4 tips to reduce fleet costs

Reducing fleet costs might seem easier said than done, but with some strategic know-how, a more cost-effective and efficient fleet can become a reality.

Replace older vehicles

Older vehicles guzzle down gas, we already know that much. So, upgrading your vehicles for newer models will help keep fuel efficiency in check. Not only that, keeping older vehicles past their optimal lifecycle can result in excessive maintenance costs and reduced utilisation because the vehicle isn’t performing. We recommend you choose your vehicles based on whole-life costs instead of only reviewing the purchase price. Consider relevant factors, such as initial new vehicle cost, reasonable projected resale value, fuel KPL, planned maintenance and projected repair, and personal use payment.

It’s time to digitise

When driving a heavy vehicle (Hino 700 series), each driver is required to carry and complete a national driver’s work diary. This ensures rest hours are compliant with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and your driver’s fatigue is managed. If done electronically, it also allows you to manage and control labour and activity costs.

This HVNL rule does not apply to all vehicles on the road, and therefore, we encourage all fleet owners to implement a GPS System. Keeping your fleet activities in one centralised web-based location through a platform or app allows you to increase productivity, control labour and fuel costs, improve driver safety and efficiency, and reduce operating expenses.

Regular maintenance

It might seem like a no-brainer that regular scheduled servicing equals an economical vehicle and keeps your truck running  further for longer, but here are some quick tips that you should do yourself to make your trucks run more efficiently.

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For more daily inspections and maintenance tips, refer to your owner’s manual.

Lowering insurance costs

Employing a safety management plan can potentially lower your insurance costs. When you have an accident and safety plan in place, you cut down on lost productivity, vehicle and property damage and, most importantly, you’ll be able to quickly get back on the road again if anything bad should occur.

Here are a few quick tips:

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At the core of it all, creating a more efficient ecosystem and workflow for your fleet comes from setting up a solid plan and being organised. Start with the tips above, and build from there.