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entire fleet, these cost savings could amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year or more — even for a modest-sized fleet.” Laras believes that by exploring the causes of fuel inefficiencies and embracing the latest telematics technology and fleet management solutions, a company fleet will stay on the move now and well into the future.
FILLING THE FUEL PIGGY BANK Laras said improving route planning and tracking for the entire fleet by reducing unnecessary miles to save on fuel costs is the easiest step crane owners can take to improve long-term fuel efficiency throughout the entire fleet. “At its most basic, GPS fleet tracking can give businesses instant visibility to allocate fleets more efficiently and enhance accountability,” he said. Beyond this, the latest in AI-powered telematics technology also can measure everything from vehicle locations to time spent at a job and travelling time. “There’s even a tool to maximize fuel tax rebates.”
noted. While idle time is often necessary there may be an opportunity to significantly cut down on fuel usage by reducing unnecessary idling time. PowerFleet believes the combination of telematics and intelligent routing software can help improve logistics: • Intelligent routing software optimizes routes based on driver hours of service, vehicle size constraints, equipment availability and other factors to maximize fuel economy. • Telematics can help track detention times and enforce shipper or receiver fines. You can also identify internal materials handling teams that may be causing unnecessary detention times. • Telematics can show the real-time locations of fleet assets to proactively alert receiving docks before a truck arrives, enable live-loads and avoid empty trailers. “The EPA estimates that a mere 1 percent reduction in empty miles could save over 100 gallons of fuel and increase ton-miles by nearly 20,000 per year,” said PowerFleet. “At the same time, reducing idling time by 5 percent could save another 100 gallons of fuel each year, resulting in a far superior fuel economy.”
PREDICTING SAVINGS
One aspect of telematics technology worth exploring are the multitude of benefits gained from predictive maintenance. Considered an essential tool for the crane fleet manager, with this concept an equipment manager can maintain assets successfully and efficiently. This, in turn, results in improved fuel efficiency. “Equipment management solutions use historical data to identify and alert fleet managers of what equipment and vehicles need maintenance and when,” said Laras. “Digitized systems fully automate maintenance routines with custom schedules and real-time access to equipment diagnostics and inspection reports.” Ensuring key vehicle components, from tires to engine, are wellDetermining the causes of fuel inefficiencies and embracing the latest telematics fleet management maintained can have significant solutions, a company can keep its crane fleet on the move now and well into the future. benefits for fuel efficiency, Laras added. “For example, reduced tire pressure, misaligned wheels and Telematics platforms also optimize route planning to shave bad spark plugs can increase resistance, reducing fuel efficiency off unnecessary mileage from trips. As Laras explained it, the application will consider scheduled by up to 10 to 30 percent.” Using automated digital tracking solutions makes predictive stops for jobs and compliance waypoints. The pre-prepared journey is then available in real-time to select on an in-vehicle maintenance an easy task for businesses and helps to avoid costly breakdowns. device. “It also greatly reduces manual labor on paper-based process“If a vehicle deviates from a set path, the driver is notified and immediately directed back to the defined route via the safest es — increasing efficiency and savings both on and off-road,” roads,” he said. “Back-office staff are also alerted, helping man- said Laras. PowerFleet goes into detail about the various systems within agers identify recurring issues and overcome inefficiencies. This simultaneously saves fuel and protects assets while increasing a construction machine that can be proactively maintained to not only avoid breakdowns but also improve fuel economy. driver safety and compliance.” “Regular and proactive maintenance is essential to improve Inefficient logistics operations can lead to trucks traveling empty, unnecessarily idling and using longer or congested fuel economy, satisfy federal regulations, extend vehicle lifespans, reduce the odds of emergency repairs, and increase fleet routes, said PowerFleet. By some estimates, 15 percent or more of annual truck miles uptime. After all, a single roadside breakdown can cost thousands of dollars in lost productivity. may be empty miles that don’t generate any revenue. • Lubricants reduce friction and wear-and-tear on the engine, “Typical long-haul trucks could be driving 15,000 miles per year and consuming over 2,400 gallons of diesel fuel without transmission and drivetrain. Using synthetic lubricants can improve fuel economy by at least 3 percent, saving nearly 500 cargo in these instances.” Idling consumes about 0.8 gal. of fuel per hour, the company gal. of fuel each year while reducing wear and maintenance. 10
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