5 Ways to Reduce Your Commercial Vehicle's Fuel Consumption

3251 Views

Updated On: 23-May-2023 09:49 AM

In this article, we will discuss 5 Ways to Reduce Your Commercial Vehicle's Fuel Consumption. Fleet management systems and other digital technologies can assist in tracking fuel use across fleets and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Even in good times, reducing a truck's fuel usage is critical to running a viable operation. However, while coping with inflation, high energy prices, and a cost-of-living problem, no savings are too tiny. The good news is that there is a lot you can do right immediately to enhance the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.

The speed of your vehicle is also important in regulating fuel economy. When you remove your foot off the accelerator in a modern, technology-driven automobile, fuel stops entering the combustion chamber. Using the speed gained during acceleration can be used to save fuel in a variety of ways, such as travelling over hills in a more fuel-efficient manner. This allows your truck to use less fuel when compared to the quantity of fuel it would need if it started from scratch.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Ways to Reduce Your Commercial Vehicle's Fuel Consumption.

1. Maintain and service your vehicle on a regular basis

Maintenance and regular services: Service specialists can assist you in identifying problems that are causing excessive fuel use, such as brake drag and seized brakes, clogged air filters, pressure leaks, and gasoline leaks.

Regular maintenance enhances your engine's fuel efficiency. Engine components work in combination. If the parts are not properly maintained, sludge and corrosion will accumulate between them, making it difficult for the engine to perform smoothly.

Fuel and oil quality: Maintaining your oil service intervals ensures that your engine operates efficiently. A decent high-performance engine oil can help to reduce engine friction, fight sludge, and enhance fuel economy.

Always use the manufacturer's recommended fuel and oil. Oil lubricants are used to reduce friction, but they degrade with time, therefore missing a planned service might result in excessive energy losses.

Vehicle updates: Software is becoming increasingly crucial in enhancing the performance and fuel efficiency of trucks and their engines, and manufacturers are constantly updating and improving their products. It is worthwhile to inquire with your local repair about software upgrades for your truck.

2. Select the proper tyres and verify that your wheels are properly aligned

Tyres are one of the most critical components of your commercial vehicle. Low tyre pressure can increase resistance and waste fuel. Your vehicle's tyres must be checked on a regular basis. Find tyres with low rolling resistance using tyre labels and classifications, as this can have a substantial impact on fuel usage.

Also Read: How to Choose the Right Tires for Your Commercial Vehicle

Wheel alignment: When the front and rear axles are misaligned, the rolling resistance increases dramatically, increasing not just fuel consumption but also tyre wear. This can increase fuel consumption by up to 3% on a normal vehicle, and much more if the vehicle is misaligned.

Tyre pressure: Tyres with adequate pressure and grip enhance the vehicle's safety and efficiency. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and, as a result, fuel consumption. This will also contribute to increased tyre wear.

3. Plan and schedule your routes more strategically

Routes that are optimal: Depending on the weight of the vehicle, a longer, flat trip may take less fuel than a shorter, uphill route. It is also important to avoid high traffic and bad roads, as these variables might boost fuel usage. Turning on and off your engine in traffic puts a lot of strain on it, forcing it to consume more fuel.

Use digital tools and fleet management software to assist with fleet scheduling and route planning to guarantee trucks are not wasting fuel. Plan your trip to and from work as carefully as possible to escape the worst of peak traffic.

4. Motivate and inspire your drivers to drive more efficiently

Driver education: Effective driving practices such as speed adaptation, anticipating, gear selection, and the use of cruise control can considerably reduce a truck's fuel usage. Individual drivers can benefit from driving training programs to improve their technique.

Digital resources: Fleet management systems and other digital technologies can assist in tracking fuel use across fleets and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Incentives and rewards: Encourage and recognize fuel-efficient driving through internal competitions and group targets to get the entire team interested in conserving fuel.

Also Read: 10 Things to Look for When Buying a Commercial Vehicle Online

5. Idle Time

Idling an engine can waste up to one litre of fuel every hour. Owners and managers can utilize telematics technology to identify areas where excessive idling occurs and help reduce fuel waste by receiving detailed reports on unnecessary idling instances, such as:

Warming up the engine over an extended period of time
Running the engine during stops or deliveries
Leaving the engine running in order to activate radios or other in-vehicle devices

Turn off your engine if you are waiting for anything or someone for more than three minutes. You may not be moving, but your engine is still burning precious fuel.

Conclusion

Drivers have a significant impact on lowering vehicle fuel usage. In addition to technical measures such as vehicle tracking tools, managers and fleet owners may need to educate drivers on the importance of fuel savings.

Drivers can learn some of the above-mentioned practices through practice, and rewarding them for a job well done is one method to keep them on track.