The world is becoming increasingly green. This infectious drive towards eco-friendliness and sustainability has put the transport and logistics sector under the spotlight with the expectation of seeing reduced emission levels.

For fleet owners, one of the best ways to embark on the route to zero emissions is by using greener fuels.

Benefits of Using Green Fuels for Your Fleet

The benefits of green fleet management go beyond saving the environment. In a nutshell, they include:

Reduced business costs

While it’s true that a greener fuel program might come with steep upfront costs, this is mitigated if you’re using fleet rental and transportation services.

Your business can enjoy a higher return on investment through low-level fuel consumption and cheaper operating costs.

Reduced Emissions

Traditional fuels like diesel and petrol equate to more emissions and greater environmental impact. Fortunately, fleet managers can reduce emissions by switching to a greener fuel program.

For example, research shows that EVs are more competitive than internal combustion vehicles when it comes to lower energy consumption and emissions. Besides transitioning to a fleet of electric vehicles, including hybrid or plug-in EVs, fleet managers can explore alternative fuels like propane and natural gas where possible.

Better Brand Attractiveness

Implementing a green fuel program may improve your business’s ability to attract eco-conscious customers. The number of eco-conscious customers is likely to keep growing amidst intensifying concerns about the negative environmental impact of vehicles.

If your company is taking tangible steps towards a greener fleet, this helps reduce vehicle emissions and air pollution, thus promoting healthier communities – a huge selling point.

Are There Any Challenges Associated With Using Alternative Fuels?

Transitioning to a greener fleet has many impressive benefits but has its fair share of challenges. For starters, this requires a big adjustment, so it’s not an overnight process. For example, a complete transition to using environmentally-friendly fuels for your fleet can take years.

In addition, you should be prepared to meet the somewhat high investment costs while having the patience to reap the rewards later. You also have to navigate gaps in the availability of specialized infrastructure, such as EV charging stations. That said, it’s a worthy trade-off considering the significant financial benefits and the big win for climate change.

Questions to Ask Your Commercial Truck Leasing and Maintenance Provider

Are you determined to transition to eco-friendly fuels for your fleet? The right commercial truck leasing and maintenance service can help you achieve your sustainability goals quickly and easily. Here are a few questions to ask to ensure your company and service provider are both on the same page.

• Do you have the right vehicles for the job? – Choosing the right cleaner-fuel vehicles is essential. Your procurement choices should take into account the intended usage and operation. Factors like cost, environmental criteria, standardized specifications, safety concerns, and maintenance and repair requirements. 
• How best can I reduce the costs of running a green fleet? – It never hurts to maximize the financial benefits of a green fuel program. This can be done by taking advantage of fleet maintenance services to reduce downtime and repairs. In addition, it helps to upgrade to newer models with better technology and infrastructure.
• What other value-added services do you offer? – A full-service truck fleet leasing provider can help you manage and maintain a greener fuel program effectively. Whether you’re looking for preventive maintenance, vehicle branding, or repairs, these value-added services ensure a smoother and more profitable transition to greener fuel usage.

Get Started With Your Transition to a Green Fleet

At Efficiency Truck Fleet Leasing, we are here to help you make a clean switch to greener fuels. We understand your need to reduce the environmental impact of your operations while keeping things profitable.

Our portfolio of offerings is designed to meet your unique fleet needs. If you’re ready to kickstart your greener fuel program, get in touch with Efficiency today, so we can do it together.

Implementing a greener fuel program for your commercial fleet can provide a range of benefits. However, it can also present some challenges and requires careful planning and management.

Let’s explore the benefits and challenges of using alternative fuels in a fleet setting and learn some strategies for effectively implementing a greener fuel program, so you can start going greener today.

Benefits of Implementing a Greener Fuel Program

Many alternative fuels, including electric, biodiesel, and hydrogen, produce less harmful emissions than traditional fossil fuels. This can help to reduce the negative impacts of transportation, such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Using alternative fuels can also provide financial benefits. Many alternative fuels, such as electricity and hydrogen, have lower fuel costs compared to traditional fossil fuels. This can result in lower operating costs for your fleet, as well as savings for your customers.

Using greener fuels can also help a company to meet its sustainability goals and improve its reputation. As consumers and stakeholders become increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of vehicles, companies that make an effort to reduce their carbon footprint may be seen as more responsible and attractive to customers and investors.

Challenges of Implementing a Greener Fuel Program

One of the main challenges is the availability of alternative fuel infrastructure. Many alternative fuels, such as electric and hydrogen, require specialized fueling or charging infrastructure, which may not be widely available in all areas. This can make implementing a green fuel program difficult if the necessary infrastructure is not in place.

A major challenge for fleet managers is the upfront cost of transitioning to alternative fuels. Alternative fuels can save money over the long run, but the initial investment can be substantial. If fleet managers are lacking funding or financial resources, this may be a barrier to implementing green fuel programs.

How to Effectively Manage and Maintain a Greener Fuel Program

To effectively manage and maintain a fleet using greener fuels, there are a few key strategies to consider:

• Conduct a feasibility study: Assess the viability of different fuel options for your business by analyzing each fuel type’s costs, benefits, and challenges. You should also create an assessment of the necessary infrastructure and vehicle modifications.
• Build a plan and budget: It is important to develop a detailed plan and budget for implementing the green fuel program, including a timeline for transitioning to alternative fuels, as well as a budget for purchasing new vehicles or fuel storage systems, if necessary.
• Communicate with customers: If your business serves customers who are also interested in sustainability, it is important to communicate your green fuel program to them to build trust and loyalty. Showcasing your commitment to environmental responsibility is a plus, too. 
• Train employees: It is important to provide training for your employees to ensure that they are familiar with the new fuel systems and able to properly operate and maintain the vehicles. This may involve providing training on new technologies and information on how to properly handle and store the fuels. 
• Monitor and evaluate performance: It’s important to regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of the vehicles and the fuel systems. This can help to identify any issues or problems that need to be addressed, as well as opportunities for improvement.

There are many benefits to adopting a greener fuel program for your fleet, including reduced emissions, reduced costs, and greater sustainability. However, it also presents some challenges, which can be overcome with careful planning and management. If you want to promote your company as a green leader, transitioning to greener fuels for your fleet of vehicles is a great way to start. Let’s talk about the most efficient options for your company. Contact Efficiency today!

For businesses that rely on their fleets for generating income, the reality of ever-increasing fuel prices is having a major impact on daily operations. It makes it very hard to plan ahead to ensure the survival of the firm. That is why an increasing number of fleets are switching to telematics and fleet management solutions to track and reduce fuel consumption.

The Impact Of Fuel Consumption On Running Costs 

According to data published by the American Transportation Research Institute in its 2020 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking study, fuel on average represents 24% of a modern fleet’s MOC or marginal operating costs. To express this in a different way: if the fuel price increases by $0.50 per gallon, it will increase the running costs of an average truck by no less than $7,000 per year. If you have a fleet of 15 trucks, that equates to more than $100,000 a year.

The Increasing Importance Of Sustainability 

One more reason to take fuel consumption very seriously is that sustainability has become very important when shippers have to make a decision about the carriers they partner with. More and more of them want to know what a carrier is doing to reduce its fleet’s fuel consumption before accepting it as part of the team. 

It’s not difficult to understand why. The transport industry is one of the 6 biggest sources of dangerous greenhouse gasses in the world and accounts for around 28.9% of all global emissions. And there is a direct link between the amount of carbon dioxide a vehicle emits and its fuel consumption.

To quote just one example: according to EPA data, the average passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the course of a year. That equates to 404 grams of carbon dioxide for every mile driven. The disturbing reality is, however, that the average freight truck emits no less than 161.8 grams of carbon dioxide when transporting cargo weighing one ton for one mile. A truck carrying 10 tons will, therefore, emit 1.618 kg of CO2 for every mile driven.

Against this background, a company that is able to show that it has a successful program in place to reduce fuel consumption will undoubtedly have a better chance of getting (and keeping) business.

Improving Fuel Consumption Benefits The Community

The reason why we can safely say this is because a drop in air pollution from the transportation industry helps to improve air quality for everyone who finds themselves on or near major roads all day long. Breathing less polluted air will reduce their likelihood of getting sick and could eventually help them to lead longer, healthier lives.

Reducing Fuel Consumption Can Extend The Lifespan Of Your Vehicles

A fleet that uses less fuel also enjoys another benefit: it will help to make the existing vehicles last longer and experience fewer breakdowns. One of the biggest reasons why a fleet might experience excessive fuel consumption is because the drivers are driving unnecessarily long distances. By properly planning trips, these distances can often be reduced significantly. This will not only reduce fuel usage, but it will also reduce the wear and tear on the vehicles in your fleet, cut down on repair costs, and extend the lifetime of the vehicles.

7 Things That Can Help Reduce Your Fleet’s Fuel Consumption 

– Optimize vehicle speed

– Start using tires with a lower rolling resistance

– Use tools that will help cut down idle time

– Educate drivers on fuel savings techniques and reward those who follow them

– Make sure that vehicles and equipment are properly maintained

– Use the right trailer aerodynamics

– Make sure that you use the correct axle configurations

Want to learn more tips for managing your fleet? Let Efficiency Enterprises help! Contact Us today!

When deciding on which type of truck to use in your business, it’s important to know how your equipment stacks up against the alternative. Here are five points that might help you see the differences between diesel and gasoline trucks, and help you make cost-effective choices for your business.

Power. The first obvious benefit is that diesel engines have more torque at low revolutions per minute. When hauling heavy loads for long distances, getting that load moving from a full stop requires a lot of energy. As noted by Motor Trend Magazine: “Because of the relatively high compression ratio necessary to ignite the diesel fuel (17:1 diesel versus 9:1 gas), a diesel makes all its torque and power low in the rev range.” This makes a diesel truck much more efficient in transporting your cargo.

That high compression ratio leads to benefit number two: fuel efficiency. According to the National Academy of Sciences, Energy, and Medicine: “On a volume basis, diesel has a higher energy content, called heat of combustion, and higher carbon content than gasoline; thus, on a per gallon basis diesel produces almost 15 percent more [energy].” This can help offset differences in cost at the pump when added to the power gains listed above and to the third benefit on our list, which is:

Better fuel economy. A diesel engine can be 25 to 35 percent more fuel efficient than a gasoline engine of comparable size. This is due to the higher energy density and thermal efficiency of diesel fuel, as well as to the fact that diesel engines work at lower RPMs than gasoline engines. This in turn leads to our fourth benefit.

Due both to the efficiency of the fuel and the tougher construction of the engine itself, diesel engines are more reliable than comparable gasoline engines. The engine parts that handle fuel combustion are made stronger than those of gas engines to handle higher compression requirements. This makes breakdowns less frequent. In turn, this helps keep schedules, saves money on labor costs and reimbursements due to stranded drivers and repair delays, helps assure deliveries are completed promptly, and generally removes complications both for truck owners and renters.

The Environmental Side
The final perk provided by diesel trucks is safety. Diesel fuel is combustible at a much higher temperature, and thus far less volatile, than gasoline. The engines don’t ignite the fuel by sparking it, but by compressing the fuel until it ignites. Stored fuel is less of a safety hazard, and trucks using this fuel are safer in the event of an accident, even an accident that results in some fuel spillage. This means that nearby vehicles and facilities where trucks are parked are at a lower risk of collateral damage.

In addition, diesel fuel does not need toxic additives to prevent engine knock, since diesel engines do not use a spark plug system to ignite the fuel. Many gasoline-fueled trucks of comparable capabilities can require 100 octane fuel, and much of this fuel is still using a lead additive. Modern diesel engines also require DEF (diesel exhaust fluid), which removes nitrous oxide from the exhaust stream of the truck. The truck itself doesn’t mechanically require the DEF, but modern trucks are equipped with a regulator switch which requires that the DEF system is filled before the truck can be operated, ensuring that emissions are controlled. This means diesel trucks are much less environmentally harmful than gasoline-fueled trucks on a relative basis.

We hope that this list of advantages helps in your decision-making process. If you need help with your fleet growth or vehicle acquisitions let Efficiency do the heavy lifting for you! Contact us today.

Diesel fuel is far more economic than gasoline when utilized properly. On a fundamental level, it packs more of a “punch” per gallon than gasoline does. There is one exception to this; those who more frequently drive inner-city will not benefit from diesel, even when these tips are used to their fullest potential.

Categorically, there are two main principles to adhere to if you want to save as much money on diesel fuel as you possibly can. One is equipment maintenance and the other is user-consciousness.

Equipment Maintenance

No matter what you drive, you should always be sure to check your equipment frequently to ensure that the vehicle is running as efficiently as possible. To maximize your fuel economy, you’ll want to be certain to keep an eye on some specific details.

• Tire Pressure & Tread

At first glance, it may not seem like something as menial as a few PSI can make a difference in your fuel economy but over a distance and period, it will become apparent.

Low tire pressures cause your tires to spread their surface area wider, subsequently gripping more of the road, causing your vehicle to have to work harder to pull itself.

The same concept governs the reason you wouldn’t want the wrong tread on your tires. If you drive in warm climates but equip your vehicle with tread designed for winter conditions, this can cause a noticeable drop in fuel economy.

• Suspension

If something doesn’t feel quite as it should as you drive, there’s a fair chance that you’re right. Something as subtle as a pull to one side can mean the difference in saving money or burning it up.

User-Consciousness 

It’s not always easy to make discernable choices that will benefit a specific aspect of your vehicle. However, if some of these simple tips can be made into habits, you’ll see a noteworthy jump in your overall fuel economy.

• Resist The Air Conditioner

This is one of those hard habits to break. You start to feel a little toasty and instinct kicks in for you to crank up the AC. The only issue is that air conditioning can affect your fuel efficiency far more than you might realize.

This isn’t to say that if it’s over a hundred degrees you should force yourself to suffer a heat stroke for a few extra MPG. Simply be mindful of the instinct to overuse the AC.

• Slow Acceleration

Make an effort to gain speed at a slower pace. It’s okay to have time between your gear shifts, you’re not racing anyone on the express way. Punching your throttle can drastically eat away at your fuel efficiency. Sacrifice the little bit of excitement you feel when powering through gears; your vehicle will thank you.

• Cruise Control

This is one of the single greatest innovations in automotive technology since antilock braking systems. For long-distance driving, you want to fluctuate your speed as minimally as possible. Therefore, cruise control can help alleviate the need for you to focus too hard on your speeds.

Be mindful of your attentiveness while utilizing cruise control, however. Taking that one task away from your conscious mind can be a slippery slope into becoming complacent behind the wheel.

• Turn The Vehicle Off

Contrary to popular belief, unless you’re stopping for less than a minute, it doesn’t pay to leave the vehicle running. The longer your vehicle is running, the more fuel economy you’re losing.

• Shore Power

When stopping for the evening or taking breaks at truck stops, use their 120v hookups and turn off your engine. If you have any electronic appliances or anything else that runs on a 120v, that is more than enough of a reason to use the shore power feature.

• Lower Your Average Speed

Every mile per hour over fifty-five that you average will cost you in fuel economy. Sure you want to save time but if fuel is any concern to you whatsoever, then it’s a valuable piece of information to have.

• Stop Less

The less you have to come to complete stops, the more you save on fuel. This can translate in many ways, from anticipating traffic lights to following those vehicles in front of you at a wide distance.

Any amount of complete stops you can shave from your trip will save you valuable fuel economy.

• It’s All Downhill

Similar to the idea of not hammering the throttle or forcing your vehicle to overwork; when you stop at truck stops or anywhere else for that matter, stop at the crest of hills if you can help it.

This helps you to alleviate unneeded throttling because you can coast to regain much-needed momentum so that you can get up to speed without using the throttle.

Less throttle = better fuel economy!

Harsh winter conditions and frigid temperatures are hard on vehicles, especially fleet vehicles which spend hours on the road. To help avoid repairs and costly downtime during winter, you need to ready your fleet for winter in the following ways.

Pay Close Attention to the Tires

Cold temperatures affect tire pressure as it causes tires to deflate. If unnoticed, deflated tires will adversely affect the tire’s durability, fuel economy and pose a threat to overall safety. Therefore, you need to keep tabs on the tires to minimize these risks.

Besides, the freezing temperature during winter causes rubber compounds in tires to harden. Since tires are made of rubber, they become less effective in gripping the road.

As part of tire preparation, rotate the tires and set reminders to keep rotating them. Consider switching from rib tread to lug tread tires to enjoy better stability and vehicle handling to drive smoothly on challenging roads. Additionally, install valve caps on the tires to avoid ice and build-up on the tires.

Change to Winterized Fuel and Protect Your Brakes

A major complaint during winter is vehicles that don’t start when the temperature goes below zero. Fortunately, you can make use of winterized fuel which operates at extremely low temperatures. You can also make use of a special additive package to increase horsepower and reduce fuel costs.

Brakes are also crucial for highway safety, especially during winter. With snow on the roads, the road gets slippery and needs your brakes to be optimally functioning. Check on your brakes and the brake chamber for any tears or signs of corrosion. Consult your mechanic and ask them to add some lubricant to the brake adjusters for reliable stopping power.

Frequently Service Your Fleet and Check Fluids

Cold weather can damage the wearable components of your trucks. Therefore, during winter, you need to be proactive about your fleet maintenance. Frequently check on brake pads, worn belts, and hoses to catch problems in time and avoid expensive repairs. You should also check the glow plug operation for diesel trucks.

Pay close attention to your vehicle’s fluid levels. Since engine oils are not the same, using the wrong oil, especially during winter, can result in excessive engine wear. Besides, heavy oils tend to be highly viscous in cold weather, thus don’t offer the same lubrication as in warm weather.

Therefore, for an easy fleet startup, consider using full-synthetic oil with low viscosity that can operate effectively under different temperatures. As a fleet rental service, you can consult us for recommendations on the best cold-weather fluids to use.

Why You Need to Prepare Your Fleet

Since vehicles are manufactured to survive harsh weather conditions, why should you get your fleet ready for winter? Winter comes with extremely harsh conditions, and ignoring preparation tips means you will be risking antifreeze failure, breakdowns, and low tire traction, which can cause accidents and losses.

Preparing your fleet for winter is important because, first, it saves you money. Although you will spend money getting your fleet ready for winter, it will help save money you would have otherwise spent making repairs or paying for accidents you could have avoided with proper procedures.

Second, preparing for winter helps preserve car tires. Tires are expensive, and it is essential to enhance the durability of your current tires. Besides, failing to take care of car tires during winter could also affect your vehicle’s alignment, causing more inconveniences.

Lastly, preparation helps your fleet remain safe with minimal chances of damage and loss. You wouldn’t want to lose merchandise during transportation. You can avoid this by ensuring your fleet is ready for the harsh winter conditions.

With the above tips, you can easily take care of your fleet during winter. Contact Efficiency today for all of your fleet needs.

One of the simplest ways you can improve the amount of profit your business makes is to reduce the amount of money you spend on fuel each year. Spending a lot of money on fuel can have a huge negative impact on your business if you operate a fleet of vehicles. Fortunately, there are some simple strategies that you can implement to ensure that you don’t end up spending too much on fuel. Read on to find out how you can cut your fleet’s fuel costs with these four easy steps.

Cut Your Fleet’s Fuel Costs by Improving Driver Behavior

The way your driver moves has a serious impact on how much fuel your trucks use. For instance, if they drive at excessive speeds, brake harshly, and gun off after stopping at traffic lights, the trucks will consume a lot of fuel. This means you must invest in training your drivers and ensuring that they understand the importance of fuel-efficient driving techniques. This will not only help you to save money on fuel, but it can also help keep the drivers, pedestrians, and other motorists safe on the roads.

There are several Energy Saving Trust-approved eco-driving courses that your drivers can take so they understand how to drive properly. Research shows that trained drivers can help you save up to 6% over time, about 15% on the day a driver is trained.

Avoid Unnecessary Idling

Research shows that idling vehicles for prolonged periods is a practice that wastes fuel unnecessarily. Even though it seems like only a small amount of fuel is wasted when trucks idle, these amounts accumulate over time, and the wasted expenses can quickly add up, especially at the fleet level resulting in significant losses.

To avoid unnecessary idling, you must train your drivers to switch off their engines if they know they will be parking for a while. It is also important that they don’t overdo it because research also shows trucks that are started many times a day also consume a lot of fuel. If the stop is going to be prolonged, turning off the engine will have more benefits than just saving fuel. There will be less engine wear as well. Nowadays, you can use telematics software to let drivers know when they should switch off their trucks after shifting into park.

Set Speed Limits for Your Drivers

Speeding is a practice that wastes a lot of fuel, and it can also be quite dangerous. Research done by the UMTRI shows that truck drivers who move at high speeds waste a lot of fuel, and sometimes a truck’s fuel efficiency can be cut by as much as 30%. Therefore, it is important to set speed restrictions for your drivers to improve fuel efficiency and reduce safety risks.

Just like with idling, you can also use GPS fleet tracking and telematics to monitor driver speed and alert drivers when they should slow down and drive within the speed limits. There are also software options that can generate reports to indicate which drivers are driving too fast.

Stick to a Preventative Vehicle Maintenance Schedule

One of the things that are most associated with high fuel consumption is tire pressure. This is because a truck requires more power to accelerate when it’s running on deflated tires. This is why you must perform regular checks and take a proactive approach when it comes to maintaining your trucks. There are a lot of factors that can be ironed out, resulting in better performance and reduced fuel consumption.

By practicing the tips listed in this article, you can greatly reduce your fleet’s fuel consumption and improve your bottom line. Little things like tire pressure can seem like they won’t affect your business too much, but it’s those things that can affect your profitability.

Let Efficiency Enterprises help handle your fleet concerns; learn more about becoming a fleet management partner today.

Figuring out whether you should lease or own your commercial truck fleet can be a tricky choice. Some choose to mix both options, but some would rather pick one. Many factors come into play when making such a decision. Take a look at the pros and cons of leasing vs. buying trucks to help you decide what makes the most sense for your business.