A quick guide to lowering your fuel consumption and costs
Lowering your fuel consumption, a guide by Stephen Buckley, Sales Manager and Senior Fuel Analyst at Fleetmaxx Solutions, Burnley
Fuel costs can have a major impact on your bottom line. At Fleetmaxx Solutions, we understand the importance of reducing costs and improving efficiency. With fuel prices affecting the entire supply chain, there’s never been a better time to focus on fuel savings.
Question: Did you know that optimising your routes can save you up to 20% on fuel consumption and costs?
This guide explores how route optimisation can help you achieve significant savings, using your existing fleet. Let’s get started.
Research shows route optimisation reduces fuel consumption
Studies have shown that route optimisation can cut fuel costs by up to 20%. The more disruptions a journey faces—traffic congestion, unexpected stops, or unplanned detours—the more crucial route planning becomes for fuel efficiency. By optimising routes, you can reduce unnecessary mileage and lower fuel consumption and overall costs.
Four steps to reduce fuel consumption
1. Deliver Heavier Items First
Vehicle weight directly impacts fuel consumption. By prioritising the delivery of heavier items first, your vehicles become lighter throughout the day, improving fuel efficiency. Similarly, when collecting items, picking up the heaviest loads last prevents unnecessary fuel usage.
Advanced route planning software such as our My Transport Planner can automate this process, ensuring efficient scheduling while reducing administrative workload.
2. Combine Pickups and Deliveries
Allocating deliveries and pickups to the same vehicle improves efficiency, reduces fuel consumption, and eliminates costly empty runs. Route optimisation software streamlines this process, saving time and improving turnaround.
Some customers may also require combined services—for instance, returning empty containers after a delivery—making this strategy beneficial for both cost and operational efficiency.
3. Maximise Vehicle Loads
Empty space in a vehicle adds to cost per delivery. By optimising cargo space usage, businesses can reduce the number of vehicles on the road, cutting fuel costs. A route optimisation system like My Transport Planner helps plan efficient loading while considering all necessary constraints.
4. Monitor and Reduce Route Deviations
Even the best-planned routes need to be followed accurately. Unexpected detours, prolonged stops, or inefficient driving habits can increase fuel consumption. Integrating GPS tracking with route planning allows businesses to monitor route adherence, identify inefficiencies, and work with drivers to refine performance.
Other ways to reduce fuel consumption and costs
Fleet maintenance
Regular vehicle maintenance ensures optimal fuel efficiency. Simple tasks such as tyre rotations, oil changes, and checking fluid levels can have a significant impact on fuel consumption and vehicle longevity.
A TMS with fleet maintenance functions helps keep track of servicing schedules, vehicle inspections, and repair needs, minimising fuel waste due to mechanical inefficiencies.
Utilising a driver’s daily walk-round app can help ensure that any issues with your vehicles are reported and resolved swiftly.
Driver training and tracking
Fuel-efficient driving practices can significantly reduce fuel consumption. Training drivers in smooth acceleration, optimal gear usage, and reduced idling can enhance efficiency.
Additionally, GPS tracking improves operations management by providing real-time driver insights, enabling businesses to address issues promptly, reroute drivers for better efficiency, and reduce unnecessary mileage.
Fleetloc8 offers advanced GPS tracking and video telematics solutions, providing real-time visibility into your fleet and valuable assets. We offer a range of self-install and professionally installed hardwired tracking devices, all giving businesses seamless access to our user-friendly telematics portal. With instant insights and live location data, you can respond quickly to changing situations and make informed, strategic decisions with confidence.
Vehicle weight management
Excess weight negatively impacts fuel performance. Removing unnecessary cargo and equipment from vehicles ensures better fuel economy. Even small reductions in weight can lead to noticeable improvements in fuel efficiency over time.
Fuel sourcing
This may seem obvious, but where and how you source fuel has a huge impact on your overall costs. Using a strategic approach to fuel purchasing ensures you’re getting the best prices while maintaining efficiency.
At Fleetmaxx Solutions, we take the guesswork out of fuel sourcing with our free Fuel Bill Analysis. We help businesses identify potential savings by selecting the most cost-effective fuel and EV charge card options.
Fuel consumption and cost analysis
Let us help you uncover fuel savings in just three simple steps!
Whether you currently use fuel cards or another form of fuel purchase, please enter your contact details and tell us a little about your business refuelling needs.
We provide affordable, transparent, and trustworthy fuel card services to businesses across the UK. Our wide range of fuel and EV charge cards ensures you always have access to competitively priced fuel, no matter where your vehicles operate.
Where you can fuel up:
Our cards provide access to major fuel networks, including:
Shell, Esso, BP, Texaco, fuelgenie, Keyfuels, UK Fuels, Gulf, Gleaner, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco.
Conclusion
Our My Transport Planner, a route optimisation tool, is a powerful tool for reducing fuel consumption and operational costs. By optimising deliveries, maximising vehicle loads, eliminating inefficiencies, and integrating tracking systems, businesses can achieve significant fuel savings.
At Fleetmaxx Solutions, we provide the tools and expertise to help you optimise your fleet’s performance while cutting costs. Get in touch today by completing the form below, to learn more about our fuel cards, tracking solutions, and fleet management services.
