Fuel is the binding factor between all types of fleets. Big or small, they all have to pay for fuel. It is an unavoidable expense, and fuel prices are constantly rising every day. Every fleet wants to reduce its fuel consumption. Of course, you cannot cut down on driving and delivering. So like most owners and operators, you look for cost-effective ways to reduce daily fuel usage.
With reduced margins and a rise in competition in the services industry, every manager seeks to find the best solution possible. And thankfully, there is one! GPS tracking has not only proved to be vital in the transportation industry but also has many positive side effects. Due to its beneficial nature, businesses want to use a GPS fleet management system that can provide them with the best service with as many features as possible.
The advantages of GPS tracking are no secret. The number of people relying on GPS systems and facilities has doubled in the last few years. This development is because the benefits of GPS are life-changing and lead to a simple, more productive work cycle. Fuel reduction is no different- with GPS, you can remove unnecessary fuel consumption in the most cost-effective manner. Here are some ways in which GPS solutions help you manage your fuel. You can find more details about gps tracking devices on GPSTracker247.com
Planning Your Route
From starting your engine to making multiple stops, we do many things that consume a lot of fuel. Fleets in the service and delivery sector have many pick-ups and drop points. Most of the time, there is no fixed number of stops in a single day. Sometimes an unplanned chore may come up, making it harder to determine stops.
With GPS tracking, you can plan your routes and schedule your work well in advance. This can be done as a stand-alone application or via third-party routing too. With this feature, you can optimize your route and plan stops most cost-effectively and time-efficient.
Route optimization guides you through the road from the start to the end. It will help you navigate the road, avoid traffic and take the first channels of delivery.
Additionally, using a GPS fleet management solution instead of a traditional dispatcher increases the fleet’s productivity by 25 percent.
This telematics solution can contact multiple drivers simultaneously and coordinate routes between them as well, making your job all the easier.
Reducing Engine Idle Time
A common question asked by most drivers is- how much idle time can I cut down? What if we told you that you could reduce all of it?
Cutting down on idling time is an effective way of reducing fuel costs. Not only does this ensure better functioning of your vehicle, but it also reduces toxic waste emissions. This also poses a health hazard and harms the environment.
One hour of idling a day results in more than 60,000 miles of engine use.
Not only does this cost the vehicle to lose its efficiency, but it also destroys fuel economy and efficiency. You will also have to pay more in terms of fuel. This is very harmful in the long run and companies are aware of it. They are trying to cut down on fuel costs but their methods are not as foolproof and useful as a GPS fleet management system proves itself to be. With this solution, fleet managers can keep an eye on their fleet’s idle time. They receive alerts whenever the engine is switched on or off, and when the vehicle has stopped somewhere.
The GPS tracking technology enables you to observe and improve driver behavior. In the long run, it helps in radio greenhouse gas emissions and fuel expenses.
Monitoring Speed
Every customer wants speedy delivery of goods and services. In the case of school buses, parents want their children to reach home quickly. If you’ve ordered a book online, wouldn’t you want it to reach you as early as possible?
Speed is key in all industries these days. However, speed can be dangerous and it has negative impacts as well. For one, it can be a safety hazard- overspeeding is the cause of many accidents on the road. Overspeeding also leads to many violations on the road, subjecting you to many fines and penalties. Lastly, it costs a lot of unnecessary fuel to be burnt.
Of course, you can use GPS technology to solve this problem. GPS trackers keep an eye on the driver’s performance and detect harsh driving behavior. Harsh braking and acceleration are some of them. With GPS fleet management software, you receive immediate notifications when your drivers cross speed limits.
The drivers receive them too and consequently slow down. Overspeeding reduces one’s fuel economy by 20%.
Once your employees know that their driving activity is being monitored, they will also be more mindful of their actions on the road. You can encourage good driving behavior by providing them with rewards, bonuses, and so on. Drivers with low-performance scores can be retrained and improved. This method will not simply help you save money and fuel. It improves your reputation and assures trust between you and your customers as well.
Recording Accurate Information
We are all aware of how expensive petrol is today. Businesses in this market must have it as well. As a result, a lot of fuel is stolen. It is also nice to have an accurate record of your expenses to reduce and manage them effectively. You can use fuel management programs to train your fleet. This strategy would help them manage their fuel usage and costs better.
Conclusion
You can use fleet management programs to monitor fuel expenses. Sometimes, fuel card providers and merchants also offer discounts to strengthen brand loyalty. But this is simply the bare minimum. With a GPS facility, you can do much more. With GPS, you can track accurate consumption and mileage and also improve fuel purchase behavior. This will save a lot of money and can be a very informative process.
Written by Sean Ellis, Tech Enthusiast & Contributor to many Tech blogs. You can find him playing around with gadgets if not working.