The fuel consumption is an essential of fleet company. If we don't manage the fuel consumption, our business will loss a lot of money on unnecessary places. So it's critical thing to implement a GPS tracking software, here are some aspects that can reduce the fuel consumption.

1. Keep tires properly inflated.

According to a report from the Shenzhen Fleet Alliance, ensuring that vehicles have properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by an average of 0.6%, up to 3%. Vehicles lose 0.2% in fuel efficiency for every 1 psi below the recommended tire pressure.

Since outside temperatures affect commercial vehicles' tire pressure, drivers need to check their tire pressure regularly when there are changes in the weather and temperature. There can be significant variations in tire pressure in both cold and very hot climates. Drivers and maintenance professionals should check the tire pressure before trucks go out on the road and as part of regular maintenance.

2. Drive on smooth roads.

The quality of the road surface can have a significant impact on fuel efficiency. The vehicle's engine creates kinetic energy to produce forward momentum. Uneven road surfaces will bounce and shake the tires (and vehicle), which disrupts the kinetic energy produced by the engine, making it less fuel-efficient.

While your drivers cannot control road quality, they can avoid uneven roads as much as possible. Planning out the vehicle's route and using GPS devices with route suggestions will help your truck drivers avoid bad roads that can reduce fuel efficiency. It can also help them avoid traffic congestion. According to a study from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), traffic congestion due to gridlock can reduce a vehicle's fuel economy by 20% to 40%.

3. Avoid unnecessary idling

Vehicles that are started more often throughout the day use more fuel than vehicles started fewer times. At the same time, idling vehicles waste fuel for no reason and accumulate unnecessary costs. These wasted expenses can add up across your fleet to be a significant drain on your bottom line.

Train your drivers to turn off their engines if they expect to be parked or standing for a while. This will result in short-term and long-term financial savings in terms of fuel consumption and engine wear. Drivers should also learn to change gears sooner to lower their overall rpm, which can also reduce fuel consumption.

Use telematics software to alert your drivers to turn off the vehicles when they have shifted into park, and review the software's reports of which drivers idle the most to work on changing this habit.

5. Set speed restrictions for drivers

Speeding wastes fuel and is potentially dangerous, particularly for truck drivers. According to the UMTRI study, driving at high speeds can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30%. Set speed restrictions for your drivers to reduce fuel consumption as well as safety risks.

GPS fleet tracking and telematics can also track fuel usage and remind drivers of when to slow down and drive within the speed limit, which will further reduce fuel consumption. You can use the software to create reports that determine which drivers are not following the company's speed restrictions.