Fuel Economy

Another level of fleet control

GPS tracking of fleet vehicles is becoming an increasingly invaluable resource for fleets, allowing for control of, and insight into, all fleet-based activity. GPS solutions can help to significantly reduce fuel and labor spent, offering in-depth reports and alerts that will limit speeding, curb idling, cut unauthorized usage and optimize drivers’ routes.

GPS fleet tracking can help reduce speeding violations by clearly showing who is speeding and where, says Ryan Driscoll, Marketing Manager of GPS Insight, a leading supplier of reliable GPS tracking, navigation and messaging technology for fleet-based customers. This can be done with scheduled reports and instant alerts that notify management and/or the driver of any vehicle speeds that top fleet-set thresholds. Alternatively, a report can be run to show how drivers’ speeds compared to the posted speed limits.

“This valuable technology also provides management with the ability to control excessive idling, with instant alerts notifying drivers to shut down their vehicles after a certain time threshold,” Driscoll says. “The reduction in idle time alone typically provides a positive ROI from the solution.”

Unauthorized usage of company vehicles can also be eliminated with GPS solutions. GPS fleet tracking helps identify costly and risky vehicle usage, such as driving on narrow roads or in “bad” neighborhoods. It also allows awareness of any side jobs and personal usage of company vehicles, such as driving a vehicle for personal use during work hours or for weekend trips.

In addition, GPS fleet tracking helps decreases miles driven by optimizing driver routes with navigation and dispatching systems. By way of example, GPS Insight’s technology incorporates Garmin's fleet management and dispatch messaging interface that allows for two-way messaging, on-the-fly dispatch and the sending of complete routes to a dashboard-mounted navigation device.

“This prevents drivers from taking the long route or getting lost, saving time, miles driven, fuel, and ultimately, money,” says Driscoll.

The information GPS fleet tracking provides can be used to hold employees accountable for wasted time and/or fuel, enabling new standards to be implemented, thereby increasing driver performance.

“A tracking solution gives you insight to more than just ways to reduce fuel costs,” he points out. “The relevant and timely information gathered can be used to help improve productivity, reduce labor costs, extend fleet life and more effectively manage a fleet.”

As with any technology, the better a GPS solution is used, the better the results and overall savings.

“Proactive adoption across the organization is critical,” Driscoll stresses. “A well implemented GPS fleet tracking solution will unquestionably reduce fleet-related costs, providing almost instant ROI across fleets of all sizes.”

Trucks fueled by propane autogas are sustainable performers

While fleet managers must pay strict attention to the fuel economy of the vehicles, they also have to be cognizant of performance and sustainability as well.

“As the standards for reducing emissions continue to rise, the growing number of light duty trucks that operate on propane autogas are proving they exceed those standards and performance expectations,” says Brian Feehan, vice president, Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) an organization whose “mission is to promote the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source.”

PERC was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of Public Law 104-248, the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), signed into law on October 11, 1996.

Propane autogas is nontoxic, colorless and virtually odorless. An identifying odor is added so it can be readily detected.

Propane autogas fuels more than 270,000 on-road vehicles today in the U.S., including pickup trucks, vans, shuttles, taxis, delivery vehicles and school buses, Feehan notes. Worldwide, the number of on-road vehicles fueled by propane autogas is more than 13 million.

“Propane autogas is the nation’s third-most common vehicle fuel after gasoline and diesel,” he says. “That’s one reason truck manufacturers are working diligently to develop additional on-road vehicle platforms fueled by propane autogas. Within the past 20 months, 10 new vehicle platforms have been developed.”

By way of example, Feehan cites the Roush CleanTech liquid propane autogas injection fuel systems for Ford F-series trucks and E-series passenger, cargo and cutaway vans. “The systems offer the same horsepower, torque and towing capacity rating as gasoline-fueled equivalents, while reducing greenhouse gases and particulate emissions.”

Ease of refueling is also hastening the growth of vehicles that operate on propane autogas. Propane autogas providers can help a fleet determine the most appropriate refueling option for their operation.

On-site refueling infrastructure - depending on storage necessity, longevity and available space, includes underground storage tanks for longer-term use or above-ground skids that can be shifted or moved as necessary.

The number of propane autogas refueling stations has reached 2,500 in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Data Center, says Feehan. There are locations in every state, including more than 200 in Texas and California each and 100 or more each in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

In conjunction with Texas State Technical College, CleanFuel USA recently received a $12.9 million Department of Energy grant to develop a curriculum for alternative-fuel vehicle technicians, he says. The grant includes a provision for installation of more than 160 propane autogas refueling stations in selected U.S. metropolitan markets.

“Light duty trucks fueled by propane autogas offer a viable alternative to conventionally fueled vehicles,” concludes Feehan. “The combination of robust propane autogas engine technology, increasing availability and existing refueling infrastructure is building a strong case for fleets looking for an alternative fuel with vehicle performance and sustainability.”