Although fuel prices have always been a sensitive topic, because of recent events with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has become a pain point for many. Prices have risen sharply since then, leaving everyone wondering if, when and by how much these prices will fall again. And while frustration and denial can be part of the road to acceptance, we believe in focusing on the solution: smart fuel management.
| September 2022 |.
So first of all, what is fuel management? Simply put, it is a telematics solution that can help you track the fuel consumption of your fleet, improve it and reduce operational costs. Fuel consumption is monitored by various tools, including CAN bus measurements and various sensors that read the information and transmit it to a fleet management platform, where it is analyzed. Now that we know how the information is collected, let's see how this can help.
Highly accurate fuel sensors for long distance trucks provide accurate information that is transmitted and displayed for you in a software application. You will see how fuel is consumed during the trip of any vehicle equipped with sensors. Keep in mind that usage will never be a steady stream, meaning you will see different peaks and valleys along the way. This is absolutely normal, as vehicles may require more fuel to drive up a hill and less when driving steadily on a highway. Trying out different routes and optimizing trips can be an effective remedy for this. Spikes can also be a direct effect of your drivers' driving habits, as hard acceleration and braking and excessive idling can unnecessarily increase fuel consumption.
In terms of driving behavior, eco-driving is the ultimate path to fuel economy. The math behind it suggests that a truck going 90 mph consumes 10% more fuel than a truck going 80 mph. This may sound a bit counterintuitive because it gives the impression that you need more time to travel the same distance. Apparently, it's not that simple.
Every vehicle has its optimal speed, which is based on its RPM (revolutions per minute). By combining the optimal speed with responsible and considerate driving, you can use your power as efficiently as possible.
This means that at 90 km/h you can consume 31 liters per 100 km, while at 80 km/h you consume about 28 liters per 100 km. Since EU driving and rest period regulations allow an average driving time of 9 hours per day, with a driving speed of 80 km/h for a total of 720 km, you can save about 20 liters per day and about 600 liters every 30 days. That would be a serious savings at 2 EUR/liter.
Analyzing driving behavior offers several advantages. On the one hand, driver performance is an important factor responsible for how effectively fuel is consumed; on the other hand, its evaluation is programmed according to best driving practices. This means that by driving efficiently, your team will also drive more safely and responsibly.
The available data show how each driver drives and gives you the opportunity to improve them with training or motivation programs. For example, Bertschi AG - the European market leader in intermodal chemical transport - has introduced annual training as a reward system within the company, through which they reward the drivers who achieve the best results. In chemical transport, it is increasingly important for their drivers to behave at their best in traffic.
Fuel management systems can also help track real-time fuel levels. Why is this important? All the information available to you is usually retrospective, which is good for a general overview but can hinder situations that require a quick response.
For an efficient workflow, you need drivers on the road and managers in the office overseeing their work. Although they are both aware of the estimated fuel level in the fuel tank, the manager has the advantage of looking up the nearest truck fueling stations or a workshop, for example, if something is wrong with the vehicle.
Given the uncertainties in fuel supplies and the resulting changes in their prices, it may be helpful for managers to guide drivers to the best gas stations right now. Although Poland sparked fuel tourism at the beginning of the year thanks to tax cuts, those traveling through Poland today will tell you that some gas stations have simply run out of fuel due to high demand near major highways, while others have placed limits on how much you can fill up.
With this in mind, the drivers' usual fuel stops may no longer be an option actually or because of price, and this is where the manager can help.
While many different figures and indicators keep you informed about the overall situation, nothing gives a better picture than an actual example. Seize the opportunity to oversee the fuel consumption of your fleet through graphs, which provide a clear and easy-to-read picture of whether consumption is at a gradual level or if there are noticeable peaks or valleys. This can signal a number of things. Mostly - refueling. However, there may be cases with fuel drops, meaning rapid fuel loss. This may indicate a problem with the tank (if the vehicle is still running) or someone emptying the tank (if the vehicle has been stationary and has started driving again with a nearly empty tank).
Fuel theft is a story as old as time. What do we mean by this? It has been happening for so long that people keep finding new ways around it. When it comes to drivers themselves, they rarely take the fuel out of the tank. Instead, they now just fill up jerry cans as they fill up their trucks. This is where various integrations with telematics platforms can help you. By combining fuel card data with the given telemetry data, you can see if the amount of fuel paid is the same as in the amount refueled in the truck.
But keep in mind that fuel is also stolen by third parties these days. Usually during rest periods of drivers. In this case, to keep your employees safe and be proactive in securing your tank, you can try to introduce fuel cap sensors, which raise an alarm when illegally opened. Despite all this, you may still be wondering if this solution fits your business needs. Maybe you're not necessarily in the transportation business. Maybe your travel is limited to a local area - a city or small region. Or maybe you only use light vehicles for your business. Good news! Fuel management software can be an effective assistant, regardless of the sector or number of trips.
So if you want to reduce fuel consumption and inspire your team to do the same, this may be just what you're looking for. All-Connects offers many solutions, from GPS tracking and fuel monitoring to route planning and driving behavior analysis. On their own or together, each of these solutions can help you gain a better understanding of your fleet's fuel consumption, and help manage it efficiently. Contact our team to learn more and start making fact-based decisions for your fleet today!
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