RESPONSIBLE DRIVING CULTURE

In addition to tweaking the fundamental requirements of a haulage business in the area of fleet selection and matching within moderately permissible level, the next best strategy will be to modify the drivers’ behavior towards a more sustainable fuel-efficient eco-sensitive culture. This must be a top priority. The way employees drive their vehicles can either increase or decrease fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. If the driving behavior of employees is changed, there will be a direct impact on the amount of fuel consumed and emissions produced. As a matter of fact, even a moderate increase in Km/Ltr ratio can result in substantial savings when extrapolated across the entire fleet.

A fundamental approach to achieving this lies in exposing the fleet drivers to good combination of Defensive and Eco-driving training. A comprehensive eco-driving training will cover focus areas of safe and fuel efficient driving such as Braking, Clutch control, Cruise control, Exhaust brake, Forward planning, Gear selection, Hazards, Height of load, Positioning of load, Speeding, Low revs, low noise and low emissions, Planning of route, Tyre and Weather conditions. In other clime where fleet managers have implemented eco-driving training programs, there have been records of significant reduction in annual fuel consumption by changing drivers’ behavior.

Defensive driving training is another factor to consider in influencing drivers’ behavior towards an improvement in fuel economy. Maintaining a safe distance leads to less hits and rapid wear on the brakes and by extension less burning of fuel. Added to this is maintaining optimum highway speed and knowing when it is absolutely necessary to use the installed air conditioning system (if not yet deactivated).

The challenge is to make eco-driving the permanent mindset of all drivers. Unless there is an enforcement program with incentives, the danger is that drivers will drift back to old behaviors. It has been proven that by using more reward and penalty scheme, these efficiencies can be maintained over the longer-term. To maintain driver motivation, you need to have an ongoing eco-driving training program for new recruits and periodic refresher training for current drivers, offering tangible incentives for employees who perform well. Some major users of haulage services have gone a step further by ensuring that relevant clauses that specifically demanded compulsory drivers training are inserted in contractual terms binding them to haulage services companies.

 

 

DEPLOYMENT OF FOOL-PROOF FUEL DISCHARGE AND USAGE SYSTEM

Presently, the rise in organized theft from fuel storage tanks both onboard trucks and bunkered storage tanks on site, is spurring companies to adopt more drastic fuel management systems that enhance security, automate reporting and control dispensing.

 

The idea is to ensure that good tracking of fuel discharge and usage is firmly entrenched. Proper tracking causes theft to disappear. One sure way is for haulage companies to have fuel dump on site ably managed by certified professionals with which a contractual engagement can be struck. This will ensure that core company’s staffs are exempted from the process of fueling and refueling and thus minimizing collusion and increasing accountability. Data capture software at point of refueling streamlines your accounting with instant accurate data for simple reconciliation. For multi-location users all this information can be delivered to one office via email for immediate reporting. You know when and exactly how much fuel went into each tank. In fact fuel management software can tell you which vehicle, tank, or piece of equipment was filled. You can track each drop of fuel, so you are guaranteed that there will be no un-authorized fill ups and no unexpected delays in fueling.

 

Further attempt can also be explored to have fuel tanks linked to online software that is activated each time the tank is opened.  An alert text message or email can be set up to let you know when each refueling happens. In addition each fuel tank can have an alarm and warning beacon attached which activates if there is an attempted theft. 

 

 

CLOSING REMARK

In conclusion, it must be emphasized that the benefits to both your business and the environment of having an impregnable fuel management strategy in place far outstrip the associated cost of the extra effort and resources required for its deployment. Saving fuel and lowering consumption is not only good for the environment; it decreases demand, and ultimately your cost. The factors that affect diesel prices seem complex and outside the control of all, but an understanding of the basic principles as outlined above can empower the individual haulage company in making the right decisions to gain better control over escalating fuel cost.

 

It is our hope in Haulage Report Now that these nuggets of information would assist some companies if not all in adding tangible value to their business because that is why we are in business.

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