Fuel Management is Top Fleet Concern

Truck fleets are searching for ways to lessen the impact of rapidly escalating fuel expenses.

According to First Fleet Corp. survey of private fleet managers, fuel management is the top issue facing the nation's trucking fleets. In attempts to help manage escalating fuel expenses, 48 percent of survey respondents indicated they use on-site fueling stations, while 36 percent provide their drivers with credit or debit cards to be used at stations where they have negotiated rates with oil companies. The remaining 16 percent pay for fuel with a regular credit card or cash.
"The hottest topic in the trucking industry is finding solutions to reduce fuel consumption and ways to lessen the impact of soaring prices on fleet profit margins," says John Flynn, First Fleet Corp. president and CEO. "In the ongoing cost control war, private truck fleets are constantly looking for ways to rein in operating expenses. Based on extensive research, First Fleet is advising customers to review operating methods to lower current fuel consumption and adjust specs on their new truck orders to counteract the impact new engine emissions standards will have on their fleet operating costs."
According to XATA Corp., a provider of onboard fuel management technology, considering the following factors can help improve fuel economy:
Idling: Five minutes of engine warm-up is adequate and cool-down can occur when the vehicle is pulled in for parking.
Speed: Reducing speed to a reasonable level and eliminating unnecessary stops improves fuel economy. Every mph increase over 55 mpg reduces fuel economy by 0.1 mile/gallon.
Shifting/Accelerating: Shortshifting at 1,100 to 1,200 rpms in all the low-range gears minimizes fuel consumption while still moving the vehicle. The step to high range requires more revs and consumes more fuel.
Trip Management: Find the most economical and efficient routes that still enable drivers to meet delivery deadlines. Pre-planning trips can eliminate out-of-route miles, unnecessary stops, excessive fuel use and lost time.
Tools: Onboard fuel management technology measures such factors as idling, speed and driver habits, helping drivers monitor and take steps to improve fuel economy performance.
According to the First Fleet survey, another major concern for fleet managers is maintaining vehicles at optimum operating conditions. The survey indicates 34 percent have on-site maintenance facilities, 23 percent outsource maintenance and repair services and 43 percent use a combination of on-site maintenance and outside facilities.
Thirty-three percent of respondents indicated trouble recruiting and retaining qualified service technicians. "Our biggest issue is downtime," says Associated Materials fleet executive Mike Hatfield. "It's almost impossible to get same-day service on the road. There are 24/7 shops that close at midnight. Why? Lack of techs."
A question regarding the reliability of new trucks purchased over the past two years produced mixed results, with 38 percent believing newer trucks are more reliable than older trucks, 38 percent indicating newer and older trucks are equally reliable and 15 percent saying older trucks are more reliable than newer ones.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are ideal for fleet owners looking to reduce fuel expenses, improve equipment performance and reliability and reduce downtime. Independent tests show the use of synthetic lubricants can increase fuel efficiency by two to five percent, while many AMSOIL customers report even larger gains. The extended drain intervals offered by AMSOIL synthetic motor oils keep trucks on the road longer between oil changes, reducing downtime and maximizing productivity.