The digital haves and the have nots of fuel cost management

The 21st century's technological revolution has transformed how we live and work – but there are many that have been left playing ‘digital catch-up’.

For fleet transport companies, a failure to adopt new digital tech can not only be costly but, in some cases, may prove business critical.

The economic landscape is presenting a raft of challenges. As inflation and interest rates rise, the cost burden facing UK plc is intensifying – from energy and insurance to labour and supplies. Pump prices may have fallen, as we teeter on the edge of global recession, but following months of record-breaking highs fuel remains more expensive than it was 12 months ago.

TELEMATICS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Against this backdrop, the power of telematics platforms to rein in fuel spend has, once again, fallen under the spotlight.

The story for operators, however, is one of the haves and the have nots – a tale of forward-thinking tech adopters equipped to weather the storm and maintain competitive advantage and of those being left trailing in their wake.

Access to connected fleet intelligence means being able to monitor and tackle the root causes of fuel wastage, with heightened visibility over real-time vehicle movements and driver activity offered by systems such as Webfleet proving invaluable.

Jobs, for example, can be allocated to the most appropriate drivers, based on who will arrive quickest and with the least fuel consumption. They are able to avoid gas-guzzling congestion by using live traffic information and cut journey times with smart routing.

Moreover, from unnecessary accel­er­ation and decel­er­ation to speeding and harsh braking, there are numerous inefficient driving habits that can lead to low mpg and excessive fuel consumption.

Driving behaviour intelligence can enable fleet managers to profile their drivers and work with them to improve driving styles. They can analyse where and how employees are driving to determine the reasons behind fuel usage patterns. Incidents of unnecessary idling, for example – when drivers are parked, keeping their cabs warm or when vehicles are left waiting for extended periods during the loading and unloading of materials – can be pinpointed.

Drivers, for their part, can be simultaneously empowered to improve, with systems such as Webfleet’s OptiDrive 360 feeding performance information to them in real time, via their in-vehicle sat nav devices.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Vehicle maintenance – another influencing factor on mpg – can be more effectively managed with connected insights into vehicle performance.

Trouble codes, for example, can be reported directly from vehicle engines, with management immediately notified to help ensure problems are quickly fixed.

Innovative developments at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions have also seen Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) integrated with telematics, utilising sensors that continuously monitor tyre temperature and pressure levels. Although fuel consumption is negatively impacted by incorrectly inflated tyres, manual pressure checks can be time consuming and slow leaks difficult for drivers to detect. Webfleet TPMS automates this process.

EMBRACING CHANGE

As fleets look to double down on their efforts to ease the fuel cost burden, operational modernisation that sees the adoption of such solutions is becoming paramount.

A digital mindset must be embedded into cost control decisions to ensure that real business value is delivered – keeping a lid on costs and driving efficiency improvements. The economic landscape may ultimately act as the “forced pilot” that helps close the gap between the technology haves and the have nots.

*Find out more about Webfleet

Published On: 15/09/2022 15:45:00

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