Here’s what fleet companies are doing differently to control fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
When a vehicle is on the road, it has a direct impact on the planet.
In the long run, the picture gets smoggy.
Although the trucking industry is keen on going green, the operational rationalism and the ground realities of the day-to-day activities hinder the companies from changing their strategies.
Although some strategies are implemented with great enthusiasm, the spirit spans short.
However, not changing these strategies is actually doing more damage than you may think.
It impacts the vehicle, the trucking company, and most importantly, the planet,
For example, when you key the engine and leave it idle, the vehicle is more likely to consume almost all the fuel in just one hour.
This is testimony to how fast heavy vehicles consume fuel, and how the fuel cost alone can spiral out of control if not monitored correctly.
When you observe a pattern across all your trucking facilities, it’s just more realistic to optimize the overall approach than to micromanage the driving ecosystem.
The trucking industry doesn’t need advice.
It needs effective approaches to adapt to the rising fuel complex and a realistic roadmap to strike a balance between greener operations and driver retention.
Let’s take a look at a few tried-and-tested strategies that have worked efficiently for trucking companies in the last few years.
So, let’s get started.
Incentivizing Driver Efficiency
If the pandemic has taught the world anything, truck drivers are the backbone of the supply ecosystem.
Truck drivers are driving 10+ hours a day. Their bodies are going through an awful lot each day, and they try very hard to be consistent with their efforts to reach the required destinations on time.
So, when the drivers do manage to reach certain destinations faster than expected and unload the shipments on time, you could pay them a little extra for that dispatch trip alone or add your appreciation to the annual bonus.
Similarly, if your drivers are complaining about burnout, give them a break. Have your backup drivers take the lead (temporarily). This will help the drivers rest, energize, and get back to work feeling much better.
Either way, this would make the drivers feel appreciated and valued, which results in driver retention as well as motivating the drivers to get to places faster using the best routes.
Planned Maintenance Regime
Did you know that your vehicles depend on fuel for performance? This is even more common in vehicles that do not get proper maintenance and checks.
When you service and maintain the vehicles regularly, you enable the vehicle to depend on its performance enhancements instead of just fuel.
The best way to ensure that your trucks are in good shape and perform with maximum efficiency is to address repairs and minor issues at regular intervals.
You can create a regime for regular maintenance, wherein, each time a truck completes X number of miles or goes X distance, the truck cannot be assigned the next load until it undergoes maintenance.
This would help you achieve the following:
- Reduce the overuse of the truck
- Help maintain the optimum performance of the truck for a longer period
- Streamline the truck maintenance schedule
- Improve the driving experience for your drivers
- Prevent over-consumption of fuel
Weight Load Management
When vehicles are burdened with loading weight, it impacts their performance.
This is why more and more truck manufacturers are focusing on the aerodynamics of the vehicle instead of just the weight-load capacities.
It’s true that an average truck is built to take thousands of pounds of loading weight. However, with consistent use, wear and tear, the impact of elements, and other technical factors, this capacity deteriorates gradually.
At this stage, the vehicle is more likely to consume more fuel than usual for its performance capacities.
Reduce and manage the weight load so that your trucks are not overloaded.
Assign a certain loading weight that is enough for the vehicle to manage yet slightly under its usual weight capacity. This will help your vehicles consume less fuel and perform effectively.
Remember, a lighter object moves faster than a heavier one.
Modern technology gave us GPS. Use this guidance system to find the best route to the destination.
Leveraging Connected Distances
The back-office staff can also use the live location to track the drivers and the routes they’re taking. Your staff can also connect with the drivers while en route and recommend an alternative or faster route to reduce distance and time, saving you cost on fuel.
Additionally, you can try splitting a trip between two-connected trucks to improve mobility and sustainability.
Let’s assume that Truck 1 is starting from point A and has to pass through Point B to reach Point C.
Now, expecting Truck 1 to go from Point A to Point C directly will require the driver to stretch their hours, and will wear out the vehicle.
However, the same distance can be covered by connecting trucks.
If you already have a facility near point B, or if you’re connected with another fleet company at point B, you can assign the load to a different truck from Point B to Point C.
This way, you reach the destination on time while the driver and the truck are not over-strained.
This connected fleet system will help you in the following ways.
- Reduce fuel consumption
- Reduce emissions
- Reduce operational inconsistencies
- Improve B2B partnerships
- Reduce the burden on your drivers
- Create a sustainable ecosystem
Switching To Electric Vehicles
This is the era of leveraging solar energy and innovating electric vehicles for everyday use.
While the world is ambitious on the zero-fuel strategy, the trucking company is also curious about alternative fuel energy.
And yes. Electric vehicles come with their own drawbacks.
- Certain goods cannot be carried on lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles.
- Electric trucks are more expensive than traditional trucks.
- Electric vehicles are not built to weather through the elements.
- Electric trucks cannot carry thousands of pounds of loading weight.
However, electric trucks can be the future of goods transport because:
- Electric vehicles can be used for shorter distances, while you can use regular trucks for longer distances.
Electric vehicles do not consume fuel, saving you plenty on fuel costs.
- Electric vehicles do not require a lot of maintenance, making them an economical option.
- Zero emissions. Zero carbon footprint.
- Electric vehicles are easier to drive – giving your drivers a convenient transit experience
- Newer heavy-duty trucks are being manufactured every year to meet the zero-emission requirements of trucking companies.
Electric vehicle manufacturing is still in its infancy. This means trucking companies can reach out to manufacturers and convey their requirements. The manufacturers will produce the vehicles per the custom requirements of the companies.
The pros outweigh the cons.
When you’re looking for sustainability, you have to adapt and evolve.
And yes. Adapting to the changing landscape is not easy. But it’s not difficult either.
Change is worth it if it’s helping your business be less harsh on the planet, while also helping you reduce costs and improve driver retention.
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