The Fuel Saving Benefits Of Vehicle Tracking

As you have most likely discovered vehicle tracking offers many impressive features but do these features offer benefits to your business? Tracking offers companies operating a fleet of any size to take a big step towards reducing operational costs whilst at the same time improving productivity and customer service.  In this article we will look at which features can bring fuel saving benefits to your business.

Due to the cost reductions in tracking systems seen in recent years, almost all companies that implement vehicle tracking systems report savings in fuel alone that far outweigh the cost of the system. In fact many companies are surprised by just how much fuel is being burned unnecessarily, with fuel prices creeping up again this is once again a hot topic.

Tracking features which help reduce fuel wastage:

Driver Behaviour Monitoring

Driver behaviour monitoring is a relatively new feature in tracking systems and reports back how the vehicle is being driven. Factors which are monitored usually include Harsh Acceleration and Hard Breaking which when looked at together give a good indication of how aggressively the vehicle is being driven. Harsh acceleration accounts for a large proportion of fuel wastage.

Excessive Idling

Unfortunately it is not possible to prevent idling completely (unless your vehicles are hybrid) but it can be significantly reduced. An idling HGV will typically consume around 2 litres of fuel per hour, for a smaller vehicle this is around 1 litre. Many tracking systems produce reports highlighting instances of excessive (3-5+ minutes) idling, allowing fleet controllers to manage and reduce fuel wastage. Tracking systems are also able to notify excessive idling events in real time to the fleet manager and or driver to proactively reduce fuel wastage.

Speed Control

All vehicle tracking systems report on vehicle speeds which not only inform a business whether its vehicles are being driven safely, but also whether they are also being driven efficiently. Vehicles being driven within the speed limits can lead to huge savings in fuel costs, especially for vans and HGVs. A vehicle travelling at 80mph as opposed to 70mph can use up to 25% more fuel per mile. Most tracking systems are able to provide real time alerts and generate reports to help identify areas that need improving.

Private Mileage And Unauthorised Usage

Almost all vehicle tracking systems now include reports and alerts for unauthorised vehicle usage out of business hours. Many companies allow their drivers to take their vehicles home and pay for the fuel to and from work but this unfortunately is often abused and as well as the cost in fuel can also lead to tax implications.

CAN-bus / ODB Integration

Some tracking systems can be integrated in to the vehicles own computer system and can provide real time factual information on fuel consumption. When monitored and managed over time this information can lead to significant savings in fuel consumption and very accurate job costing.

Route Optimisation

Ensuring that drivers are taking the most efficient routes and that their working time is being managed well is crucial to reducing fuel wastage. Many vehicle tracking systems have a range of tools that allow companies to actively manage their drivers’ routes whilst also providing reports for historic journeys. These tools not only help save fuel but boost productivity at the same time.