- 43 reads
When it comes to protecting the environment, the future is now. Companies are becoming more environmentally aware and strive to do business with likeminded suppliers, create energy-efficient workspaces, and buy ‘green’ products but tending to one crucial area often escapes them – their business fleet. Having in mind that transportation is found to be one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, all businesses should feel morally and legally obliged to find economic and ecologic solutions for their fleet and so, here are a few tips for you to consider.
Introduce regular maintenance
When the time comes to cut the costs, many new entrepreneurs decide that maintenance is something that could be excluded from the budget allocation mix. Some don’t see the harm in skipping one regular maintenance appointment if the drivers haven’t reported anything alarming related to the vehicle, while, in fact, there is a lot of reasons not to skip it.
First and foremost, your drivers can be in jeopardy if the vehicles are not checked thoroughly and on time, and failing to finish the task can, of course, affect the reputation you strive to build in the business world. Regular maintenance is not only crucial for these two reasons but also because without it, the vehicles might experience leaks and other issues which increases your carbon footprint severely and also put an unnecessary strain on your budget.
Choose your vehicles wisely
‘The bigger, the better’ is not always the most optimal solution for your needs. When you see a monster of a truck and you impulsively wish to add it to your fleet due to being dazzled by it, you should always think in terms of ‘the bigger the vehicle (that is, the engine size), the bigger the fuel consumption’.
So, it is all about choosing the right truck for your business and what you need to do is to sit down and consider your business needs. So, for instance, for some light duty jobs, you can use some Isuzu truck which is smaller and well-known for its durability as well as its fuel-saving strategies such as direct injection and superb torque and power from a turbo-intercooler system. In general, it is essential you match the vehicle to your needs so as to be as economical as possible.
Support eco-friendly driving
All of the optimizations that you implement will not make much sense if your drivers are not included in this process. You need to stress the importance of smart economic and ecologic driving and to provide them with all the necessary information and training they might need. While they are careful about speeding violations because they are dangerous and can bring them and your business in conflict with the law, they are not so careful about harsh breaking and purposeless idling.
Naturally, it is not possible to always act in that manner and there might be a situation from time to time when such (in)activities are necessary but they should be generally avoided due to reducing the carbon emissions. Another manner to motivate them to follow the rules is to reward the eco-friendliest drivers who use all the good practices in order to motivate others to follow their lead.
Invest in technology
If chosen prudently, technology can be one of your best investments because it can help you monitor many elements. Owing to it, you would be able to keep track not only of fuel consumption and harsh braking but wiper activation, engine light, air temperature, etc. All of these elements can help you in making informed decisions about many aspects of your transportation business, and not just about the drivers’ efficiency.
For instance, it can help you find the ‘greenest’ route in terms of the closest vehicle and avoiding high-traffic areas which reduce CO2 emissions. Instead of sending the first driver and vehicle that comes to your mind, you will determine who is the closest to the location and give them precise information about the route that should be taken so they don’t opt for fuel-wasting steep shortcuts.
Conclusion
Although it might seem complicated to some, striking a balance between earning a living and being mindful of the environment is not that difficult in any business with a fleet. With these pieces of advice and a sound will, you can create a green fleet and continue to strive towards success.
