Image: istockphoto.com/kutay tanir
1. Increase fuel efficiently – use simple fuel-saving driving strategies
Trucks travelling at 120 km/h (70 mph) instead of 100 km/h (62 mph) use 50 percent more fuel and that really add up on the fuel bill. They also emit 100 percent more carbon monoxide, 50 percent more hydrocarbons and 31 percent more nitrogen oxides. So, if drivers aren’t endangered enough by speeding, there are all the toxic emissions, too.
Fleet and equipment managers can improve their fuel efficiency by training their operators to use a few simple fuel saving strategies:
By far, the most visible way to Go Green is to add a percentage of biodiesel to your diesel fuel mix. As little as 5 percent biodiesel makes a disproportionate reduction in toxic emissions because the biodiesel removes impurities from the fuel tank and engine and makes for cleaner-burning fuel. Higher blends of up to B10 and B20 do not require engine modifications but manufacturers’ guidelines should be followed.
3. Reward fleet operators who cut their idling and speeding
When companies increase fuel efficiency, they will save money on fuel costs. And those savings can be shared with equipment operators as incentives be even more efficient and rewards for helping cut emissions.
But there are even more savings. Letting an engine idle more than 3 minutes causes expensive damage which harms efficiency, shortens engine life and increases maintenance costs. But it also quickly consumes fuel allocated to servicing a delivery route. Excessive idling can add 50 percent to fuel costs and shorten the life of engine oil by 75 percent. Initiate a campaign to reduce idling and reward participants. For long-haul rigs, mandate the use of engine idling alternatives such as shore power, generators, and inverters.
4. Use eco-friendly refuelling practices -- train or out-source
Fuel spills are devastating to the environment. They are also very damaging to a company’s reputation and insurance rates. Fuel spills over five litres cost as much as $20,000 to clean up and do extensive damage to ecosystems, water supply and community. If they aren’t properly contained, Environment Canada or EPA can suspend business operations until satisfactory action is taken.
Companies that want to send a strong message of environmental concern should look for onsite refuelling services which use special training and technology systems to ensure environmental safety. Look for a company following ISO-conforming standards of safety and environment training which includes testing and certification. Using this type of service can actually reduce overall fuel costs.
5. Track your fuel consumption and reduce
Fuel is the highest operating cost behind labour for businesses in transport and construction. But unlike other significant costs of operation such as labour, capital and equipment, fuel is procured but hardly ever managed.
A variety of systems do exist to help organizations account for their fuel use and they range in sophistication. The trusty old clipboard and pencil is cheap and easy to use but is prone to human error and lost data. Slightly improved spreadsheet systems can manipulate fuelling data but still rely on manual entry. But fuel management technology has arrived.
At the top end are the sophisticated systems which use Radio Frequency Identification tags to capture and transfer detailed fuelling data. These systems allow managers to analyse fuel use across the fleet and down to each vehicle or unit. The Fuel Management Online enables clients to reduce their fuel consumption by accessing and analysing detailed fuelling inventory online, easily.
4Refuel is recognized as the leader in fuel management specializing in on site diesel fuel delivery and fuel consumption information. Since 1995 the company has served clients in the transportation, construction, road building, marine and rail industries. This year 4Refuel will manage over 250 million litres of fuel for its 6,000+ clients across Canada.
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