Tag: HGV fleet

Tips for improving your HGV’s fuel efficiency

Whilst you can’t control the price of fuel, you can control the amount you use with these driving tips for better fuel efficiency.

HGVs can guzzle up fuel, which isn’t only bad for your business’ budget, but also for the environment.

HGV drivers can learn to improve their vehicle’s fuel efficiency by making a few simple changes to their driving habits, here’s how.

Use cruise control

Most modern HGVs are equipped with a cruise control function for keeping the vehicle running at a constant speed. Reducing unnecessary fluctuations using cruise control can help you to save a significant amount of fuel.

Plan the route

Careful route planning can help you to get from a to b quickly and efficiently, preventing you from using unnecessary fuel whilst getting lost and taking detours. It can also help you to avoid routes featuring sharp inclines which require more fuel to navigate.

Reduce speed

The speed that you drive at can have a significant impact on the amount of fuel that your HGV uses. Studies have shown that reducing your speed to an average of 50mph on the motorway can help to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%!

Don’t idle

Whilst it may be tempting, particularly on very cold days, to keep your engine idling and your heater and radio switched on when you are stationery, this is one of the worst ways to waste fuel!

Avoid braking sharply

Hitting the brakes sharply and rapidly accelerating can both eat up fuel far faster than driving at consistent, steady speeds. Simply paying closer attention to what is happening ahead of you on the road and anticipating when to brake sooner can make for a smoother ride, use less fuel, and reduce the risk of an accident.

Sometimes, if you’re driving a very old HGV, then the most effective way of increasing its fuel efficiency is to upgrade to a newer model.

If you require financial help or advice with upgrading your HGV, speak to our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by giving us a call on 0113 288 3277. We provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services.

How to reduce the cost of your HGV fleet

Use these three ideas to cut the running costs of your business’ HGV fleet whilst also improving productivity and efficiency.

Many businesses that operate vehicles are currently facing challenges that mean they are under pressure to cut their fleet’s running costs.

Some of the key challenges facing transport operators today includes:

  • Rising fleet costs.
  • Driver shortages.
  • An unstable economic climate.
  • Market uncertainty.

In order to successfully cut costs, businesses must be creative and resourceful in how they operate. 

Here are three ideas for effectively reducing the cost of your HGV fleet.

Update your fleet

Spending money on new vehicles may sound a little counterintuitive, but old and inefficient vehicles can be a real drain on resources. Not only do old and tired vehicles need more regular repairs and maintenance, they can also eat up a lot more fuel than modern vehicles.

Modern HGVs are generally safer, more comfortable to drive, and considerably more fuel efficient. The money you safe on maintenance and fuel across your fleet will mean that your investment is likely to soon pay for itself.

Driver training

Your team of HGV drivers are largely responsible for many of the costs associated with running your fleet, their behaviour can have a significant impact on fuel consumption, repairs and maintenance, and insurance costs.

 Ensuring that all drivers receive adequate training, performance monitoring, and regular reviews can help to keep the cost of your fleet down.

Fleet management

Investing in fleet management software can help your fleet to become more organised, efficient, and cost-effective.

Fleet management software uses data and real-time information to monitor traffic and help your drivers to plan the fastest and most efficient routes, saving your business fuel, time and money. It will also track and log information about each of your drivers and their performance to use during training to help improve performance ongoing.

If you require financial help or advice with updating your HGV fleet, speak to our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by giving us a call on 0113 288 3277. We provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services.