Modern telematics make it possible to track a detailed range of data for every vehicle in your fleet. You can track speed, the velocity of turns, GPS location, and even engine fuel consumption. For fleet managers worried about fuel prices and optimal efficiency, this kind of data is priceless. Of course, good data is only useful if you know how to use it. There are many different ways to use fuel data to optimize your fleet. Once you have perspective on how, when, and why your vehicles are consuming fuel, you have the power to change those variables for more desirable results.
As fleet management experts, Wilmar can offer guidance on how to collect fuel tracking data and how to put your fleet's fuel data to use.
What is Fuel Tracking Data?
Fuel tracking data is telematics information that relates to fuel consumption. Driver behavior, engine performance, and fuel consumption all qualify as fuel data, while GPS tracking allows you to match signals sent from inside the car with the vehicle's physical travel and locations. Together, these data sets can offer you the insight needed to optimize fuel use for every vehicle and improve how your company makes fuel more efficient.
There are five different ways to use fuel data to optimize your fleet.
1) Identify Fuel-Inefficient Routes
First, tracking fuel usage for each vehicle on their planned route can help you identify routes that require more or less fuel. For example, traversing up and down steep hills will require more fuel than flat routes, and routes with excessive stoplights will consume more fuel than a flat burn at any steady speed. Fuel data can help you clearly see the difference between routing choices from a fuel consumption perspective and plan more fuel-efficient routes whenever possible.
2) Reduce Idling Times and Wasted Fuel
In many fleets idling time is the primary enemy of fuel efficiency. A vehicle can use up to a 1/2 gallon for every hour of idling. If trucks idle while being loaded or unloaded, if delivery drivers idle while waiting for orders, or if a route has many long stoplights, your fleet is losing fuel efficiency to idling. By studying realtime engine telematics, you can identify when and where your vehicles idle and for how long at each location. This can help you create policies and routes that reduce overall idling time and therefore minimize wasted fuel.
3) Match Fuel Use to Fuel-Card Spend
Fuel card transparency is essential in a fleet. For drivers to enjoy the trust of using their fuel cards for the fleet, clear accountability is the best answer. By monitoring the reported fuel consumption performance coming from inside each fleet vehicle, it becomes possible to match this reported consumption with the amount of fuel purchased by drivers each day. This can neatly prevent fuel card fraud by creating no margin where it can occur.
4) Spot Issues with Vehicle Fuel Systems Early
While monitoring the fuel data of your fleet vehicles, you may notice anomalies in the data. Sudden spikes in fuel consumption or one vehicle that uses far more fuel than the others can indicate a problem with the engine or fuel system. Taking note gives you the opportunity to schedule an inspection and repairs before the fuel costs or the risk of dangerous engine failure becomes any worse.
5) Improve Fuel Compliance and Efficiency
Lastly, fuel managers must constantly stay on top of certain compliance requirements. IFTA compliance, for example, requires regular and accurate reporting of fuel consumption while sustainability mandates may require efforts to improve your fleet's fuel efficiency. Tracking fuel data can allow you to do both, maintaining accurate fuel-related records and constantly seeking new ways to reduce overall fuel consumption across your fleet.
Manage Your Fuel Data and Strategy with Wilmar
Wilmar Inc. specializes in fleet management and efficient fleet assembly services. Whether you need to build a fuel-efficient fleet or optimize your fuel consumption through data-driven insights, we are here to help improve your fleet. Contact us today to learn more.
