Fuel represents one of the highest costs for couriers and transport companies, so getting the most out of every drop should be a priority. Couriers can find themselves driving a range of different vehicles on journeys, which can vary greatly in length. Therefore, it’s no wonder that they burn through a huge amount of fuel.
Companies are always looking for ways to trim costs without skimping on their service, so here are a few ways couriers can reduce fuel costs by getting more out of their tank.
Phase-out bad driving habits
If driving is your daily job, then there is a good chance you’ve picked up a few bad habits over the years. Trying to iron them out might prove difficult, but it can be rewarding as more efficient driving uses less fuel.
Simply slowing down a little can reduce your fuel consumption. It’s estimated that reducing your average speed from 70 mph to 60 mph could see fuel consumption cut by more than 13 percent.
Revving your vehicle too hard can also lead to an overuse of fuel. That’s why it’s always preferable to accelerate smoothly and gradually rather than slamming that pedal to the metal. Being too heavy on the pedal can lead to braking suddenly and applying the accelerator again, which can be really hard on your fuel.
Idling is another habit you need to cut out if you want to get the most from your fuel. When you are idling, you are burning fuel but not moving – how wasteful is that. If you are going to be stationary for more than a minute, turn off your engine. It takes a fraction of the fuel amount to start it up again as it does to leave the engine running.
Plan your route
Couriers may know the streets and roads like the back of their hand, but their in-built sat-nav doesn’t necessarily tell them the most efficient route. Before you set off on any journey, you should take some time to work out the most efficient route. This isn’t necessarily the shortest way from A to B, but also the one which is likely to use the least fuel.
Take into account that motorways require you to drive at higher speeds, which uses more fuel, while going through towns and cities will lead to congestions, meaning your burning precious fuel while sitting in traffic.
Keep your vehicle in good shape
Keeping your vehicle up to date with its service schedule can help it remain more fuel-efficient. A service will see filters checked, oil changes carried out and tuning checked. It will also let you know if your tyre tread is too low or close to it. Low tyre tread doesn’t just risk you being on the wrong side of the law; it also means they have to work a bit harder to get the vehicle moving, which means using more fuel.
You should also check your tyre pressure regularly. Having your tyres well inflated will reduce drag, meaning less fuel is required to get you moving.