Operating a fleet is expensive. As a fleet manager, you’re constantly working to find the easiest and most effective ways to safely cut operations costs. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of eight cost saving tips for fleet managers to help you just do that.
8 Cost Saving Tips for Fleet Managers
Cut Mileage
An easy way to save money is to watch the number of unnecessary miles your drivers are logging. Getting your supervisors involved by having them monitor territories, the number of sales and service calls and mileage reports will aid in limiting the amount of unnecessary side trips. Utilizing technology will also help you cut costs. There are several apps available that will give your drivers the shortest, most cost effective route to their destinations.
Increase Fuel Efficiency
Fuel is one of the heaviest operating costs. Switching all vehicles to regular grade, discouraging vehicle idling, and keeping an eye out for the lowest price per gallon in your area are all steps you can take to give you more wiggle room in your fuel budget. This is also another area where technology comes in handy. There are free apps where you can keep track of gas costs within a certain mile radius and alert your fleet drivers where the cheapest fuel is in their work area.
Reduce Maintenance Costs
Vehicle maintenance is one of the most important parts of fleet management, and yet most fleet managers adhere to outdated models of preventative maintenance practices. For example, it’s not necessary for all vehicles to get oil changes every 3,000 miles. Frequent oil changes are only required for trucks and vans that are under “severe” duty. Light duty fleet vehicles can be maintained efficiently with oil changes every 6,000-7,000 miles, which will significantly cut down costs.
Focus on Safety
Developing an effective safety management program for your fleet has significant savings potential. Working out how to reduce accidents and injuries, cutting down the cost of insurance, increasing driver productivity, and enhancing driver morale and retention will all help you save money in operation costs.
Check Your Vehicle’s Tires
Proper tire usage and maintenance also have an impact on your bottom line. Retreading tires, keeping up with alignments, making sure that all tires are installed and balanced properly, and making sure none of your work vehicle’s tires are over or under inflated will prevent wear and tear on the tires and the vehicles.
Train Your Drivers
Educating your drivers on cost saving habits can go a long way! You should instruct your driver to avoid revving vehicle engines, only warming up vehicles for a maximum of 10 minutes to ensure maximum engine efficiency, and to be mindful of idling.
Spec Your Fleet Regularly
When spec’ing your vehicles, make sure that all components are properly matched to maximize fuel efficiency. Adding aerodynamic features and considering the weight of each component, are all ways you can use vehicle spec’ing to cut costs.
Assess Your Management Practices
Finally, keep in mind that just because a certain management practice worked in the past, doesn’t mean it will always work. Scheduling regular management assessments will help you determine what’s working and what’s not.
Contact Adrian Steel
While there’s no quick fix or one size fits all approach to reducing fleet operating costs, at Adrian Steel we pride ourselves on providing innovative upfit packages that maximize commercial vehicle efficiency; saving you time and money. Contact us online or find a local distributor near you to get started!
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