The price of fuel is once again on the rise causing yet more number crunching for fleet operators looking to keep a lid on costs. Earlier this year, market watchers had predicted that fuel prices had bottomed out and were now on the rise again. 

As pump prices continue to tick upwards, it once again puts the issue of fuel costs firmly back on the agenda for those who operate the fleets that are the powerhouse behind the economy and physical operations.

Fuel costs are a top priority for fleets 

Last year, Samsara found that reducing costs (94%) and making fleet operations more efficient (83%) were among the top priorities for fleet managers in the UK. The report — The Road Ahead — found that fuel costs (41%) topped the list of key concerns. 

But the report also explained how fleets were turning to technology to help reduce costs, identify waste and make their operations more streamlined and efficient. 

“Connected telematics can reduce fuel waste in areas such as unnecessary engine idling and aggressive driving,” explained the report. “Even small changes in driver behaviour can deliver significant cost savings when multiplied across a fleet.”

And it’s not just in the UK that fleet managers are turning to connected operations to improve efficiency. 

In France, Be My Bus by Darbier —  a coach business based near Orléan south of Paris — is acutely aware of the impact fuel prices have on its finances. That’s why it uses Samsara’s platform to help promote less aggressive and more responsible driving.

"Samsara’s cloud platform and dash cams have allowed us to deploy an eco-driving programme involving all employees,” said Paulo Da Cunha, Research & Methods Manager at the firm. 

“The figures speak for themselves: on average, our drivers have reduced their individual fuel consumption by two to three litres per 100 km, which represents a saving of up to 45,000 litres per year for the company."

Data is helping to drive efficiency across Europe

The same is true for Transport Rivals, a transport and logistics company based near Toulouse. 

"All the data provided by Samsara is very useful in understanding the day-to-day lives of our drivers and what needs to be improved,” said CEO Eric Rivals. 

“We can identify the best driving practices and apply them across the organisation, which not only helps to reduce the number of accidents but also our fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, with an average reduction of one litre/100 km,” he said.

In Germany, Hamburg-based Arte Logistik — a strong player in last-mile logistics — is totally committed to using data to help improve the efficiency of its fleet. From compliance to safety, it uses data-fueled insights to drive its operational performance. And that includes keeping a lid on fuel costs.

“With the help of Samsara, we have reduced the fuel consumption of the entire fleet by around 0.69 litres per 100 km,” said Julian Gumz from Arte Logistik's Operations Fleet Control Center. “With an annual mileage of around nine million kilometres, this means a considerable fuel saving of around 64,000 litres or €92,800 per year." 

Driving efficiency also means identifying fraud

But Samsara’s technology doesn’t just help to tackle unnecessary engine idling and improve eco-driving. In some cases, it has identified fraud and the theft of fuel.   

“We didn’t realise we even had a problem with fuel theft,” said one Samsara customer who asked not to be named. “We noticed that some drivers filled up more often than others, but we didn’t think anything of it. That is until we got our hands on Samsara data. 

“By cross-referencing vehicle usage and geolocation data, we were immediately able to pinpoint the problem — and the person responsible was dismissed. We’ve saved thousands of euros,” they said. 

In another instance, an employee was found to be using their company vehicle outside of work. They weren’t just using it to run errands, they were going to parties, clubs and restaurants. 

It wasn’t just the cost of fuel that was mounting up. There were concerns about the health and well-being of the driver, the safety of other motorists, and the potential reputational damage caused in the event of an accident. 

If nothing else, these stories act as a constant reminder of the challenges facing fleets on a day-to-day basis. And while fleet managers have little control over market-led fluctuations in fuel prices, they do have control over how they respond. 

By promoting eco-friendly driving, eliminating unnecessary engine idling and introducing well-planned routes they can help to create more fuel-efficient operations. That’s the power of data to fuel better, more sustainable and more efficient fleets.