As a business, saving money is important and when you are running vehicles, fuel is one of the largest outgoings. With fuel prices set to continue increasing, not to mention the problems with fuel shortages that we have experienced recently, there is no better time to start looking into ways to save fuel…
Drive in a More Fuel-Efficient Way – One of the most effective ways to save fuel is down to the driver of the vehicle themselves. Training courses that cover this are worth using to get the drivers to be more aware of this. Harsh braking as well as rapid acceleration are just two things which use up more fuel, so changing some driving techniques can certainly benefit the finances.
Use Fuel Cards for the Vehicles – This is a good way to make a saving on the cost of fuel, and the more vehicles that you have the more you will notice the saving. There are many types of fuel card such as these Allstar fuel cards from Fuel Card Services for example so look into the benefits that they can provide when choosing the one for you.
Check the Tyre Pressure on the Vehicle – Something that not many people realise is the effect that low tyre pressure can have on the fuel usage. When the tyre pressure is low, it takes more fuel to get it to move, so regularly checking the tyre pressure and topping it up when necessary is a good way to save on fuel.
What a fleet fuel card offers
For businesses running several vehicles, a fuel card is one of the simplest ways to cut fuel spending. Drivers use the card to pay at the pump, and the business benefits from lower fuel prices than it would get paying at the standard rate.
The savings do not have to stop at fuel. Depending on the scheme, a card can also give drivers discounts on other vehicle costs, helping keep each van or car in good condition. Discounts can usually be applied to any vehicle registered on the programme, so the whole fleet benefits rather than one or two drivers.
Before signing up, take time to compare what different cards offer. Look beyond the headline fuel price and think about how drivers will actually use the card day to day, which extra discounts matter for your vehicles, and whether the overall deal suits the size and pattern of your fleet. A card that fits the way the business works will deliver much more than one chosen on price alone.
Tracking fuel spending across the fleet
Fuel prices rise and fall for reasons no business can control, so keeping a close eye on how fuel is used is one of the few things you can manage. A fuel card gives you that control. Drivers fill up from a supply the company manages, and every purchase is recorded.
That record lets you track fuel use vehicle by vehicle and see which employee is buying what type of fuel. It becomes easier to spot unusual spending, check that vehicles are getting the right amount of fuel each time, and keep vehicle expenses in one place rather than chasing receipts.
Many card programmes also include incentives such as cash rebates or discount vouchers for regular use. Combined with discounts on everyday purchases, these can add up to a noticeable saving on fuel costs each month. Treating fuel as something to measure and manage, rather than an unavoidable cost to cut back on in hard times, puts the business in a stronger position whatever happens at the pumps.