FLEETS could cut operating costs by up to 35% if they tightened fuel purchasing controls and acted on management information. That was the claim of Tim Betts, manager of Shell Fuel and Fleet Services, who said he was surprised at findings in the recently Tolley Swan National Survey of Company Car Schemes 1997/8 which showed that just 12% of fleets checked fuel used against expense claims and only 2% of fleets used information supplied by fuel card companies.

'Not everyone can make a 35% saving on their fuel bills, but some fleets can and everyone can make some savings,' said Betts. While most savings could be achieved through internal fleet controls Betts acknowledged that fleets - both small and large - could further reduce fuel bills by negotiating volume-related discounts with fuel suppliers.