Truck drivers have called out the federal government’s fuel excise, describing it as unsustainable and a threat to the viability of trucking businesses and the economy. If you’re in the industry, the situation may have you wringing your hands at the fuel bowser.
A poorly maintained vehicle can burn through excessive fuel. For example, tyres that are under-inflated by 56 kilopascals (8PSI) can increase fuel consumption by up to four per cent and can also reduce the life of your tyres by more than 10,000km over time. Keeping key vehicle parts like tyres, lubricants and oils, engine components, electrics and sensors in peak shape can significantly reduce your fuel bill while extending their lifespan.
The best way to make sure your vehicle is operating smoothly and at the top of its game is proactive maintenance. Using a predictive maintenance tool makes this a breeze, digitised systems use historical data to identify and alert drivers of what parts need maintenance and when. They fully automate maintenance routines with custom schedules and real-time access to equipment diagnostics and inspection reports.
Using an automated solution makes predictive maintenance an easy task. You’ll avoid costly breakdowns while reducing your fuel consumption, and you’ll also save time on manual, paper-based processes so you can focus on what you do best: driving.
Drive safely and strategically
Driving safely and driving efficiently are one and the same. Consider unsafe driving habits like driving faster than necessary, aggressive acceleration, and harsh braking, they can all put you and other road users at risk, and they all burn through excessive fuel. For example, reducing a truck’s average speed from 113 km/h to 105 can reduce fuel consumption by up to 6 per cent.
So, the best way to improve fuel-efficient driving habits is to drive safely and strategically. Equipping your vehicle with a Smart Dashcam, which combines the power of AI technology with telematics data and advanced onboard sensors, provides insight into your driving metrics and identifies training opportunities. The camera can alert you in real-time to reduce inefficient and unsafe driving habits instantly. You’ll reduce your chance of an accident, and you’ll make the roads safer for yourself and other drivers.
Furthermore, built-in scorecard and coaching features in the fleet management system can create long-term, fuel-efficient driving habits. The live dashboard displays fleet and individual driver metrics – meaning you’ll have complete insight into your own performance. You can see how you compare with your colleagues to foster healthy competition and encourage improvement, and you’ll be alerted when there’s a significant change in metrics, either positive or negative. The system provides tips and feedback to help you set measurable goals and improve safe driving habits and fuel efficiency over time.
Look at the big picture
Weathering the soaring cost of fuel requires big picture thinking, because saving money on your fuel bill is about more than just the price at the bowser; it’s about controlling what you can: your kilometres, your vehicle, and your driving habits. Adopting integrated fleet management solutions makes tackling the root causes of fuel inefficiency, and reducing your fuel bill, an easy task. At the end of the day, you’re the one behind the wheel, and with smart systems in place, you’ll have the power to turn efficiency into savings and put a permanent dent in your fuel bills.
This information was provided by Teletrac Navman.
