Or you may have surplus vehicles — both in service and out of service — that you can sell to reduce total business costs. Getting your fleet down to just the right size can help you save more than just fuel. It also saves on the costs associated with registration, insurance, maintenance, and repair.

Those numbers can quickly add up and take a big bite out of your budget. At first glance, cleaning your vehicles regularly may not seem like it belongs on a list of fuel management strategies — but it does.

A build-up of dirt, oil, grease, and grime adds weight and increases drag, thereby reducing the aerodynamics of the vehicle and causing fuel efficiency to drop.

This is especially true if your fleet operates in areas where it snows. Accumulated ice and snow on the top, sides, and undercarriage of a vehicle can add pounds or more to the total weight of the vehicle. Hauling more than necessary like this can seriously impact both the performance and the miles per gallon of your fleet vehicles.

Encourage operators to remove as much snow and ice as possible before driving during the winter months. And make it a point to run your vehicles through the car wash once or twice a month to maintain aerodynamic and fuel efficiency.

One of the best ways to improve fuel management in your business is to issue a fleet card to all of your drivers. Fleet cards a. gas cards, fuel cards, fleet fuel cards, or fleet gas cards provide many benefits over the traditional reimbursement system. All of these benefits can help your fleet function smoothly, but the first two will directly impact your fuel management.

Even a one- or two-cent discount at the pump can significantly reduce the total amount your business pays for fuel throughout the year. And, with top-of-the-line fleet cards , you can set the spending rules for each vehicle to better accommodate drivers with different responsibilities and distances to travel.

For example, for cross-country trips, you can allow spending on fuel, maintenance, repairs, towing, and even perks such as food and lodging. On the other hand, for cross-town trips, you can restrict spending to fuel only.

Proper tire inflation is an essential component of getting the most out of the tire itself, maintaining the life and safety of the vehicle, and improving fuel management.

An under-inflated tire increases the rolling resistance of the vehicle and forces the engine to use more fuel to maintain forward movement. One simple solution to this issue is to make sure that every vehicle comes with an air pressure gauge and that drivers check the tire inflation before starting out on a trip and every time they stop.

A regular preventative maintenance schedule can go a long way toward reducing the fuel management issues that each vehicle faces. Older vehicles are especially susceptible to this pitfall.

Even ensuring that technicians use the right weight of motor oil, for example, can reduce the miles per gallon it takes to get a vehicle from point A to point B and back again.

The more weight in a vehicle, the more fuel the vehicle is going to use. This principle also applies to the tools and supplies your drivers carry with them every day.

Just pounds of extra weight can impact fuel efficiency for the worse. Is all of it absolutely necessary? Could the driver get by with two spools of wire instead of four? Fuel-efficient driving can save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year, improve road safety and prevent wear on your vehicle.

The harder you accelerate the more fuel you use. In the city, you can use less fuel by easing onto the accelerator pedal gently. To be as fuel-efficient as possible, take 5 seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 kilometres per hour from a stop. Imagine an open cup of coffee on the dashboard.

When your speed dips and bursts, you use more fuel, and spend more money, than you need to. Consider using cruise control for highway driving, where conditions permit. Be mindful, however, that little variations in speed can actually be good when gravity does the work. Where traffic patterns permit, allow your speed to drop when you travel uphill, then regain your momentum as you roll downhill.

And keep a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Keep to the speed limit and save on fuel! Above this speed zone, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go. On a km trip, this spike in speed — and fuel consumption — would cut just two minutes from your travel time.

Every time you use your brakes, you waste your forward momentum. You will conserve fuel and save money by taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using your brakes. Take the free online ecoDriving course to learn more about how fuel-efficient driving can help you save money and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

The average vehicle with a 3-litre engine wastes millilitres over 1 cup of fuel for every 10 minutes it idles. It can also reduce the life of your tires by more than 10, kilometres. Find the right tire pressure for your vehicle on the tire information placard.

Learn more about tire maintenance. Pay attention to the tachometer, which shows engine speed. Use it to know when to shift a manual transmission for the best fuel efficiency. The higher the rpm, the more fuel the engine is burning. So shift through the lower gears smoothly and quickly, and build up speed in the higher gears.

Remove items such as salt, sand and sports equipment from your vehicle. The less it weighs, the less fuel your vehicle will use. If you do use air conditioning, use the re-circulate option.

It will minimize the impact.

Take the free online ecoDriving course to learn more about how fuel-efficient driving can help you save money and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

The average vehicle with a 3-litre engine wastes millilitres over 1 cup of fuel for every 10 minutes it idles. It can also reduce the life of your tires by more than 10, kilometres.

Find the right tire pressure for your vehicle on the tire information placard. Learn more about tire maintenance. Pay attention to the tachometer, which shows engine speed.

Use it to know when to shift a manual transmission for the best fuel efficiency. The higher the rpm, the more fuel the engine is burning. So shift through the lower gears smoothly and quickly, and build up speed in the higher gears.

Remove items such as salt, sand and sports equipment from your vehicle. The less it weighs, the less fuel your vehicle will use. If you do use air conditioning, use the re-circulate option.

It will minimize the impact. See the impact of the 5 fuel-efficient driving techniques firsthand with the help of a fuel consumption display, a feature now standard on many vehicles. Some newer vehicles come equipped with even more sophisticated displays that analyze speed variations, shift points for manual transmissions, and driving behaviours such as acceleration and braking times.

Committed to saving money and shrinking your environmental footprint? Use this personal action plan to achieve your goals. You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, contact us. Accelerate gently The harder you accelerate the more fuel you use.

Maintain a steady speed When your speed dips and bursts, you use more fuel, and spend more money, than you need to. Avoid high speeds Keep to the speed limit and save on fuel!

Coast to decelerate Every time you use your brakes, you waste your forward momentum. Use a manual transmission properly Pay attention to the tachometer, which shows engine speed.

Use a fuel consumption display See the impact of the 5 fuel-efficient driving techniques firsthand with the help of a fuel consumption display, a feature now standard on many vehicles. Track your fuel consumption How long can you go without filling your tank?

Two weeks? A month? For example, for cross-country trips, you can allow spending on fuel, maintenance, repairs, towing, and even perks such as food and lodging. On the other hand, for cross-town trips, you can restrict spending to fuel only.

Proper tire inflation is an essential component of getting the most out of the tire itself, maintaining the life and safety of the vehicle, and improving fuel management.

An under-inflated tire increases the rolling resistance of the vehicle and forces the engine to use more fuel to maintain forward movement. One simple solution to this issue is to make sure that every vehicle comes with an air pressure gauge and that drivers check the tire inflation before starting out on a trip and every time they stop.

A regular preventative maintenance schedule can go a long way toward reducing the fuel management issues that each vehicle faces. Older vehicles are especially susceptible to this pitfall. Even ensuring that technicians use the right weight of motor oil, for example, can reduce the miles per gallon it takes to get a vehicle from point A to point B and back again.

The more weight in a vehicle, the more fuel the vehicle is going to use. This principle also applies to the tools and supplies your drivers carry with them every day. Just pounds of extra weight can impact fuel efficiency for the worse.

Is all of it absolutely necessary? Could the driver get by with two spools of wire instead of four? Could the driver use a single ladder instead of two? Any excess weight you can remove from the vehicle can improve fuel efficiency and overall performance. Depending on the type and size of vehicles in your fleet, incorporating aerodynamic controls can help improve fuel management and efficiency.

For example, adding a curved cap to the top of a box truck helps the vehicle cut through the air more efficiently, reduces drag, and results in improved fuel economy overall.

New vehicles, to some extent, are already aerodynamically efficient. But older vehicles and trailers can usually benefit from some relatively inexpensive aerodynamic upgrades that result in a significant rise in miles per gallon.

To learn more about how Coast can streamline your fuel management and improve your fleet activities as a whole, visit CoastPay. com today. Fleet Management 8 Fuel Management Strategies To Keep Your Fleet Running Smoothly A proven way to reduce costs throughout your fleet is with fuel management strategies.

Combine the precision of Visa cards with a powerful platform that helps you control and review your spend effortlessly. With the right fleet card, your business will enjoy: Lower at-the-pump fuel costs Spending controls Driver satisfaction Reduced administrative paperwork Universal acceptability Safety and security All of these benefits can help your fleet function smoothly, but the first two will directly impact your fuel management.

Be sure to check and change: Oil levels Fluid levels Wheel alignment Tire inflation Air filters Fuel filters Even ensuring that technicians use the right weight of motor oil, for example, can reduce the miles per gallon it takes to get a vehicle from point A to point B and back again.

Fleet Cards. Drive your fleet with Coast Get up and running in just a few simple steps. Apply now Apply now. Apply in minutes. No personal guarantee.

Also, pay attention to gas prices at different stations. Gas prices can fluctuate significantly within two or three blocks.

Warehouse clubs, such as Costco, offer their members very competitive gas prices in most states. Change the way you drive.

Always drive at or right below the speed limit, especially on interstate highways. Avoid rapid accelerations and raising your RPMs excessively. Streamline your vehicle. Many people become most aware of their gas mileage when they are driving great distances. If you are travelling, avoid storing luggage on top of your vehicle.

Also, remember that pulling a trailer , camper, or boat behind your vehicle will radically lower its fuel efficiency. Keep up with general maintenance. Many drivers do not properly maintain their vehicle.

Most drivers find that taking their automobile to a dealership or mechanic once a year for a tune-up can address issues that affect fuel consumption before they become too costly.

Drive a car with a manual transmission. If you are comfortable driving a car with a manual transmission, you might want to consider buying a stick shift as your next vehicle.

Drivers of cars with manual transmissions can learn to drive their vehicles more efficiently in a variety of situations to help reduce gasoline consumption.

Shifting to a higher gear without speeding up allows you to save on gas. Reevaluate your route, particularly ones that you take often. For example, if one route to work is shorter but includes numerous stop signs, hills, or traffic lights, your vehicle might use more gasoline on it than it would on a longer route with fewer stops and level roads.

Drive an alternate route to work for a few days and compare fuel consumption. Most Popular Behind the Wheel Driving Tests Driver Safety Car Maintenance Car Buying Travel CDL Motorcycle.

Observe the speed limit -- Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended. A passenger car that averages Remember, however, that for different levels of speeds, the change in fuel economy will probably be different for different models, types, and ages of vehicles.

Use cruise control -- Using the vehicles cruise control helps improve fuel economy and prevent speeding. Note: Vehicles with anti-lock ABS systems will disengage the cruise control on slippery surfaces should a tire begin to slip.

Empty your trunk -- Driving around with your trunk full adds weight and reduces your fuel mileage. Keep your vehicle clean -- Dirt, mud, and bugs on the exterior of you vehicle creates drag that over long distances hurts your MPG. Keeping your vehicle washed and waxed reduces your vehicles aerodynamic drag, improving your fuel economy.

Use mass transit -- Fuel consumption can be dramatically reduced by using mass transit, ride the bus. Share a ride or carpool -- Sharing a ride or carpooling helps reduce fuel consumption. Fuel savings maintenance tips: Vehicle gas caps -- About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

Loose gas caps can result in a 2. Fill vehicle at slowest settings -- Always fill your vehicle with the fill nozzle set on the lowest setting. This will help prevent overfilling, or back splash. Do not top off your fuel tank -- Topping off your fuel tank can saturate the emissions system with fuel, and could cause a fuel spill when the fuel warms up.

When the fuel nozzle clicks off, the tank is full, don't add anymore fuel or round up the dollar amount on the fuel pump. Under inflated tires -- When tires aren't inflated properly it's like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.

Tire type -- Using mud and snow, or wider than standard tires for added traction will reduce your miles per gallon. These tires are designed to add friction for traction, and the added friction requires more power fuel to compensate. Note: New tires have more resistance than worn tires. After installing new tires, you will probably experience a short term reduction in your vehicles fuel efficiency.

Worn spark plugs -- A vehicles spark plugs fire as many as million times every 35, miles, resulting in heat, electrical, and chemical erosion. A dirty or worn spark plug can misfire, which wastes fuel.

At a minimum, engines should be tuned and the spark plugs replaced at the factory recommend intervals or more often for vehicles driven short trips only. Dirty air filters -- An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust, and bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture too much fuel being burned for the amount of air , wasting fuel and causing the engine to lose power.

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Note: Vehicles with computer controlled fuel injection have sensors that automatically adjust for restricted air filters, keeping your fuel mileage consistent.

Defective oxygen sensor -- A worn or inoperative oxygen sensor will result in an engine that is not operating efficiently, resulting in increased fuel consumption or a decrease of 3.