Fuel cards: the key to optimal fuel management
Reece Hampton, fleet specialist at Certas Energy, examines the financial, efficiency and sustainability gains that can be realised through fuel cards
The transport industry is in the midst of unprecedented change, with supply chain disruption, rising inflation, labour shortages and decarbonisation among the top issues facing the sector today.
Although some of these pressure points are beyond businesses’ control, there are tools that fleets can use to offset some fuel-related market challenges. Fuel cards are one such solution, offering a convenient and smart way to improve financial forecasting, enhance fuel efficiency and streamline operations.
With fuel accounting for up to 35 per cent of fleet operating costs, optimal fuel management through fuel card adoption is a viable route to balancing productivity with profitability.
Mitigating price volatility and optimising fuel visibility
For fleet companies, successful cost control is pivotal to profitability. Fuel cards can offer significant cash flow benefits for businesses, due to more stable fuel pricing and fuel visibility. As fuel costs are not as impacted by external market fluctuations, businesses can more effectively forecast future outgoings.
The Certas Energy fuel card offers fixed, weekly pricing, Platts-linked pricing and discounts on diesel purchases at Certas Energy refuelling sites nationwide. As an added value, at many of these sites the stable pricing system extends to other products, including AdBlue and gas oil.
The cards can also be seamlessly integrated with telematics systems, which can identify opportunities for better fuel management and further cost savings. FuelTrace, Certas Energy’s integrated telematics solution, is designed to work alongside the Certas Energy fuel card.
It can help improve fuel usage, by tracking vehicle movements in real time and allocating jobs based on proximity to location, as well as reduce accidents, due to automatic defect and maintenance reporting and driver behaviour monitoring. Furthermore, fuel cards alleviate the administrative burden, thanks to streamlined back-office processes, with associated cost savings.
Minimising downtime
When margins are tight, keeping the wheels turning is vital. Certas Energy fuel card holders have access to an extensive network of refuelling stations, with cards accepted at over 3,600 sites nationwide, including a vast number of HGV refuelling stations, supermarkets, and 24-hour sites.
Certas Energy also offers almost 30 specialist high-speed HGV refuelling bunker sites, as well as a number of LCV/LGV refuelling locations. These HGV sites enable refuelling at up to 120 litres per minute, compared to 40-60 litres per minute at a standard motorway forecourt, saving crucial time and maximising efficiency.
With an integrated telematics solution, drivers can also gain access to real-time information, fuel card-friendly forecourts and high-speed refuelling sites along their chosen route, to avoid costly and time-consuming diversions.
Fuel card users can also access a Snap account as an added value service. Snap enables HGV operators, managers and drivers to use cashless transactions across the Certas Energy bunker network. The innovative payment system reduces costs, saves time, and streamlines fleet operations, and also helps to ensure drivers and fuel are safe out on the road by avoiding the need for last minute, unplanned, or risky stops.
Increasing fuel security
Fuel cards can help boost fuel security, due to a combination of complete fleet visibility, usage restrictions, and cashless and paperless systems. The Certas Energy fuel card offers fuel card identifiers, spend limits and controls based on business requirements.
They are also PIN protected to prevent misuse in the event of a card being stolen. This provides added security and peace of mind for fleet managers.
Keeping your sustainability goals on track
CarbonTrace is an emissions monitoring system designed to help fleets track the carbon footprint of fuel purchased with the Certas Energy fuel card. CarbonTrace tracks the volume of fuel purchased and automatically calculates the amount of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases that are produced by burning the fuel.
Developed to comply with emissions reporting requirements under ESOS and SECR regulations, CarbonTrace can help larger fleets avoid fines of up to £50,000. Certas Energy works with leading offsetting organisations to invest 10 per cent of all income from the CarbonTrace scheme into high-quality carbon reduction projects worldwide. All projects are independently verified and certified against Verified Carbon Standards (VCS) – a globally recognised benchmark for carbon offsetting.
Kickstarting your fleet’s energy transition
As part of Certas Energy’s commitment to helping fleets begin their journey to net zero, fuel card customers can now access drop-in diesel alternatives, including Shell GTL Fuel and most recently, renewable diesel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – HVO).
HVO is a drop-in diesel alternative that offers a cleaner way to fuel fleets, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent with no engine modifications required. As well as fuelling its own 900-strong tanker fleet with the low carbon diesel alternative, Certas Energy is bringing the renewable diesel fuel to a selection of its refuelling sites. This move makes Certas Energy the first in the UK to offer HVO fuel to HGV fuel card users at the pump.
Steering you towards a successful future
Improving productivity and keeping costs low are always high on agenda – not least in the current economic climate. Fuel cards can offer businesses a myriad of benefits, from direct and indirect costs savings to significant efficiency gains, helping operators optimise spend and accelerate their sustainability objectives.
As a trusted fuel partner of the logistics industry, Certas Energy has the requisite expertise, industry insight, and service solutions to support UK businesses as they navigate the evolving landscape and drive their fleets forward into the future.
