Could you use $5,000?
The question is so silly it’s almost rhetorical. In the current market, anyone could use a little help.
Truckers spend $50,000 on fuel every year. By combining good driving habits, vehicle maintenance, route planning, and a fuel card, you can save more than 10%.
If you can cut your fuel costs by 10%, you can save more than $5,000 annually.
Here’s how to cut fuel costs.
How to Get a Fuel Card (3 – 5%)
Using a fuel card is the easiest and fastest way to save on fuel, with some cards allowing for a 3 – 5% reduction in fuel costs.
Getting a fuel card is surprisingly easy. It takes only four steps.
- Fill out the form below.
- An England Carrier Services account manager will customize a fuel card to maximize your savings.
- If you’re a fleet owner, you can personalize the card with custom restrictions for your fleet.
- You receive your fuel card in the mail.
In addition to saving on fuel, you can receive a line of credit as a qualifying carrier.
Practice Good Driving Habits (4 – 6%)
Though the benefits are not as immediate as a fuel card, good driving habits can save you 4 – 6% on fuel. Here are the practices that save you the most.
- Managing your speed is an effortless way to save substantially on fuel. The sweet spot is between 56 and 62 mph to maximize your savings. Additionally, cruise control can help prevent costly accelerating and braking.
- Managing your RPM can also help your fuel bill. As a rule of thumb, keep your RPM under 1,300 to improve fuel economy. Also, try to stay in top gear whenever possible. If you can increase your time spent in top gear by 20%, you can anticipate a 4% difference in fuel savings.
- Idling is a fantastic way to waste money. For every hour a truck idles, a gallon of fuel is wasted. Sustained idling over time can even reduce the long-term fuel efficiency of your rig, compounding fuel costs. Avoid idling whenever possible.
If these good driving habits are exercised together, they can create a potent blend of savings.
Taking Care of Your Truck (1 – 2%)
Regular maintenance of your truck is a double-edged sword: you can cut both your fuel and repair bills when conducted regularly.
Here are the best ways to save.
- Proper tire inflation correlates directly with your fuel receipt. For every 1 PSI drop in pressure, mileage can be reduced by 3%. If several of your tires are underinflated, your fuel cost can add up quickly. Taking 5 minutes to inflate your tires can make a difference of hundreds of dollars.
- Weight management of your truck is an intuitive way to save on fuel. The heavier your vehicle, the more fuel it will take to move it. Be mindful of unnecessary cargo to reduce fuel usage.
Route Planning
Finally, a considerable amount of fuel savings can be earned by strategically planning your routes.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but finding the shortest route is critical. At current fuel prices, you can save ~$.75 for every mile saved.
Additionally, consolidating routes is a hack for saving fuel. Look for runs that follow a similar path of departure and return.
The Bottom Line
With all these techniques combined, here’s the bottom line:
- Good driving habits can save you 4-6% on fuel
- Practicing basic maintenance hygiene can save you 1-2%
- Optimizing your routes can save you another 1-2%
- And a fuel card can save you 3-5%
That culminates in 9-15% savings, or $4500 – $7500 yearly.
The market can be challenging. Ultimately, the carriers constantly searching for ways to shrink their expenses will triumph.
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The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers various services for carriers ranging from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers the freedom to focus on growing their business while saving time and money.