So you manage your service calls by grouping orders and waiting for a full load before proceeding with shipments and deliveries - but what else can you do to save fuel on your fleet, when gas is pushing $5 a gallon?
Streamlining your service fleet is absolutely crucial, whether in terms of maintenance or route planning. Impeccable driving habits are also imperative when it comes to maximizing fuel.

With today’s rising fuel costs, scheduling spa deliveries and service calls to optimize efficiency has proven to be one of the most effective improvements a company can implement in terms of saving gas. It’s important to not only group orders, but also to make sure there are no mistakes - everything on the vehicle should be delivered on each trip. Unnecessary weight will weigh down the vehicle and yield less mileage per gallon; having to make extra trips to deliver the correct item makes it even worse.
Fortunately, many software programs now exist to make route planning a cinch. Microsoft MapPoint saves labor time in trip planning by efficiently plotting the quickest route to each destination with the added benefit of logging miles between each leg of the delivery.

Besides investing in software, ensuring that drivers are practicing good driving habits can also be surprisingly crucial in saving gas. When a driver leaves their truck or van idling between deliveries, the vehicle gets zero miles per gallon - so be sure to remind them to turn the engine off. Switching gears at exactly the right time is another driving technique that can help save gas. Maintaining a constant speed and never exceeding 70 mph can also help save gas because running the engine at higher rotations per minute decreases fuel efficiency.

Don’t underestimate the importance of vehicle maintenance - routine service checks are critical in keeping vehicles in tip-top shape for optimal efficiency. For example, a tire with too little pressure will severely impact a truck’s fuel economy, while clean oil will help your engines run more efficiently. Service checks will also help you determine when it’s time to invest in a newer vehicle.

When switching or adding new vehicles to your fleet, it’s important to thoroughly research vehicles that give good mileage, while also having an optimal amount of cargo space. A smaller vehicle most likely yields better mileage, but it’s important to consider the amount of cargo you deliver on the average trip, so you can deliver the most goods with the least number of trips.

These are seemingly small tasks, in the long run, the gas dollars saved will add up - helping save you money in the face of high fuel costs. SR