Making fuel go further
Katrina McDonnell, head of speciality fuels and services at Certas Energy, discusses how prudent fuel management can boost efficiency and reduce risk
Recent research from the International Road Transport Union suggests that the global haulage industry has lost over €550bn in revenue as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Facing such a challenge, it’s essential that transport operators can rely on their fuel management solutions to drive more efficient fleets.
A holistic approach to fuel management – taking into account fuel supply, storage, security and monitoring options – is key to unlocking greater purchasing flexibility, reduced risk and total cost of ownership savings.
So how can the right fuel management solutions help fleets go further for less?
Smarter supply
During times of uncertainty, it’s even more crucial that businesses are aware of the options available to secure their fuel as efficiently as possible.
Whether purchasing through fixed payment plans over a defined period, PLATTS-linked pricing or spot buying, ordering fuel in bulk can significantly reduce fuel costs and protect fleets against market volatility.
What’s more, having drivers refuel from a bulk tank at the depot can increase fleet productivity. Refuelling at the depot reduces the need for drivers to leave their route to fill up – losing time queuing for HGV pumps and paying at the kiosk. The result? Maximum fleet efficiency with savings in both time and money.
Many suppliers will offer a range of payment options to spread the cost of the significant investment in a bulk fuel storage tank, for a solution that suits your business.
Some can improve savings by offering the option to include the tank purchase cost within your fuel purchase. This is based on a volume commitment from one to five years, helping transport operators to better manage costs while reaping the savings of a bulk fuel supply.
Further efficiency benefits can be delivered through the use of telemetry systems, which are installed in-tank to monitor fuel levels. Telemetry eliminates the need for costly emergency fuel deliveries, forecasts fuel depletion dates for improved resource planning, and – importantly – supports automated ordering.
Once fuel levels drop below a certain point – 40 per cent, for example – the system will automatically place an order with your fuel supply partner to top up the tank. This frees up time for busy fleet managers as they no longer need to check fuel levels or manually order fuel.
Managing fuel on the go
In some cases, it can be more cost-effective for fleets to consolidate tank capacity and combine bulk fuel deliveries with fuel cards. Fuel cards can offer below the pump prices for drivers refuelling on the go, helping businesses to economise on fuel expenditure and better budget for the week ahead.
Diesel network transfers enable transport businesses to purchase fuel with the same competitive pricing structures as ordering to a tank but with greater flexibility, as drivers are able to collect this pre-purchased fuel from selected forecourts nationwide.
With a Certas Energy fuel card, drivers can refuel at over 3,000 locations across the UK. For added cost savings, drivers can also receive discount when using a Certas Energy fuel card to purchase diesel at any one of their 22 high-speed HGV refuelling sites nationwide.
Stay in control
When taking care of a depot’s bulk fuel supply, there are a number of access management solutions available to give fleet managers peace of mind and control over fuel dispensing.
Security devices such as fobs, locks and key codes keep on-site fuel supply safe from theft by ensuring that only authorised staff can refuel, as well as keeping records of when, where and how much fuel is dispensed.
Telemetry systems add another layer of protection against bulk fuel stock losses. If fuel levels drop suddenly, the telemetry system will send an instant alert – enabling fleet managers to investigate and react quickly to prevent further losses as necessary.
For more control when drivers are on the road, solutions such as Certas Energy ControlMax help businesses to manage fuel card usage more effectively.
These systems allow fleet managers to create a tailored set of rules, including maximum fuel spend in one day, number of transactions per week, maximum transactions and more. This helps businesses to monitor and manage fuel expenditure more effectively as well as helping to prevent losses through fraud.
Keeping track
Without accurate, real-time insights into fuel usage, preventable anomalies may go unnoticed – leading to unnecessary costs that put fleets under additional pressure.
Fuel monitoring systems supply data that enables transport businesses to track when, where and how much fuel is dispensed. These systems can be used to gain vital short and long-term insights to support more informed resource planning decisions.
Generated data can highlight immediate spikes in consumption that may indicate unauthorised usage, and help fleet operators monitor trends and patterns that demonstrate where efficiencies can be made.
Data from fuel cards can also be used to build this bigger picture of fuel visibility. Each fuel card has a unique identifier that isolates individual spend, giving businesses a clear audit trail that allows fleet managers to trace purchases back to individual drivers.
Integration of fuel card data and telematics systems can also provide accurate MPG reporting – giving you total visibility over where driving behaviour training could improve fuel efficiency and safety, as well as reducing spend.
For simple, stress-free fuel management, in most cases it can be easier to work with a single fuel provider.
As your fuel partner, they should understand the unique needs of your business, and work collaboratively with you to support all aspects of fuel management – from product choice and secure storage, to monitoring fuel assets and reducing total cost of ownership.
Covid-19 has been more than a bump in the road for the haulage and logistics sector. But with the right fuel management solutions in place, transport businesses can free up time and resources for an improved business future.
