Fuel is one of the highest costs a fleet will have. At Cartrack we understand that in this economy it’s important to save costs wherever we can. This is why we’ve put together this comprehensive FAQ answering all your questions on how to save on fuel in your fleet!
Keep scrolling to find out all the answers on how to reduce fuel.
One of the most effective habits a driver can get into to reduce fuel consumption is by driving more softly and smoothly. Rapid acceleration and harsh braking all burn more fuel. By regularly braking and having to speed up, you’re driving inefficiently, reducing your ability to use momentum.
Fun fact… cruise control doesn’t always save on fuel. Think about it, cruise control keeps you at one speed, whether you’re going up or down a hill. When you’re in control, you can choose the optimal speed and use momentum when you’re going downhill. Cruise control is useful and can save you on fuel in certain conditions, like on long, traffic-free roads.
Think of idling a car like sitting in a long meeting at work. Technically, you are working, but you’re not doing any actual work. When you let your car excessively idle, it is burning fuel. Roughly, an idling car will use between 0.76 and 2.65 litres of fuel an hour, and a diesel truck will burn about 4 litres of fuel an hour.
Yes, harsh braking does impact your fuel efficiency. When you constantly brake abruptly, you lose momentum, and this means you’ll have to burn more fuel to regain speed. But when you’re driving at a regulated pace, you’ll be able to slow yourself down gradually and possibly be able to continue with the right momentum.
Yes, if you’re stopping for 10-60 seconds, you should turn off your engine. It’s been shown that idling for more than 10 seconds burns more fuel than turning off and restarting your vehicle.
Yes, with the right strategies in place, you can really reduce fuel consumption with large trucks and vehicles. Strategies like installing fuel management systems, optimising your routes, keeping your vehicles maintained, and improving your drivers' driving habits all help to reduce fuel usage.
To optimise your fuel usage, check your wheel alignment around every 8 000 to 10 000 km. When your wheels are properly aligned, you’ll minimise your vehicle’s rolling resistance, which will then maximise your fuel efficiency.
Yes, a telematics system can identify mechanical issues before they hit your fuel stats. Advanced telematic systems—like the one from Cartrack—have a feature known as predictive maintenance that will alert you to any upkeep your vehicle needs before it starts affecting your fuel efficiency.
You should choose Cartrack’s fuel management system to help you with fuel efficiency because we provide you with real-time data that can help you reduce fuel costs. Tools like route optimisation, driver monitoring behaviour, and live fuel tracking all work cohesively to save your fleet money.
Fuel cards can definitely help with fuel management because as a fleet manager you now have control over all fuel expenses. This way, you’ll easily be able to spot fuel fraud and stop manual paperwork errors.
Fuel-efficient driving, also known as eco-driving, can possibly lower your insurance premiums. The reason is that fuel-efficient driving habits are the same as those that minimise the risk of accidents.
A fuel management system can cost you anything from R1500 upwards. The price will depend on your fleet size and the features/add-ons you want. It’s important to note that as much as a fuel management system will cost you, it will save you more!
