Fuel economy is the foundation for environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness. A sound understanding of key metrics like miles per gallon and cost-per-mile will give drivers and fleet managers the knowledge to make informed decisions.
Technological advances, telematics and making your routes work better for you all offer significant fuel-saving opportunities. But it's important to take a holistic view that also looks at driver training and back-office benefits to help reduce monthly expenditure.
Fuel costs are likely to be the biggest outlay so staying on top of efficiency is more crucial than ever. It's also an area that will give your business the edge over competitors when it comes to sustainability.
Understanding UK fuel efficiency metrics
Busy highways and narrow country lanes are a feature of the UK so knowing how to make the most of our fuel depends on being flexible and understanding the capabilities of each vehicle in the fleet.
Better fuel usage means less outlay on fuel. Given that fuel prices can fluctuate, it's important to get the most from a tank and be able to plan ahead. For even a small or medium-sized fleet a small increase in fuel efficiency for each vehicle can mean big savings and boost overall efficiency.
Using less fuel also helps reduce carbon emissions – critical when companies are under increasing pressure to be sustainable and meet environmental standards.
Staying on top of fuel prices
Fuel prices and fuel savings go hand in hand so when prices rise, fleet managers naturally pay even closer attention to how well their vehicles are working. The focus turns to how much diesel they are using and then looking for ways to get better mileage from each tank.
That might mean raising awareness of road techniques to encourage drivers to operate more smoothly and focus on keeping a steady speed by reducing harsh braking. The most successful businesses constantly monitor driving standards and safety to keep a tight rein on fuel spend and insurance premiums.
