For years consumers enjoyed inexpensive gasoline. Drivers would fill their cars at the pump and not worry about how much a barrel of crude was going for at the moment. Today the price of gasoline has almost tripled and is still rising. “We buy gas in a very different manner than everything else,” said HIS Global Insight economist Chris Christopher. “It is a very visible transaction. You go to the tank and squeeze, and (see) the cost go higher and higher.”
Car owners are trading in their luxury vehicles for compact cars with smaller gas tanks, and sanitation departments in many cities have cut back on the number of days they pick up trash. Everyone is feeling the pressure. Spending must be trimmed, but the question is: How?
The Problem
The taxi and trucking industries, which provide nationwide transportation (of people and goods), are affected the most by rising gas prices. These companies spend an average of several hundred dollars per week, per truck on gasoline, and this amount continues to rise.
In situations like this the customers are usually the ones who eventually absorb the increase. However, some companies are determined not to burden their customers with any additional charges. For these companies the solution is an obvious one: it’s time to create a cost-effective business plan, the high-tech way.
“Compared to this time last year we’re spending about $500 more a week on gasoline,” said Robert Crawley, owner of Robert’s Coffee and Vending Service, which operates a fleet of about 20 delivery trucks and service vehicles. “So far, we’ve absorbed the expense and haven’t had to pass it along to our customers.”
The Solution
Fleet tracking software is an option that many companies are considering. The software offers great advantages for fleet companies looking to save money, time and gas. Companies can configure quicker routes for their drivers and minimize delays. There is always a shorter way to get to point A to point B, and with this software, fleet operators will be able to find it.
The software provides the latest features in fleet management: mapping properties, team management options, fuel efficiency modules, satellite imageries, 2-way messaging and route optimization. All of these advance features work together with GPS technology to enhance their company’s travel time and save money during the process.
The fuel efficiency module displays and monitors real time gas levels for each truck, as well as how much fuel each truck has consumed. Owners control drivers’ expenditures and only allow them access to the amount of gas they need for each trip. When this feature is used in harmony with the fleet, driver and team management tool owners can expect to see a huge savings and increase in the amount of money they normally spend on fuel.
Whether you are a fleet operator or a consumer who uses the services of companies that use vehicle fleets, the advantages of fleet management software are obvious. By cutting unnecessary vehicle use, companies not only save money and are able to pass those savings onto customers, but they are lessening their impact on the environment, making this a win-win situation for all involved.