September 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
60 Ways to Reduce Your Fuel Spend
By Mike Antich
Vehicle Maintenance
53. Ensure Vehicles are in Peak Operating Condition.
“We have an active program to ensure vehicles are in peak operating
condition from a maintenance and filter perspective,” said Keig of
Brinks.
54. Monitor Preventive Maintenance Schedules.
Proper maintenance increases a vehicle’s fuel economy. For example,
keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that “fight” each other waste fuel.
Keep the air filter clean. “A dirty air filter can diminish the ability
of the engine to realize optimum fuel/air ratios, thereby reducing the
available power and operating efficiency,” said Keig of Brinks.
“Filters should be inspected carefully and more often in hostile
environments.” Replace the air filter as recommended — always consult
the owner’s manual. Use good quality, energy conserving (EC) oils that
have a viscosity grade consistent with the manual. Look for bottles
marked with the symbol ECII, the American Society of Testing Materials
logo for fuel-efficient oils. This will ensure the vehicle’s engine
will operate at maximum efficiency, thus providing the best fuel
economy.
55. Use Fuel with Detergent Additive.
Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine
clean and performing efficiently. “These additives keep critical engine
components clean and do not allow harmful deposits to enter the fuel
and intake areas, which may diminish power and efficiency,” said Keig.
Telematics Approach
56. Implement Telematic Devices to Reduce Fuel Spend.
Some fleets are adopting a technology-based solution to reduce fuel
spend. “We are looking to increase our telematic program, which is
pending review,” said Howard of Verizon.
Honeywell also hopes to move forward on a telematics program to
enhance fuel efficiency. “We conducted a pilot telematics program in
our cargo-type vehicles,” said Lofgren. “The recommendation is being
made to move forward and it is now under review by management.”
Other fleets are attempting to minimize idling. Recent telematic
data acquired reveals that fleets tremendously underestimate the amount
of idling that occurs.
57. Implement GPS Tracking Systems.
These systems have a dual purpose of tracking unauthorized travel
and for route optimization. “We have started using GPS on some of our
vehicles, and with proper controls and monitoring, we have reduced
excess idle time and speeding in some of our branches,” said Kirk
Herniman, manage, equipment & leasing for IES in Houston.
Other fleets are also adopting GPS systems to reduce fuel
expenditures. ValleyCrest Companies in Calabasas, Calif., reports a
10-percent reduction in fuel costs since implementing a fleet-wide GPS
system.
Miscellaneous Stratagems
58. Develop an In-House Team to Reduce Fuel Costs.
According to Charles Bowen, director of fleet for Rollins Inc. in
Atlanta, “We created a small team, utilizing internal resources that is
looking more closely at fuel transactions and finding excess vehicles
for turn-in.”
59. Benchmark Fuel Reduction Program.
Fleets are beginning to gauge the effectiveness of their fuel
reduction programs by benchmarking against fleets to determine best
practices.
60. Increasing MPG for Reimbursed Drivers.
Even if a company does not offer a company-provided vehicle, it is still
paying
for the business-related fuel expenditures for employee-owned vehicles.
“I am in the process of modifying our fleet policy to require that our
reimbursed drivers obtain a minimum 20 mpg on their new personal
vehicles,” said Berg of Toshiba America Medical Systems