The high cost of gas is expected to continue to have a major impact on business operating expenses in 2011. Truck fleets will be feeling the most pain at the pump, since the cost of a gallon of diesel is predicted to remain higher than unleaded gasoline. Higher fuel prices will have a domino effect on increasing prices for other oil-based products, such as replacement tires.
Fleet management is looking at technology, tires, vehicle maintenance, and downtime to find ways to cut costs. One of the best ways to cut fuel costs is with a GPS vehicle tracking and fleet management system.
BLS Trucking installed a GPS vehicle tracking system in its entire fleet of approximately 200 diesel trucks in 2008. By eliminating unauthorized use and unnecessary idling time, BLS Trucking saved $188,539 in fuel consumption during the first year alone, amounting to more than $900 in savings per vehicle.
The vehicle tracking system helped to put an end to employees doing things they weren’t supposed to be doing, like taking vehicles home after work and taking side jobs during the day. This helped to cut fuel costs because employees could no longer make personal trips on the company’s dime.
The GPS vehicle tracking system sends instant alerts to a fleet manager’s cell phone when a truck is speeding, operating outside a certain area, or idling too long. Any time a truck idles for more than 30 minutes, the fleet management system sends out an email and a text message.
Since installing the vehicle tracking system in its trucks, BLS trucking has experienced only one vehicle theft, and the system helped recover the vehicle within 24 hours.
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