When it comes to saving money on fuel, most people immediately think about how to save at the pump. While that’s not the wrong way to think, there are additional ways to maximize fuel efficiency on the road and stretch your fuel budget even further. These practices are not only helpful for any vehicle owner, but they will greatly help fleet managers. These practices can also serve as valuable educational opportunities for your fleet drivers. With gas prices being as unpredictable as they have been over the last few months, we can all benefit from a reminder of a few simple ways to maximize fuel efficiency.
The first simple way to maximize fuel efficiency is by managing your speed and utilizing your vehicle’s cruise control feature whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so. Cruise control helps maintain a consistent speed, reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration. According to Consumer Reports, simply reducing your speed and avoiding hard acceleration and braking can improve fuel economy by 2 to 3 mpg when driving a sedan. For those who enjoy driving a little faster, keep in mind that speeding and aggressive acceleration may be preventing you from getting the most out of every tank of fuel.
For larger vehicles and trucks that carry cargo, paying attention to aerodynamics is important. One option is to invest in aerodynamic equipment such as air deflectors and spoilers. A well-designed aerodynamic system can help reduce air resistance and improve fuel economy. For flatbed operations carrying oversized or unusually tall loads, it is important to organize and secure cargo in a manner that minimizes aerodynamic drag while maintaining proper weight distribution. If your vehicle has a roof rack, we recommend avoiding unnecessary items on top, as additional aerodynamic drag can negatively impact fuel efficiency.
Another tip that can help any driver, but is especially important for fleet managers, is monitoring tire pressure. Tires lose about 1 psi of pressure each month, and driving with underinflated tires can reduce fuel economy and cause premature tire wear. Staying on top of preventative maintenance reduces downtime, improves fuel efficiency, extends the life of your vehicle, and helps prevent costly repairs.
The final suggestion is to make smarter fueling decisions. For Energie Fuel cardholders, this means utilizing wholesale fueling stations whenever possible and planning fuel stops more strategically along your route. For fleet managers, we encourage conducting route analyses by researching the origin and destination of each driver’s trip. This allows you to better advise drivers on where to refuel and encourages smarter fueling decisions that benefit the company and its bottom line.
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you maximize fuel efficiency and educate your fleet about the ways they can contribute to better fuel economy for the company. For additional savings, remember that your Energie Fuel Card gives you access to more than 2,000 cardlock locations offering wholesale pricing nationwide. The Energie Fuel Card also provides savings at over 57,000 retail fuel locations across the country.
We understand that fuel prices have been putting pressure on everyone’s budget lately, but with some planning and more conscious driving habits, we can help ease some of that burden.