Climate change is becoming a more pressing issue with every day that passes, but it’s not too late to move your fleet in the right direction. Fleet managers have the unique challenge of balancing work efficiency with sustainability efforts, needing to keep customers satisfied while also integrating eco-friendly work practices and watching the bottom line. All of these moving parts can seem overwhelming without the right approach.
There’s no question that transportation is a huge contributor to climate change. The EPA reports that, in 2021, over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States came from transportation. Still, cars and trucks aren’t going out of use anytime soon. Here, we’ll discuss a few simple efforts you and your team can make to work toward sustainability and green fleet management.
Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
One way you can reduce your fleet’s environmental impact is to analyze the vehicles themselves. The older your vehicles are, the less fuel-efficient they become. Not only that, but older vehicles can also cost you significant time and money in terms of repairs and updates.
It may not be in your budget to replace your entire fleet, and that’s okay. Start by assessing the state of your existing vehicles and identifying any repairs or upgrades that can be made. You can slowly improve your vehicles or work to replace them one at a time, spreading the financial burden over months or even years.
In the same vein, you may want to evaluate whether you have more vehicles in your fleet than you truly need. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) recommends that agencies “right-size” their fleets, which involves “matching an agency’s vehicle needs to its mission requirements.” You should analyze your fleet at least every five years, but if your company’s mission or resources change, you may need to re-evaluate sooner.
Route Optimization
Your fleet likely has some kind of route management system, letting you see the paths your drivers take each day. Simply adjusting routes can have a huge impact on your company’s carbon footprint. You can ensure your drivers are making the most of their time on the job while also keeping customers’ expectations in check and reducing the time your vehicles are on the road.
Consider consolidating trips if possible, perhaps shifting stops between drivers so they don’t have to travel as far between stops. You may even be able to cut out unnecessary stops altogether.
Luckily, you don’t have to adjust your routes manually. These days, telematics and GPS software can often do the heavy lifting for you. These systems can analyze your existing routes and alert you to potential areas of improvement, a key step towards green fleet management.
Driver Behavior Management
Your vehicles themselves aren’t the only factor in reducing your company’s environmental impact. The people behind the wheel are just as important. When your drivers are properly trained on the latest standards and sustainability best practices, your efforts will go even further.
For instance, excessive idling can waste fuel and put untold amounts of carbon dioxide in the air. Train your drivers to idle as little as possible by creating policies around idling or by setting up your telematics software to alert drivers when they’ve been idling for too long. This simple change can reduce environmental impact and fuel usage, saving you money while also moving your company toward its sustainability goals.
Drivers can go further in their efficient driving habits simply by following the rules of the road. Following the speed limit keeps drivers and other motorists safe while also contributing to better fuel efficiency. Even something as simple as removing unnecessary items from your vehicles can improve fuel usage and make your operation more efficient and eco-friendlier overall.
Alternative Fuels
This final strategy may take a bit more time to implement, but the impact makes the effort more than worth it. Switching from traditional diesel and gasoline to more eco-friendly alternatives is a major way you can work toward sustainability. Biodiesel blends and renewable diesel blends are often compatible with your existing vehicles, so you may be able to make the switch without updating or replacing your vehicles at first.
Working with Guttman Energy
Guttman Energy is proud to help fleets work toward sustainability with our newest innovation, Guttman Renewables. Our energy experts can recommend proactive measures you can take to reduce your company’s environmental impact and provide sustainable products and solutions to keep your fleet moving.
Guttman Energy has long been praised for its attention to detail and exemplary customer service. Every customer is matched with a dedicated representative for the best one-on-one service possible. If you ever have a question about a service or a concern about your current operations, we’re never more than a phone call away.
To learn more about how Guttman Energy can help your company with green fleet management and efforts towards sustainability, get in touch with us today!
