Fuel consumption is one factor that affects your returns if you run a commercial vehicle business. It represents a massive percentage of your venture’s operating costs. Inefficient fuel consumption can lead to low profit margins. The overall damage to your business is that the overhead expenses create an imbalance that can result in business failure.
As such, ensuring your fleet of vehicles has efficient fuel consumption is vital. Below are some tips on how to improve your commercial vehicle’s efficiency:
1. Leverage Technology
One of the ways you can improve your fuel efficiency is by monitoring your consumption. Luckily, technological advancement can assist you in predicting and monitoring how much your vehicles consume per trip. This way, you can approximate how much you consume on a trip.
Installing technological advancements in your commercial vehicles is beneficial. For instance, exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensors. You can install these sensors if you use diesel vehicles for your commercial vehicle business. They work best with other components like particulate diesel filters and oxidation catalysts. They measure your vehicle’s gas temperature and send signals to the driver, notifying them of a malfunction.
The notification is a warning or an alert on their dashboard. Once they detect the mechanical problems, they send the data to the vehicle’s engine, which regulates its voltage and uses fuel efficiently. The EGT sensor is set to operate at maximum temperatures and has a shorter lifespan than other parts. You can inquire from your mechanic how to test your temp sensor, which is a good practice that guarantees efficient fuel consumption.
2. Planning And Routing
You can also increase fuel efficiency by planning shorter routes. In other words, the longer the distance you need to cover, the more fuel your vehicle consumes. However, you can reduce fuel consumption by implementing some strategic practices.
First, plan your schedules to minimize the number of trips you need to make. Secondly, consolidate several deliveries if they’re in the same direction. Thirdly, install telematic systems to assist your drivers in navigating along shorter routes, hence reducing the miles they need to cover.
Strategic planning and routing ensure you avoid heavy traffic roads. Remember, traffic jams increase your engine’s idle time and waste fuel. Additionally, set company policies and regulations on suitable routes for your drivers. You can install dash cams in your vehicles to monitor their implementation.
3. Service Your Vehicles
Your fleet requires regular maintenance to operate smoothly. Thus, it’s recommended to ensure regular vehicle maintenance and services. Below are some tips on vehicle maintenance and servicing:
- Ensuring The Quality Of Fuel: Low-quality fuel is a disaster waiting to strike. It can lead to rust in your tanks. Remember, contaminated fuel can result in engine failure. When this happens, you need to replace your engine, which can be costly. Therefore, it’s best to use quality fuel for your fleet.
- Check Your Tires: Monitoring your tire pressure is vital. Additionally, factors like wheel alignment play a significant part in fuel consumption. As such, it’s best to ensure your wheels are correctly aligned to reduce rolling resistance. You’d also want to use high-quality tires for your vehicles as this improves the vehicle’s performance while on the road. While buying the tires, avoid recalled tires. In most cases, they contain defects.
- Fluid And Oil Inspection: Ensure your brake fluids are regularly checked and replenished. It helps you avoid brake failure, which could lead to accidents.
Regular maintenance and vehicle services are a future-proof strategy to ensure business continuity. Faulty parts can significantly increase fuel consumption.
4. Optimize Your Vehicle Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics studies how gases move in solid objects, such as vehicles. Most car manufacturers modify them so that air can flow effortlessly. When the aerodynamics are better, the vehicle has better acceleration, stability, handling, speed, and fuel efficiency.
To ensure that the vehicle’s aerodynamics are optimized, add a roof spoiler and deflectors which reduce fuel consumption at high speeds. However, external accessories like bulb lights, top bars, and air horns can affect the airflow if not fitted properly, which results in extra fuel consumption. Above all, consider vehicles with a better-streamlined shape, a low frontal area, and fewer body openings.
5. Regulate Your Speed
Speed plays a significant role in fuel economies of scale. Vehicles at low speeds use less fuel because there is little strain on the engine. When not accelerating, the fuel stops getting into the combustion chambers.
Also, driving on smooth terrain consumes less fuel than driving downhill or uphill. The engine needs more power to bring the vehicle uphill, which makes the vehicle use more fuel. When driving uphill, the driver should accelerate slowly. On the other hand, while coasting, the foot should be off the gas pedal.
Conclusion
Improving your commercial vehicles’ fuel efficiency is critical to improving your business operations. Take note of the tips suggested above on improving fuel efficiency. Work with professionals if you install any components to monitor and regulate fuel consumption. Also, be informed about the accessories you choose for your vehicles to avoid increasing fuel consumption.
