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Fleets warned to keep eyes on fuel basics despite falling prices
Date: 02 December 2013 | Author: Will Stretton
Fleet software specialist Chevin has warned fleets to keep their eyes on the basics of fuel management, despite fuel prices being at their lowest level since 2011.
Although the cost of petrol has fallen to 130.4p a litre and diesel to 137.8p - compared with 133.8p and 140.9p in November 2011, according to the latest figures from the AA - Chevin states that fuel remains the main area where company car and van costs have risen most rapidly since the credit crunch, and that there is a wide variance between best and worst practice.
Managing director Ashley Sowerby said "Among the fleets with which we work, we see a wide range of different results when it comes to fuel management. This is a cost area where some fleets have strong and definite policies, while others have a much more laissez-faire attitude and believe that the issue cannot really be successfully managed.
"Our experience is that the latter is wrong. Diesel and petrol spending is something that very much responds to determined managerial action," continued Sowerby "While we may be going through a period when prices have unexpectedly fallen, this will almost certainly be temporary and they will again increase over time."
As such, Chevin has devised a simple advice plan for fuel cost management.
The plan states that companies should ensure that their drives only make necessary journeys and buy at the cheapest outlets, use a fuel card to check and record spending, utilise vehicles with outstanding fuel consumption figures and low fuel grades; and to continually track and analyse driver and vehicle behaviour to see which drivers or vehicles are falling outside of MPG targets.
Sowerby added: "None of these ideas are particularly innovative but they do require a strong managerial hand. However, if you follow them, you will definitely see results."
