Fleets can manage how much they are spending on fuel by employing a fuel card, but there are other measures they can employ to reduce fuel usage.

Driver training, route planning, vehicle choice and even simply sticking to the speed limit can help fleets cut their fuel bills.

Here, we offer fleet managers our ‘top tips’ to managing a fleet, which will not only be green and efficient, but will keep those fuel costs down.

Vehicle choice list

Fleet managers can compare the claims of manufacturers about their vehicles and search models according to fuel economy and CO2 emissions, using data services such as running costs on www.fleetnews.co.uk.

One solution employed by a growing number of fleets is to ban all cars over 160g/km, guaranteeing fuel savings and improved tax efficiency.

Vehicles which squeeze more miles to the gallon could add up to thousands of pounds worth of savings for fleets.

Switching from a 35mpg car to a 45mpg car for a driver covering 20,000 miles a year will cut the fuel bill by more than £500 (from £2,596 to £2,018), assuming fuel at £1 per litre.

Driver training

On average company car drivers achieve about 15% less mpg than the claimed figures, according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

But, evidence from its smarter driving training programme shows that after just an hour’s tuition, drivers improve consumption by 15%.

However, fleet managers need to ensure this is maintained and league tables with even modest rewards can be effective.

Smarter driving techniques, which are inherently safer, rely on reading the road ahead and accelerating and braking more gently. Expect to also see worthwhile savings in maintenance and repair bills.

Fleets running 100 vehicles which improve typical mpg by achieving the official combined rate could save about £20,000 per year and reduce carbon footprint by 50 tonnes of CO2.

Tyres and oil

Research by Kwik-Fit found that 12 million motorists could cut costs at the pumps by a combined £1.4bn a year, simply by keeping their tyres inflated to the correct pressure – equal to around £116 per driver.

Real-world tests of Michelin’s Energy low rolling resistance tyres showed tyre life increased by 25% and fuel economy improved by 2.5%. And Total claims its Excellium premium fuel can improve economy by 4%.

Reduce mileage

Home working is rocketing in popularity as employers aim to beat rising fuel prices.

According to the AA, 300 of its employees are saving 90,000 litres of fuel or 620,000 miles commuting each year by working from home.

Video-conferencing and public transport can also cut business miles.

Speed

Scientists estimate that 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 would be saved each year if UK drivers obeyed the speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways, saving 800 million litres of fuel.

The cost savings for fleets that insisted every driver observes the speed limit would be substantial.

According to Northgate Vehicle Hire, driving at 85mph rather than 70mph uses 25% more fuel and driving at 70mph instead of 60mph uses up to 9% more fuel.

Technology

Tracking technology can make fleets more efficient and economical by allowing employers to see exactly how their vehicles are being used.

“An effective reporting system allows fleet managers to enhance efficiency and reduce costs,” said Bill Raynal, managing director of Tracker.

Driver training reaps rewards

Staff at a housing association have been shown how to reduce fuel costs by £300 a year.

Riverside Housing Association has offered staff free courses on more fuel-efficient driving.

An advanced driving instructor has given over 100 staff from the association’s head office in Speake and various local offices Smarter Driving courses.

The scheme, organised in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, revealed that on average staff switching from their normal driving methods to using more efficient techniques cut their carbon emissions by 18%.

As a group, the fuel savings amounted to more than £30,000 per year.

Riverside’s training and development advisor, Sue George, said: “Adopting a smarter driving style is easy. Once you’ve mastered it, not only will you start to make real savings, but you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment.

“That’s because smarter driving means driving your car more efficiently.

"Doing this means your car will produce less carbon dioxide, the main gas contributing to climate change.”