Without a doubt, a top issue on the minds of commercial fleet owners and managers is the use of alternative fuels to power their heavy-duty vehicles. What you might cast some doubt on, however, is how long alternative fuels have been used as a vehicle fuel source. If you guessed around 40 years, you’re in for a surprise. Natural and manufactured gas have been powering vehicles since the 1930s.
Is Natural Gas the Next Big Fuel Source for Trucks?
Tags: Fuel Management
If your doctor told you to lose a few pounds, it might be wise to follow his or her advice. Studies show that losing just ten pounds can significantly improve virtually every aspect of your health - from decreasing risk of a heart attack and cancer, to lowering blood pressure, reducing stress on your joints and increasing lifespan.
Just as dieting is beneficial to your health, reducing the weight of the vehicles in your fleet is beneficial to the health of your organization. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for every 100 pounds taken out/off a vehicle, fuel economy increases by 1 to 2 percent.
Extra weight on vehicles means more energy to start moving. The more energy vehicles need to start moving, the more stress it places on the engine and transmission, which does not bode well for vehicle life.
Tags: Fuel Management
We all have heard the numerous health benefits of drinking water and many of us try diligently to get in the recommended eight glasses a day. But let your fuel storage tank take too many “gulps” of wondrous H2O and you have on hand—if not treated properly—a situation that can be very unhealthy for your bottom line.
Just as water and oil don’t mix, neither do water and fuel. Water accumulation can damage fuel quality, which in turn can cause problems that take a big bite out of business productivity and efficiency, including:
Tags: Fuel Management
Each December the NTEA—The Association for the Work Truck Industry—conducts their comprehensive Fleet Purchasing Outlook survey to gain insight on the commercial vehicle landscape.
The survey results were released in March and showed that when it comes to alternative fuels and fleets, biodiesel rules.
The survey found that not only is biodiesel the most commonly used alternative fuel option with 18 percent of fleets on board, it is also the number one alternative fuel choice for future interest—meaning more fleets are planning to continue using biodiesel or are planning to start using biodiesel.
So what makes biodiesel the alternative fuels winner? And why are more and more fleet managers choosing biodiesel as their “go to” alternative fuel option?
Here’s why….
Tags: Fuel Management
The 7 Driver Services that Your Company Should Have
Think of the investment you have in your drivers and vehicles. Now think of how it would affect your
operations and bottom line if a driver were stranded in the middle of nowhere and unable to be at a job site or make a delivery. Or low on gas with no idea where to find fuel. Unfortunately, these scenarios happen every day and the outcomes are not good—unhappy customers, frustrated drivers and lower productivity.
Tags: Fuel Management
With all the day-to-day responsibilities fleet managers face, including managing drivers, fleet replacement, security and maintenance, compliance with government regulations and tracking and diagnostics of vehicles, one that affects nearly all areas of fleet operations is fuel—its procurement, price and management.
Buying fuel can be a slow and complex process that is difficult to manage. If too much time is spent organizing fuel deliveries, it may be time to consider taking the fuel burden off your shoulders and purchasing fuel in bulk.
Tags: Fuel Management
What You Should Know About Diesel Hedging and Swaps
The price of fuel is constantly fluctuating. It can spend weeks in a steady decline, followed by an overnight upswing. So, say you own a fleet of trucks, construction equipment, or other vehicles that rely on large, regular amounts of diesel fuel in order to do business. A sudden, unexpected surge in diesel prices can cut into your bottom line and harm your business. So how can you keep your fuel costs steady and manageable over time? Use a method called diesel hedging.
Tags: Fuel Management
When it comes to fuel economy, most people are well aware of the tried-and-true methods that help save money on gas. “Don’t crank the AC,” and “Ease the pedal to the metal” are two of the more obvious ones that come to mind.
What about this one: Coasting down a hill in neutral helps conserve gas.
Not only is this illegal and dangerous, it is false and there are studies that prove that engines in neutral actually do use gas. But believe it or not, this is a fuel economy myth that many people mistakenly think is true.
Tags: Fuel Management
They are the world’s primary energy source. They are non-renewable and can’t be replenished in a short period of time. Burning them causes air pollution, which contributes to acid rain, smog and global warming.
Tags: Fuel Management
8 Tips for Fleet Managers to Save on Fuel Costs
Fuel costs are generally a fleet’s largest expense, as much as 60% of total operating costs. This amount of expense makes it necessary to take steps to reduce fuel costs. It is not just good for your bottom line, it is also good for the environment, as increased fuel efficiency also helps reduce carbon emissions.
To curb fuel use and reduce fuel costs, there are all kinds of options to consider:
Tags: Fuel Management