Fuel is one of the primary expenses for every fleet, and effectively monitoring and managing fuel consumption is crucial for keeping vehicles on the road. However, monitoring fuel can be challenging due to fluctuating prices, limited visibility across team members and tech systems working in isolation from one another.
Fortunately, several tools offer solutions to not only monitor fuel consumption, but also collect and leverage data to identify trends and optimize usage. In this blog post, we will explore the challenges in monitoring fuel consumption and assess some of the technology-driven solutions fleets are using to overcome them.
Challenges in monitoring consumption
Efficient fuel management is a top priority for fleet managers looking to control costs and enhance operational performance. Most managers are well aware that factors like malfunctioning parts, lost receipts, and unsustainable driving habits can all contribute to increased fuel consumption and unnecessary expenses. Finding an efficient solution to these problems, however, can be an elusive task. Let’s first take a look at common challenges:
- Vehicle performance: Equipment defects can lead to increased fuel consumption, but without proper monitoring equipment, these issues may go unnoticed, resulting in additional costs.
- Fuel usage tracking: Keeping track of drivers’ fuel usage can be tricky, especially when drivers lose receipts of their gas purchases or forget to provide them. Lack of oversight often makes it difficult to accurately monitor and analyze fuel consumption.
- Driver behavior: Certain undesirable driver habits, such as excessive idling, harsh braking, and acceleration, can lead to unnecessary fuel loss and unsustainable practices. Monitoring and addressing these behaviors is crucial for optimizing fuel usage.
Leveraging technology as a solution for fuel tracking
To address these challenges, fleet managers can leverage technology-driven solutions that provide comprehensive fuel monitoring capabilities.
Streamlined fuel data collection: Telematics systems offer an effective way to monitor vehicle performance and fuel consumption. With the ability to automatically send notifications when vehicles idle beyond a set time limit, they can remind managers of maintenance needs based on odometer and tire pressure data, and even locate nearby fueling stations through integrated fueling apps.
Fleet fuel cards: Fleet fuel cards eliminate the need for drivers to collect and manage paper receipts for fuel purchases. These cards function like business credit cards for fueling, allowing managers to collect real-time data on fleet fueling — and take fast corrective action if needed. Fleet maintenance software such as Whip Around can seamlessly integrate with leading fuel cards like WEX and FLEETCOR, enabling managers to identify fuel-saving opportunities, improve fuel efficiency, and manage expenses.
Monitoring driver behavior: Telematics systems can also help monitor driver behavior and its impact on fuel consumption. Instances of harsh braking, acceleration, idling, and inefficient routing can be recorded and reported to managers. This is also useful for identifying potential instances of fuel theft. Whip Around integrates seamlessly with major telematics systems to enable easy analysis of fueling information from a single app.
Embracing sustainable practices: Optimal route selection is crucial for sustainable fuel usage. Tools like Google Maps now offer optimized routes that consider real-time traffic and road conditions to minimize fuel consumption. Incorporating such applications into your overall fuel strategy can prove useful in tracking fuel consumption and preventing unnecessary losses.
Don’t get left behind
While challenges remain, tracking fuel consumption and optimizing your processes has never been easier. By utilizing tech tools like telematics systems, fuel card integrations and fleet maintenance software, fleet managers can not only monitor fuel data but also easily identify and implement cost-saving measures.
Whip Around’s ability to improve fleet efficiency with real-time fuel monitoring allows users to get a more accurate total cost of ownership and leverage key data points to make critical decisions — all while identifying fuel-saving opportunities that may have otherwise remained undiscovered. Schedule a demo or start a free trial to discover how Whip Around can help you achieve greater fuel efficiency.
Questions? Just give us a shout and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
