Does your business rely on a mobile workforce or vehicle fleet? In that case, you’re already aware there’s a major expense that is cutting into your profit margins: rising fuel costs. However, while high prices are out of your control, fuel inefficiency is often something you can influence significantly.
Many businesses unknowingly waste fuel through habits and decisions that seem minor at first but can quickly add up over time. To keep your costs down and boost overall fleet efficiency, here are five fuel inefficiency mistakes your business must avoid.
Mistake #1: Poor Route Planning
One of the fastest ways to waste fuel is by sending vehicles out without optimised routes. Long detours, backtracking, congested routes – they all result in unnecessary fuel burn. That’s not to mention the delay in service it causes.
Avoiding this mistake is easy thanks to modern technology. Smarter routing tools can dramatically reduce mileage and engine idling. Businesses that use GPS and real-time traffic data to plan journeys are far more likely to hit deadlines. That also means avoiding those fuel-heavy delays.
Mistake #2: Regular Maintenance Neglect
When issues like underinflated tyres and clogged air filters are left to fester, this can be a recipe for fuel inefficiency in running vehicles. Poor maintenance standards make engines work harder. That then extends to decreased fuel economy, as well as an increased chance of costly breakdowns.
That’s why you must create a regular service schedule – supported by maintenance alerts and driver reporting – to keep every vehicle in tip-top condition. Over time, this saves fuel and extends vehicle life in the process.
Mistake #3: Overlooking Fuel Cards
A fuel card can offer valuable savings for your business. However, if used without oversight, they can also enable waste or misuse. Without setting purchase limits or monitoring transaction data, your business risks losing control over fuel spend.
To avoid such a scenario, you should select a provider that offers detailed reporting and real-time alerts. By tracking spend across vehicles and drivers, you can spot inefficiencies and potential fraud. The result: your fuel card remains a valuable cost-saving tool for your company.
Mistake #4: Fail to Track Driver Behaviour
Even with modern vehicles and planned routes, fuel can still be wasted if drivers adopt inefficient habits. These habits include:
- Harsh acceleration
- Heavy braking
- Excessive speeding
- Prolonged idling
Each one is a fuel-hungry behaviour that often goes unchecked. An effective solution is to use telematics to monitor driver performance. Effective fleet tracking tools highlight inefficient driving and promote safer, more economical habits across the team. Even with small changes, your business can see noticeable reductions in fuel use and emissions.
Mistake #5: Not Consolidating Trips
Sending vehicles out for single-purpose or low-volume trips is inefficient. When planning deliveries or service appointments, it pays to group jobs by location and urgency.
Again, smart scheduling software can make the difference. This makes it easier to batch appointments and allocate vehicles with greater efficiency. When your business rethinks how – and when – to deploy your fleet, you can reduce overall mileage and make better use of every litre of fuel.
