Are you managing your fleet effectively? Until you know exactly where each drop of fuel is going you can’t make any changes to cut consumption. Telematics and data capture technology is available to measure the key operating information. When you know how much fuel each piece of equipment consumes you have real data you can use to make decisions and changes in your day-to-day operations. Things like time spent idling are important to monitor because they cause pollution.
Another solution is considering the use of biodiesel as part of your fuel mix. Biodiesel is a mix of traditional diesel fuel with renewable vegetable oils and rendered fats. If you start by using a B20 blend, (20 per cent biodiesel) you can expect approximately a 15 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. And biodiesel doesn’t require any expensive engine conversion either.
One more point. You can eliminate wasted fuel and pollutants quickly and without any cost by simply educating your drivers and equipment operators. Once they know the effect they’re having on the environment, changes can be made. You can also start a “Green Reward” program for the best operator each month. It builds morale, keeps everyone on track and it’s free to do.
And did I say your new Clean Air Strategy pays you cash back too? Every time you cut wasted fuel it saves you money. If you do some simple math you can calculate how much you will save. You can easily enjoy a 10 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and toxic emissions. Look at your fuel bill for the month. Could you use that 10 per cent for other projects, or would you just use it to cut your bottom line operating expenses?
Now, get back to work. There’s a new economy emerging and we will all be a part of it. And while governments and politicians wrestle with environmental issues, we can move forward building our businesses, saving money and helping improve the air we breathe.
Jack Lee is the president and CEO of 4Refuel Inc. If you have any questions or comments about this article, Jack can be reached online at AskthefuelExpert@4refuel.com.
