VIRGINA BEACH, VA – In order to minimize the rising cost of fuel, small service and delivery fleets are using smarter routing, adding fuel surcharges, and holding onto older trucks, according to The Virginian-Pilot. One owner of a carpet care and restoration company in Virginia Beach said he recently canceled a $45,000 truck order to help offset losses from high gas prices. The company operates 16 full-size vans, with heavy carpet-cleaning equipment bolted to the truck’s interior. Gas now accounts for nearly 12 percent of the company’s operating expenses, almost double the percentage of a year ago. One plumbing company in the area has implemented a $5-per-job surcharge for new contracts, as fuel costs are up 45.6 percent over last year, according to The Virginian-Pilot report.