Determining how your drivers pay for fuel at the pump can mean the difference between saving money and improving efficiencies or spending large chunks of your day tracking driver expenses manually.

And, who has time for that?

Making better use of your time and money by identifying solutions that reduce expenses, streamline operations, maximize workforce productivity and keep troubles at bay is essential to operational success. That’s where fleet fuel cards come into play, eliminating cash and conventional credit cards for driver purchases, and replacing them with a trackable, more efficient option.

Businesses are continuing to undertake sustainability initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. What many are discovering is that by better managing their greenhouse gas emissions they are becoming more environmentally friendly, improving their brand image, generating positive PR, increasing efficiencies, motivating their employees and saving money.

Doing the right thing can be both environmentally and financially friendly and a smart investment. Let’s take a closer look at one important environmentally friendly practice—using alternative or green fuels to fuel fleet vehicles and equipment.

With the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season just around the corner—officially beginning June 1 and ending November 30—there is no time like the present to prepare your fleet operations for the weather that Mother Nature might decide to throw your way.

Buying fuel in bulk isn’t always the most cost-effective option.

For emergency, first responder and utility fleets in particular, bulk fuel may be the best solution. In fact, it is an operational necessity. For some fleets, bulk fuel may actually cost more in the long run.

Other options like retail fuel cards or mobile fuel are important to consider, which is why we recommend working with a fuel provider to determine the best option for your fleet operations.

If you are considering bulk fuel, here’s what you need to know.

Spring is peak time for natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes, which can quickly affect your fuel supply and cripple your work. A little preparation now can go a long way when that day comes.

There are two parts to keeping your fleet productive in crisis situations. It starts by having a reliable fuel program partner who understands emergencies. Once you have a reliable partner, work with them to ensure that your needs are met by planning in advance for worst case scenarios – scenarios we all hope will never happen.

Just as it has been since 1970, April 22 will mark Earth Day—the annual celebration to honor the achievements of the environmental movement and to raise awareness of the need to protect the Earth’s resources for future generations.

More than 1 billion people in over 192 countries are expected to join together this year to help preserve and protect our home through various green initiatives, including cleaning up communities, talking to local leaders about specific environmental concerns and celebrating the people who make the environment a better place to live, work and play. 

There is little doubt that the fuel, fleet management and trucking industries have been historically dominated and continue to be dominated by men. There is also little doubt, that women are increasingly changing the workplace dynamics of those industries. Although women may not be shattering the glass ceiling (yet), women are certainly putting a significant number of cracks in it.

If you need convincing, just take a look at these numbers regarding small business ownership across multiple industries, and it is apparent that the glass ceiling is indeed becoming weaker.

Distracted as defined by Merriam-Webster is “having one’s thoughts or attention drawn away.” If there was such a thing as the Merriam-Webster Fleet Edition Dictionary, distracted could easily be defined as “having your drivers’ thoughts or attention drawn away, which could result in millions of dollars of losses from vehicle damage, litigation, injury and/or death.”

Make no mistake about it; distracted as it relates to driving is a dangerous activity — one so dangerous that in 2014 alone distracted driving accidents were responsible for 3,179 deaths on American roadways. But what exactly is distracted driving?

It seems that when there is a proposed rule or regulation affecting the trucking industry, there is a great amount of buzz and often two sides vehemently opposed. 

The proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding mandatory speed limiters on heavy trucks is no exception. In one corner you have the industry’s largest trade group, American Trucking Associations (ATA) in favor of the rule which mandates that heavy trucks—weighing more than 26,000 pounds—be fitted with electronic devices that would limit top speeds to no higher than 65 mph. They argue that reducing and regulating truck speed via the device would decrease the number of collisions on U.S. roads.

With the cost of fuel generally believed to be a fleet’s largest operating expense, procurement of a trusted fuel partner that effectively meets your needs is serious business. Unfortunately, it can be just as confusing as it is serious, with what may seem like a myriad number of factors and details to consider. For example:

• Number and type of vehicles in your fleet
• Number of drivers and their job purpose—service techs, sales, delivery, etc.
• Route distances drivers travel per week/month/year
• Fuel budget and how fuel bills are paid
• Methods currently in place to track fuel usage and their effectiveness
• Controls currently in place and their effectiveness