The increase in fuel prices has a direct impact on the cost of fleet operations and, consequently, on the manager and the final consumer. In this way, the entire vehicle distribution chain is affected, causing serious damage to the country's economy.
Finally, as a manager, it's important to be aware of changes in fuel prices, as well as to look for ways to reduce fleet costs in order to maintain business growth.
Want to know how to save fuel and reduce fleet operating costs?
Read on!
Optimization of fleet routes
Refueling at reliable fuel stations
mileage control
Reduction in the weight of loads
Idleness of fleet vehicles
Good driving practices
Tire pressure of fleet vehicles
Fleet fuel economy
First, it is important to understand that fuel economy is not just about filling up at cheaper gas stations. Therefore, several elements of the vehicle must be analyzed to understand performance in general.
Read also: Biofuel: what is it, what are the advantages and why use it in your fleet?
After all, the more optimized the power of the fuel is, the greater its energy efficiency. In this way, you can guarantee lower costs and the necessary income to carry out fleet operations.
Therefore, to achieve this reduction in consumption, the mechanical parts of the vehicle must be in good condition . This way, there will be no waste of fuel.
Finally, the first step for managers who want to reduce fleet costs while maintaining operational productivity is to analyze the condition of the vehicles.
Read also: Light fleet mileage management: how to optimize and ensure operational efficiency.
Let's check out some tips for reducing fuel costs in your fleet and understand how you can apply them to your routine.
Tips for reducing fuel costs in the fleet
We know how concerning fuel costs are for managers , especially during times of crisis. These costs are usually a significant portion of a business's overall expenses.
Furthermore, these costs are directly related to the company's profits. Consequently, the more you save on gasoline consumption, the greater the profit margin that the manager will have in his company.
Among the main strategies that can be adopted to reduce fleet costs related to fuels are:
Preventive maintenance of vehicles
Preventive maintenance should be part of managing light vehicle fleets to reduce fuel-related costs. After all, monitoring fleet conditions allows for the anticipation and prevention of setbacks that increase fuel consumption.
Therefore, having a maintenance schedule is very important for the company . Besides identifying damage related to time and ensuring parts are replaced at the right times, it can prevent harmful wear and tear caused by road conditions.
Read also: Efficiency in fleet fuel management | Golfleet
So, vehicles that undergo maintenance frequently generate less expenses and present better performances, including fuel economy.
Optimization of fleet routes
First and foremost, good route planning , especially in urban areas, is very beneficial for reducing fleet costs. Therefore, the use of management software, route planning apps, and maps is becoming increasingly common among fleet managers.
Furthermore, the drivers' practical knowledge can also help save fuel , as it allows them to travel shorter distances and times.
Read also : Find out what changes with the new rules of the Brazilian Traffic Code.
Finally, you need to carefully plan each trip, considering factors such as:
- number of signals
- traffic jams
- main roads
- local traffic
- departure time
Knowing about fleet management software that includes telemetry functionality helps reduce fleet costs.
Refueling at reliable fuel stations
Although you probably already know this, we need to emphasize the importance of refueling at reliable gas stations . After all, who hasn't heard of the practice of mixing compounds to make fuel last longer?
Therefore, be careful to avoid tampering or low quality, as expenses can become even greater.
Read also: Defensive driving and fleet management: preserve lives | Golfleet
mileage control
Fleet mileage control helps identify vehicles that are being driven more than expected. This allows for the calculation of a specific vehicle's fuel consumption and helps understand the factors contributing to increased or decreased mileage.
In addition, identifying vehicles that consume more can make you evaluate the possibility of replacing them with a more economical one. Likewise, the detection of the most common problems between vehicles of the same model.
Reduction in the weight of loads
The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it will consume . Therefore, it's important to pay attention to the maximum fuel capacity and how the weight will be distributed.
Read also: Stay ahead of ESG with a fleet management system
On the other hand, employees need to be trained to identify excessive weight in fleets and comply with the stipulated standards.
Idleness of fleet vehicles
Monitoring tools are important allies to track vehicle location in real time. After all, with telemetry you check the driver's performance and his behavior in traffic.
Read also: Understand Proconve and how it impacts your fleet management.
Furthermore, telemetry allows for the monitoring of vehicle operation , so you will know how the vehicle is being driven.
So, to improve monitoring of speed, braking, sudden acceleration and idle times, don't give up on a fleet management system that has these functionalities.
Read also: Everything about vehicle telemetry: what it is, how it works and benefits for fleet management
Good driving practices
In addition to introducing smart technologies such as a telemetry system, driver training is essential to achieving better results and profitability with fleets.
Here are some elements that should be observed by managers:
- defensive driving
- speed limits
- Correct use of brakes and accelerations
- Knowledge of vehicle specifics
As a result, drivers will have practical and theoretical information to improve their behavior on the road , ensuring reduced fleet costs, better performance, and increased productivity.
Read also: Road safety: the importance of a safe driving culture in fleet management
Tire pressure of fleet vehicles
On the other hand, since we are talking about the behavior and best practices of fleet drivers, it is also essential to remember the importance of tire pressure .
Ultimately, tires with below-the-limit pressure can increase fuel consumption by up to 4% , consequently increasing costs for companies.
Therefore, with this simple measure it is possible to extend the useful life of tires, postpone replacement costs and save fuel.
Route management to reduce fleet expenses with intelligent software
Therefore, the increasingly frequent use of technology in fleet management allows for greater control over fuel supply and cost reduction.
All the information needed for managers' planning and strategies can be found, conveniently, in one place. Therefore, this allows for a complete analysis of the cost per kilometer driven for each vehicle , as well as the behavior of each driver.
Golfleet is a fleet management system that provides greater safety for the team, vehicles, and employees . In this way, it allows you to understand the fleet's needs and reduce costs, especially those related to fuel and maintenance.
With this information, it's possible to identify waste and find solutions to save more on fuel and boost company growth.
Take advantage of all your opportunities and save more with Golfleet :
