Fleets of commercial vehicles consume plenty of fuel in a day. Advanced fleet management software helps keep track of fuel consumption, inefficiencies, and overuse. With the correct use of technology, it is possible to track fuel wastage by shortening vehicle routes and decreasing idle times. Several drivers are also known to consume excess fuel with their driving habits. Unmonitored vehicles are also subject to fuel theft. Constant surveillance of the fuel tank helps track fuel usage and decreases the rates of theft.
Tracking the fleet fuel consumption through an alerts software helps fleet managers monitor engine performance to increase the economy. An alerts software also gives prompt messages and emails about refuels and drains. You can also get alarms via the alerts software about high or low fuel levels and refueling locations on the map.
There are several ways that you can reduce fuel wastage. Decreasing daily fuel consumption and increasing efficiency are possible with the help of a fleet management software system.
Why do you need to track Fuel Consumption?
Fuel consumption is not only needed to reduce costs and increase driving efficiency but also has to be tracked and reported, according to law. The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is an international agreement between the ten Canadian provinces and the lower 48 US states that necessitates all interstate motor carriers to report taxes paid on fuel. IFTA reporting is not needed for the three Canadian northern territories, Hawaii, and Alaska. The IFTA was instituted to simplify the hassle of calculating and reporting fuel tax for trucking carriers. The IFTA regulations help companies reduce unnecessary paperwork and considerably minimize compliance issues.
IFTA issues a license and decal against which all motor vehicles have to report gallons of fuel purchased and the miles driven. The reports help generate the exact amount of tax still owed to the company or the refund. Quarterly reports must be filed for all operational commercial vehicles. IFTA reporting requires the vehicle registration number, fuel type, total cost, purchase date, purchaser’s name, number of gallons purchased, and the seller’s name and address. Failure to track fuel consumption could lead to severe fines and a license suspension. After the license suspension, the carrier would need to pay all late fees, interest, taxes, and penalties.
A fleet management system helps all fleet managers keep track of the commercial vehicles with an alerts software to ensure the company does not miss out on reporting the fuel consumption and taxes to the IFTA and does not incur unnecessary penalties and losses.
How can Fleet Managers Monitor and Measure fuel consumption?
Fuel use can be tracked across the whole fleet with the help of fleet management software. Automatic inbuilt systems help aggregate fuel consumption data with quick reports. A transparent analysis of fuel usage and wastage allows fleet managers to devise actionable plans against fuel inefficiencies. Miles per gallon consumed help calculate the mileage per commercial vehicle. Consistent monitoring and measuring with the help of the fleet management software helps keep the fuel consumption to a minimum. It also helps regulate the IFTA reporting.
What can cause an Overuse of Fuel?
Fuel over-consumption is very common in all commercial vehicles. Frequent use of air conditioning, traffic congestions with the engine in idling mode, inadequate maintenance and service, roof racks, humidity, less-inflated tire pressure, and style of driving contribute to the inefficiency in fuel usage. Apart from these regular reasons, tailgating, harsh braking, speeding, and sharp cornering also contribute to an excess of fuel burned.
How can Fleet Tracking Software help Fuel Consumption?
Fleet managers can easily keep track of all commercial vehicles deployed with the help of a few clicks of the mouse. The software system help monitor all vehicles with the help of advanced GPS monitoring systems. This excellent feature allows managers to reroute commercial assets to a different location immediately. Real-time rerouting and optimizing routes help control and reduce fuel consumption considerably. Rerouting and route optimization assists in reducing engine idle time by avoiding traffic congestion and unexpected delays.
The fleet management software system also tracks vehicular maintenance, and alert systems can be set up for planning. Automated support based purely on odometer readings and spare parts wear and tear can also be taken care of with an alerts software. Monitoring issues such as tire pressure, engine failures, light problems, and weather conditions also help reduce the expenditure on fuel. Based on driver behavior, the fleet management software can be used to schedule retraining and licensing.
How to Reduce Fuel Consumption?
The first thing to do is track the fuel the trucks currently have while examining all fuel gauge tanks and on-site refueling stops. Once the software has the records, the next thing to do is make an expense plan about the fuel consumed during each delivery route. These plans differ according to the type of fuel used.
After a refueling stop, calculate the odometer measure to estimate the mileage per vehicle. Once you have an approximate mileage, you can schedule the estimated mileage per truck to get to the planned delivery drop-offs and pickups. To do this effectively, the vehicles should only be used for business purposes and not personal use.
A change in the mileage could indicate a maintenance concern or a route deviation depending upon the schedule stops and weather issues. With this setup, it is easy to follow and monitor each vehicle and track the ones that are more fuel-intensive than others. Knowing this information is critical in managing fuel consumption, delays, idling, and weather issues to maintain constant fuel inventory for smooth operations.
Mechanical issues and unexpected delays can cause disturbances in schedules and fuel optimization in long run vehicles. Employee concerns regarding fuel and correct reporting should also be addressed beforehand to avoid confusion, fines, and penalties. Keeping accurate fuel inventory is critical in maintaining a healthy fuel ecosystem throughout the fleet.
