Fighting fuel costs
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This month we also asked operators to review how they address their fuel costs. We offered 13 responses to the question: “which of the following measures are you using to control or reduce fuel consumption?” Respondents could tick as many as were relevant.
Echoing the last time we asked this question (CM 9 June 2011), the most popular initiative taken was checking that tyre pressures are at their optimum level: 65% of respondents said they use this method (a fall from 85% a year ago).
For the record, here’s how popular the other measures are: ● lift redundant axles off the road – 55%; ● regularly train drivers in fuel-efficient driving – 54%; ● invest in routeing and telematics technology – 42%; ● set air deflectors properly – 38%; ● ensure close coupling of tractor and trailer – 33%; ● run with no clutter/bling on truck’s exterior – 31%; ● use synthetic oil – 31%; ● limit motorway speed limit to 52mph – 24%; ● run aerodynamic trailers – 20%; ● run double-deck trailers – 8%; Among the worrying statistics are: 8% of respondents said they are not taking any measures to control or reduce fuel consumption (how scary is that?); and 46% are not regularly training their drivers in fuel-efficient driving.
Both own-account operators and logistics and contract distribution firms are considerably more likely to be using routeing and telematics technology (49% and 55% respectively) than hire and reward hauliers (25%).
And own-account operators are more likely to be training drivers than hire and reward hauliers: 66% of the former in contrast to the latter’s 42%.