3 simple steps to improving van fuel economy
Between the US-inspired discount period from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the run up to Christmas, and the January sales, winter is a busy time for couriers. Brits were set to spend £3billion on Black Friday alone, with over 60% of those purchases made online rather than on the high street.
While consumers are spending, as a delivery businesses you’ll be striving to keep costs low. Follow this guide to improving van fuel economy to ensure cost-effective deliveries throughout the festive season.
Conscious driving
You and your team will be tempted to drive fast to try to complete deliveries as soon as possible. However, driving quickly and braking suddenly uses more fuel which will have you filling up at the pump more often.
Practice conscious driving to make your fuel go further, saving you money and time in the long-run. This includes driving at steady speeds, changing up gears quickly, and braking more smoothly. Reading the road and responding early is the secret to success when it comes to conscious driving.
Route planning
During the ‘festive flood’, your drivers will be at maximum capacity and working to tight schedules. This stressful situation might cause them to ignore route planning, but without this preparation they are likely to double back on themselves and miss shortcuts, thus wasting fuel.
Ensure that the beginning of each day is spent plotting out the shortest and most efficient route for the deliveries. This might be time-consuming, but will make the journey much easier to navigate.
Some delivery businesses use technology to track the movements of their fleet. The data from this software can be used to optimise routes for much quicker day-to-day organisation.
If you usually use a car to courier and have more parcels than you can carry, avoid having to make regular returns to the depot by hiring a van on a short-term basis. You can get 1 day van insurance to cover yourself and the vehicle while you’re behind the wheel.
Regular maintenance
Regular maintenance is important for any vehicle. Without these checks, drivers are at risk of sudden faults occurring which could cause a dangerous situation for themselves and others on the road.
While safety is definitely the main reason for regular maintenance, there is a knock-on cost benefit too. It’s estimated that van drivers and other motorists with very high mileage could save up to £1,000 each year just by getting their vehicle serviced frequently.
This is because vehicles in good condition have a better fuel efficiency, allowing you to get the most out of every drop of fuel.
With just these three simple steps, you can ensure excellent fuel economy for your fleet throughout the season.
